“The Missing Element”
I. Introduction
A missing element can make a world of difference. When something crucial is missing it can have devastating effects. If you don’t believe that ask:
a. A Chemist
b. Your mother when she is trying to make bread and discovers that the recipe calls for yeast and she has none. The missing element can be crucial.
c. The mechanic that is working on your car and discovers that the last big bump you hit caused a part to fall off of your car. The missing element can cause you to have problems.
d. The person who has worked for hours on the jig saw puzzle only to discover that the last piece is missing.
e. The person who is trying to start the computer program only to find that there is a file missing.
f. Or ask a student on test day when there is a 25 point question and you don’t have the answer.
The missing element can make a huge difference in your life. And with this thought in mind I would like to suggest to you that we have a missing element. There is something that has been lost. Is it:
a. Worship – No we have not have perfected it or gone as far with it as we should, but we have more training, more exposure to tapes, and more music than you can shake a stick at. Every contemporary music singer seems to be offering worship albums. We are not short on worship.
b. Prayer – No, although we could stand to kneel longer we have had more teaching and preaching on prayer than perhaps any other generation.
c. Programs – No, most churches have more programs, committees, organizational skills than we have ever seen before.
But it is evident that there is a missing element. It is evident when you discover that less than 33% of teenagers shared their faith with another person in the last 12 months, and half of all the youth ministries in America did not win one new convert to Christ last year. It becomes apparent that we are missing something when you understand that there is no difference in the way that Christian teens live their lives compared to those who are not Christians.
Christians Non-Christians
Ever watched a porno movie? 32% 41%
Cheated on a test or exam? 29% 27%
Had sexual intercourse? 23% 29%
Used an illegal drug? 4% 11%
Tried to commit suicide? 3% 7%
Stolen money or material thing? 6% 7%
Among Christian teens 45% of those surveyed contend that sometimes lying is necessary.
Something is missing. However, we are not the first to miss this crucial ingredient in our Christian life. After Jesus’ crucifixion the disciples are quite, reserved, scared, in hiding, and hampered by a survival mentality. They were missing something. But suddenly they become a revolutionary force that changes the world! If we are going to impact our world and our generation it is imperative that we discover and secure this missing element in our life.
Text
Acts 19:1-2
IV. The Missing Element
The missing element in most of our lives is the Holy Spirit. Paul came into contact with some Christians and immediately addressed their deficiency. He was in their face about their need of this element in their life.
Why is it so crucial for us to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
a. Power to Witness
The Holy Spirit is crucial because He enables and empowers us to witness. The Holy Spirit is not just about goose bumps and other tongues. His purpose is to give us that extra amount of courage and desire to share the gospel with others. It wasn’t natural ability or boldness that caused that intimidated group of disciples to become great witnesses. It was after they had received the Holy Spirit that they were able to get out of their clique and comfort zone to reach out to others. Acts 1:8 tells us from the very beginning that we will receive power to witness when we receive. The Holy Spirit isn’t just for you it is really about those you are called to reach. Too many of you are just too quite about Jesus. It is time for you to get so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that you can’t be contained. So full of the Spirit that you won’t be intimidated or embarrassed to open your mouth and be a witness. When was the last time you spoke up and told someone about Jesus? The Holy Spirit is the missing element.
b. Comfort
The Holy Spirit is also crucial because He is our comforter. Some of you are facing some dire situation when you go home. Your home life is in chaos. Your mother or father is out of control. Depression, anger, bitterness may be normal. However, the Holy Spirit is the comforter that can help you stay calm, cool, and collected in any situation. Even facing the hardest situations you can have peace and comfort in your soul. Most of us don’t understand how Stephen could kneel praying as men full of hate and anger threw rocks at him. The entire time they were killing him Stephen held his tongue, he refused to lash out. How? We forget that Stephen was described as man full of the Holy Spirit. If you are dreading going home. If you are facing tough circumstances and a tough environment and don’t know how you are going to make it you need what Stephen had. You need the Holy Spirit. You will have the comfort to face death without flinching.
c. Communicator
Romans 8:26-27
The Holy Spirit is our direct pipeline to the Father. When we pray in other tongues we are praying in a special prayer language that allows us to communicate with God and we pray what we should pray even when we don’t what we should pray. I Corinthians 14:2. It is a language that only God can understand. It is icing not the whole cake. It is one important part.
d. Convictor
John 16:7-8 & Romans 8:13
It is crucial for us to have the Holy Spirit because as I mentioned earlier there is no difference between the way many of you live and how non-Christians live. The Holy Spirit is the difference He is the one who will convict us and cause us to desire and live righteously in the middle of sin filled society. Many of you have a hard time knowing what is right or what is wrong, but if you have the Holy Spirit He will help you discover what you should do. Many of you are going to go home after being set free this week and struggle and stumble because you having something missing. The Holy Spirit is that extra ingredient that will give you the ability to live holy and righteous. Galatians 5:16-25 tells us the secret to remaining holy in our society. It is the Spirit! You need Him!
V. Getting the Missing Element
So if this element is so important how do we obtain the Holy Spirit? I
will tell you this, we have made it too hard. We have believed that we have to tarry, agonize for hours, or work it up.
a. God has offered us a gift. To receive a gift all we have to do is accept it. We can’t earn it nor do we need to beg for it. Peter’s instructions on the Day of Pentecost are still good. Repent and receive. Simply accept. You don’t have to be in some emotional euphoric state to get this gift. You simply have to believe and receive. Luke 11:11-13. You need to understand that God wants you to have the Holy Spirit. He will not withhold Him from you! ($5 to kid. If he had to do something it wasn’t a gift but a bribe.)
b. Open your mouth - Acts 2:4.
It is the Spirit that speaks, but it is your voice. They spake. They had to open their mouth and use their voice and then the Holy Spirit took over.
We must open our mouth. You need to understand that every time any
one in the Bible was filled with they Holy Spirit they had to speak. We
must understand that out of our praise in our own tongue the Holy Spirit
will take over and give utterance. The water is flowing but you are the
faucet. You can open or close the spout. (Call people to receive and they clamp their mouth shut. How can the Spirit speak if you don’t give Him voice?)
Can you make it without the Holy Spirit? Yes, but without it is much harder. It is like having a car with no keys. If Jesus thought it was important for the disciples it should let us know that if we are missing this element we aren’t complete. If it was the first question that Paul asked the Ephesians it must have been important. So I ask you the same question tonight. Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit? If not, you are missing a very vital, crucial, and important element. The good news is that you can get it and all you have to do ask, receive, and use it!
