Naturally Supernatural: Empowered By God's Spirit Series

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In chapter 4 Gary Best discusses…EMPOWERED BY GOD’S SPIRIT. This might be one of the best chapters in his book.

POWER FOR A PURPOSE…..but what purpose?

Turn to Acts 1: 3-8

After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1: 3-8 NIV

Clearly this passage shows that Jesus had a clear purpose for the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…for the purposes of fulfilling His commission of going.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AROUND a HOLY SPIRIT out-pouring??

I truly can identify with Gary’s dilemma…going to Vineyard conferences…the POWER of God would hit all around me & I’d be left standing with very little God-activity.

Didn’t God love me? Did He miss me? (I’m a pretty big target…how could He miss?) Am I just a screwy sinful person. No…friends would tell me …God must think you don’t need it.

This brought me LOTS OF SCREWY ANSWERS that left me more confused & frustrated.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT seems to be pretty controversial thing in American church. It has divided churches, caused church splits, split the Vineyard at least two times. Major differences & dis-agreements.

People are on both sides of the issue.

GREAT PEOPLE who stay away from it…too messy, too controversial…too hard

GREAT PEOPLE who run to it, wallowing in the Spirit, soaking in it, living & dying for it.

If I took a survey of you today…1/3 are into it, 1/3 are not, 1/3 are just unaware or un-informed.

Let’s start with these facts.

BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit…means fully immersed in Greek. A piece of cloth immersed into dye. It comes out full of the color. Or a ship that is overwhelmed or capsized in a flood, it goes down into the water fully immersed. Not external wet but internal wet.

Jesus is very CLEAR in Acts 2 To enter into His transferable ministry, you’d be a fool to try to do it without the EMPOWERING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The GREAT COMMISSION should not be attempted without the FULL EMPOWERMENT of God’s Spirit. BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT.

Most everyone in Christianity agrees with that statement…but HOW the Holy Spirit empowers us is the BIG DIVIDING QUESTION…how does the Holy Spirit baptize us?

Gary Best says there are TWO CAMPS.

Holy Spirit IN us.

Holy Spirit ON us.

Biblical arguments on each side.

In truth, when you gave your heart to Jesus, you were given the HOLY SPIRIT (not some of Him, but ALL of Him IN you)

In truth, while Spirit is fully inside you, HIS POWER & PRESENCE must come ON you as you go about doing His work.

As a matter of fact what makes the Vineyard somewhat unique is our ANSWER is BOTH. THESE TWO TRUTHS can cause conflict for us & at times confusion.

Gary says it this way…p 147 READ the chef & carpenter story (from Naturally Supernatural)

The truth is that INSIDE YOU, you have the HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD and since HE IS GOD and you are not…HE IS LOOKING FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU WILL GIVE HIM to show up & demonstrate to you that HE IS LORD of everything.

Dwight Moody was asked….Don’t you have the presence of the Holy Spirit inside you? His answer. Yes. Then why are you continually praying for MORE of the Holy Spirit to come? His response: I leak!

SO…for us to enter fully into Jesus’ ministry here @ Father’s House. We will need the HOLY SPIRIT IN US and ON US! Get it?

HERE’s A GREAT PRAYER.

Thank you Lord for the fullness of the Holy Spirit IN me. Father, please release the fullness of the Spirit ON me.

NOW…one final thought today when it comes to Holy Spirit impartation or baptism.

Much like the GIFTS of the SPIRIT are for the common good (like we talked last week) BAPTISM of the HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR THE COMMON GOOD.