• Acts 1:8 (NIV)
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.
INTRODUCTION:
Like my family and me many of you have visited Niagara Falls. We have visited many times and I’m always amazed by the beauty and wonder of the falls. I’ve journeyed behind the falls and listened to the roar of the water thundering over the falls; I’ve’ ridden on the Maid of the Mist and looked up to see the blue sky over the horizon of falling water, and as I did the vapor of water would fall upon my face. I’ve seen the rainbow glimmer within the falls during the day, and enjoyed the colorful lights shine upon the falls at night (although I must say the rainbow outdoes the manmade lights). I’ve stood in the cold and was amazed to see the falls covered with a mountain of ice. Regardless of where you stand Niagara Falls is a beauty to behold.
It is one thing to visit the Niagara Falls and it’s another to live there. When you live there you not only appreciate the beauty of the falls, but you are also thankful for the POWER of the falls every time you turn on your lights. Hydroelectric generators along the Niagara River produce electricity not only for the city of Niagara Falls but much of western New York as well. That’s a lot of power.
In this sense Niagara Falls is much like the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is a wonderful and glorious experience for all believers, but it’s more than just an experience for us to marvel over. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit provides the believer with power to live by!
Someone has rightly said, “Every believer receives the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit does not have every believer.” That is to say that at salvation the Holy Spirit is RESIDENT within the life of the believer, but with the baptism in the Holy Spirit the Spirit becomes PRESIDENT within the believer’s life with authority and power to transform their way of living.
We have been look at the “We Believe” series—four defining truths of the Assemblies of God or what have been called our cardinal doctrines: Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is coming again. This morning we come to the third foundational doctrine of our church, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is:
1. God’s provision of power,
2. power with a purpose, and
3. a planned placement of power.
I. God’s Provision of Power.
• Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
1. God provides you with POWER.
a) Power can mean a lot of different things. So what kind of power does God provide us with?
i) Power can refer to a NATION, as in a world power or sovereign state.
ii) Power can also mean AUTHORITY, to have the control, right, or prerogative to act; authoritative power gives authorization.
iii) Power also means STRENGTH; it is an energy, force or muscle.
iv) Power also means ABILITY, capability, potential.
b) In the New Testament there are two different Greek words that are both sometimes translated power.
“exousia” It is from this word that we get the word “exertion.” You might think that this has to do with strength but it doesn’t. “exousia” has to do with the POWER OF AUTHORITY. It is the power that is conferred or given to someone by another.
c) Jesus had previously given the disciples power, that is “exousia” authority to cast out demons and heal the sick (Matthew 10:1). After His resurrection Jesus told the disciples that all power and authority “exousia” had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). When the disciples asked Jesus after his resurrection if He would now establish His kingdom Jesus told the disciples that it was not for them to know the time set by the Father’s power or authority “exousia” (Acts 1:7).
d) But there is another kind of power that Jesus promises that His disciples will receive in Acts 1:8.
“dunamis” It is from this word that we derive the word dynamite. Again you might think in terms of strength, but “dunamis” power is more than just strength alone. “dunamis” is ABILITY; it is one thing to have the strength to do something and its something else to have the know how combined with the strength; that is “dunamis” ability.
ILLUSTRATION: A pastor friend of mine told me about a missions trip he took as a young man to Mexico to help with the construction of a church. When they were digging the foundation they came across a large bolder, bigger than any of them could move. My friend and his brother took turns hitting the rock with sledge hammers, after hours of work they had made no progress; the rock just seemed to laugh at them. Finally their dad asked if he could give it a try to which the exhausted brothers both laughed. They watched as their dad took a small hammer and a chisel and began hitting the rock; with precision accuracy and hit by hit their father was breaking pieces of the rock away. In about an hour the entire rock had been broken down into smaller rocks and carried away. The two sons had more strength than their father, but their dad had an ability that they lacked. His lesser strength combined with ability was greater than the combined strength of his sons. That’s what it means to have “dunamis” power.
e) Jesus did not want the disciples to try to do anything in their own power or strength. Nor did Jesus simple want to give them “exousia” authority or power. Jesus wanted them to have “dunamis” power, the ability to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must likewise be careful to not think we can do things in our own strength and power. WE NEED THE “DUNAMIS” POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EQUIP AND ENABLE US TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THE LORD.
f) “Dunamis” power is more than just authority; it is a transforming power, to be energized with ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
2. God’s provision of power is received as the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
a) The Holy Spirit comes and touches the believer in a supernatural way. Jesus says the coming of the Spirit upon the believer in power will be an experience that will be noticeable; His disciples would know when the Spirit had come upon them, and others would know when someone had been touched by the Holy Spirit.
b) The experience Jesus describes here in Acts 1:8 is different and distinct from what happens at salvation. When you are saved you receive the Holy Spirit, that is to say the Holy Spirit come and lives with in the heart of a believer.
c) Following Jesus’ resurrection Jesus gave the disciples the Holy Spirit. This was the regeneration or spiritual rebirth of the disciples; it was at that moment salvation had God’s intended effect upon them and the Holy Spirit took up residence within their hearts and lives.
