God’s Endowment For Ministry

God’s Endowment for Ministry June 3, 2012

A The Baptism of the Holy Spirit releases supernatural enabling for practical service.

1 Through out history (OT promise, NT fulfillment, Modern Era) the BOTHS has empowered the church impact the culture.

a Dr. Larry Hart, professor of theology at Oral Roberts University, PhD graduate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has given an incredible insight to this truth.

b He points out that in the OT the Spirit came upon individuals to perform heroic or practical deeds for God’s people.

aa The Spirit gave Bezalel gifts to design and build the tabernacle (Ex. 31).

bb Joseph was given wisdom by the Spirit

(38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?" Gen 41:38 (NASB))

c In the New Testament, the Spirit came on Pentecost to abide upon each member of the church to release witness and service on them

(8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NASB)).

2 The early church fathers believed that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was released upon Christians so the early church could benefit from their gifts.

a Tertullian, was a preacher in the 3rd century who preached to more than 5,000 people every Sunday affirmed the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit.

b He and Hilary of Poitiers, who was a church leader who was exiled because of his spiritual fervor, believed that Jesus’s baptism was the pattern to follow for all believers.

aa Water baptized, followed by the Spirit descending upon Him wasn’t just a unique experience to Christ.

bb Should be the model for all members of the Church.

c Hilary’s book on Christian initiation declares that the charisma (or gifts) were released as a part of the regular works experienced by the church in her first eight centuries.

aa “God has instituted them.” AMAZING! We have tried to exercise out of the church the very things that God gifted the church with.

bb Hilary said the gifts are not “adornments” but are to be used witness and ministry.

d Describing the BOTHS, Hilary said, “The Holy Spirit is called a river. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are made drunk. Because out of us as a source, various streams of grace flow, the prophet prays that the Lord will inebriate us. The prophet wants the same people made drunk and filled to all fullness with the divine gifts, so that their generation may be multiplied.”

B The Bible and Church History are in agreement on what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit released (and releases today).

1 There is perfect agreement between Scripture & Church history that Spirit Baptism is followed by a release of spiritual gifts.

2 What happens when the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs?

a First, The Holy Spirit restores an intimate relationship with God as Father.

aa 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Gal 4:6 (NASB),

the outpoured Spirit cries “Abba, Father” as He comes upon the believer.

bb The believer’s spiritual eyes are opened and responds back, “Abba, Father.”

cc Abba is the affectionate word for “daddy” or “papa” in the ancient language.

dd Could it be that an evidence of Spirit baptism is that there is powerful revelation that individual believers have come home?

b Secondly, The Holy Spirit’s power was given for the purpose of witness and missions.

aa 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NASB),

Jesus told His disciples that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

bb I believe apart of this mandate was included a liberation from demonic fear to serve in the Kingdom of God

(7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 2 Tim 2:7 (NASB))

cc Remember, our victory is certain

(11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Rev 12:11 (NASB))

dd As apart of our mission that accompanies Spirit Baptism comes spiritual gifts, signs, and wonders to confirm the witness

(15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Mark 16:15-20 (NASB).