• John 20:22 (NIV)
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
d) The baptism in the Holy Spirit comes after salvation. Again the believer has received the Spirit who is resident within their lives, but when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit the Spirit is then president giving the “dunamis” power and ability.
e) The events that took place on the day of Pentecost transformed the disciples as they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit. What happened to them not only changed their lives, but the “dunamis” power of God began to change the world!
• Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
[1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
f) While many have debated over speaking in tongues most Christians agree that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a subsequent work of God’s grace following salvation that brings the power of God at work within the life of the believer. Many men and women throughout history have given testimony to this experience and the power that came into their lives as a result.
ILLUSTRATION: On December 26, 1899 at the funeral of D.L. Moody, Scofield said, “Moody was baptized with the Spirit and he knew that he was. It was to him as definite an experience as was his conversion.” Moody said, “The blessing came upon me suddenly, like a flash of lightening. For months I had been waling the stress of New York; I had no more heart in the business I was about than if I had not belonged to this world at all. Right there, on the street, the fire of God seemed to come upon me so wonderfully that I asked God to stay His hand. I was filled with a sense of God’s goodness, and I felt as though I could take the whole world to my heart. This happened years after I was converted.” – Source Unknown
g) “dunamis” ability and power comes from the touch of the God when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. God provides power—power with a purpose!
II. Power with a Purpose.
• Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . .
1. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit transforms the believer.
a) Jesus said they will receive power and “WILL BE my witnesses.” Underline those two little words ‘WILL BE.’ Jesus has no doubt about the transformation that will take place within the hearts and lives of the disciples when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
b) The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives you the power TO BE the witness God intends you to be.
c) The experience of the disciples on the day of Pentecost is evidence of the transformation TO BE effective witnesses of Jesus Christ.
ILLUSTRATION: Prior to being baptized in the Holy Spirit the believers had hidden for fear of their very lives, but with the outpouring of the Spirit in their lives they become bold and fearless with a clear sense of mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The disciples all looked the same, but they were different. They had been transformed by the power of God to be his witnesses! Peter stands up with the disciples and preaches to the crowd that had gathered; many in the crowd were probably a part of the crowd that had called for Jesus to be crucified only weeks earlier. Yet when Peter explains what is happening and that it is just what Jesus whom they had crucified promised the crowd was cut to the heart and 3,000 were saved that day.
d) The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is power to transform—power to be witnesses. The baptism in the Holy Spirit does not make me better than other Christians who have not received this gift. The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes me a better me.
2. The purpose is power to transform the believer. The purpose is not so you can speak in tongues.
a) “dunamis” power TO BE! Again Jesus emphasized that the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you WILL BE His witnesses.
b) I know of lots of Christians who want to focus on the ‘Charismata’ or gifts of the Spirit including tongues, but they lack a character transformation. The Holy Spirit will bring both into the lives of believers—‘charismata’ and character, with a major emphasis upon developing a Godly character.
c) This is the very problem that Paul addresses with the Corinthian church. They had many manifestations of the Spirit, but they lacked the fruit of the Spirit; they lacked a godly character of love.
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
d) What is Paul saying? It’s not one or the other but both! Don’t just seek out spiritual gifts to appear to be spiritual, but let the power of the Spirit be at work within your life to transform you into the kind of person who genuinely reflects the character of God. Seek love and the gifts!
e) Anything that empowers us TO BE better than we can be in our own strength should be wanted by every believer. To be or not to be; THAT IS THE QUESTION! Only with the power of the Holy Spirit working within us can we have the “dunamis” power of God TO BE His witnesses.
3. God wants us TO BE witnesses with a testimony that is validated by our lifestyle.
a) As Jerusalem watched, these newly empowered saints became a powerful community of believers, sharing with each other, encouraging each other, serving one another out of a powerful love, all evidences of a true revival!
b) Paul told the Corinthians that their lives were letters from Christ written upon human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). Someone has said that our lives may be the only bible some people will ever read. Is your life being lived in such a way that you are giving a consistent witness of the power of Christ at work within you?
c) The Holy Spirit gives us empowered speech. The Spirit enables the believer to speak in an unknown language, and the Spirit will also enable you to speak in your native language to share the gospel of Christ with those around you.
• Acts 2:4 (NIV)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled [“apophtheggomai”] them.
• Acts 2:14 (NIV)
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed [“apophtheggomai”] the crowd . . .
In both cases the Spirit enabled Peter to enunciate clearly and speak; first in an unknown language and then in his native language that those who listened could understand. Likewise the Spirit will “apophtheggomai” enable you to speak as well!
d) Through the baptism in the Holy Spirit God has provided power, power with a purpose to be a transformed people, a living testimony. The God provided power with a purpose is also:
III. A Planned Placement of Power
• Acts 1:8 (NIV)
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.
1. God has filled you with His power and the Lord has put you where He can strategically use you for His glory. Wherever you are, you have been PUT!
a) The impact of the Spirit-filled life should begin at home—your Jerusalem. Your family should notice a change in the way you live, and more importantly in the way you talk!
b) Then in ever widening circles, like the ripples on a pond when you throw in a rock the influence of your life as a Spirit-filled believer should be noticed. What begins at home should continue to spread into your Judea, Samaria and on to the ends of the earth. Your Judea might be your neighborhood or workplace.
c) Samaria was a place where for the Jews there were strong racial prejudices, so God will at times stretch your faith with relationships and opportunities to share with people you have previously held a strong bias against; where you were once uncomfortable God will make you comfortable; those you couldn’t love God will empower you to love.
2. God has planned His placement of power today and will continue to do so until time comes to an end.
a) As long as you live God will continue to PUT you exactly where He wants you so you can be used to be the transformed witness He has made you.
b) Unto the ends of the earth is both a literal placement of the end of the known world—for the Jews it was Rome; for you and me God might take us anywhere on the planet (and with the internet we can do that without even leaving our homes). But the ends of the earth can also have a figurative meaning; that is the ends of the earth can represent the beginning and the end of time.
• Acts 2:16-17 (NIV)
[16] No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: [17] “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
c) If it was true for Peter that God was pouring out His Spirit in the last days as a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, then HOW MUCH MORE is it a fulfillment for God to continue to pour out His Spirit today. It has never been ‘laster days’ than it is today! These are the days that God wants to pour out His Spirit!
• Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)
[38] Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
d) Jesus told His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father, to tarry in Jerusalem until they had received power form on high. God has poured out the Holy Spirit, and it would do us well to follow Jesus’ command to His disciples; if you have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues then are you willing to wait in the Lord’s presence today that He might fill you? If you need a fresh refilling of the Spirit then are you too willing to spend time at the altar seeking Jesus that He might fill you again.
e) The baptism in the Holy Spirit is God provided power—power with a purpose—power divinely placed today and for all time.
IV. How you can receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
• John 7:37-39 (NIV)
[37] On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
1. Come thirsty!
a) Jesus will not force Himself upon you; He won’t grab you and make you speak in tongues any more than I’m going to grab you and forcibly dunk you under water. Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty.”
b) What is your desire today? Are you thirsty? Let Jesus quench the thirsting of your soul!
2. Come to Jesus!
a) Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me.” Come to Jesus.
b) You’re not coming to a certain church, or the right place at the altar. You don’t have to seek out me as the pastor or anyone else. Come to Jesus! Don’t seek the gift, seek the Giver. Jesus must be sought.
3. Come to drink.
a) Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” When you are thirsty you don’t just want a drink, you want to drink it. Thirst will make you stop everything else you are doing to go and get a drink. I was mowing the grass this week and I had to stop and get a drink; the grass would have to wait as I went to the sink and got a cold glass of water.
b) Come thirsty, come to Jesus and come to drink! Your expectation should be that Jesus will quench your thirst; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit just as He has promised!
4. Know that the gift is for you and believe it!
a) Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes . . .”
b) Jesus said He is ready to give living water to whoever will come to Him to drink. The gift of the Holy Spirit is for you; God is ready now to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU!
5. Ask Jesus to fill you.
a) Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scriptures have said . . .”
b) Let’s not make this harder than it really is. Jesus has those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink; now are you just going to walk up to Jesus and demand a drink or are you going to ask? LOOK WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TELL US:
• Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)
[9] "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
[11] "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
b) WE CAN ASK! “Jesus I’m thirsty; please give me a drink. Lord, I’m here fill me with your Holy Spirit.” God wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit; the Lord wants to give you this gift more than you want to receive it. Don’t be afraid! Jesus has invited you to come, so accept His invitation and come to Jesus and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
6. Expect to speak in tongues! Jesus will fill you just as He has promised.
a) Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scriptures have said streams of living water will flow from within him.”
b) Jesus didn’t say it might happen; He said it will happen! Streams of living water will flow from within you. John explains in verse 39 that by living water Jesus meant the Spirit whom those who believe in Him would later received. The book of Acts shows us that when the Spirit is received the initial physical evidence is that you will speak in other tongues. Expect God to do what He has said; when He fills you, you too will speak in tongues.
7. Don’t be afraid—step out in faith and receive!
a) Jesus said, “Come to me and drink,” so drink up and satisfy your thirst! When it is all said and done it is still an act of faith. Dead faith refuses to act—in other words, dead faith remains silent. Begin to speak. Pray audibly and give praise to God in your known language, and then begin to speak in an unknown tongue. The same step of faith that brought you to confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord is the same step of faith to begin to speak in tongues—you just do it!
b) Some people might say, “But Pastor, How can I know it’s God. I’m afraid I might just be in the flesh.” Have you ever done anything not in the flesh? You got saved and you were in your flesh. . . you were baptized in water in your flesh . . . you got dressed and came to church this morning in your flesh . . . you’re sitting here right now in the flesh. That’s how it works; God fills a flesh and blood body with His Spirit. God is going to fill you, so ask and receive. The way you receive is by speaking just like you always do except that the Holy Spirit enables you to speak in an unknown tongue.
c) Believe God to do it. Have faith in God and now step out in faith knowing that the Holy Spirit will enable you just like He did on the day of Pentecost.
Conclusion:
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is:
1. God’s provision of power,
2. power with a purpose, and
3. a planned placement of power.
