“SAME QUESTION – ROUND 2”
IF YOU WERE HERE LAST WEEK YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT WE DEALT REALLY WITH JUST ONE QUESTION: WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH JESUS CHRIST? WE LOOKED AT HOW THAT QUESTION APPLIED TO US EITHER AS NON-BELIEVERS OR AS FOLLOWERS OF HIM. WE STARTED LAST WEEK IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH AND THAT IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THIS MORNING. PLEASE TURN TO JEREMIAH 8:6 (READ IT) I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle.
LET’S PRAY
FOR THE SAKE OF A TITLE TODAY : “SAME QUESTION - ROUND 2”
IF YOU HAVE STUDIED ANY BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD DENOMINATION YOU WILL KNOW THAT OUR TOPIC/QUESTION TODAY IS RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDST OF THE 16 FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS PRESENTED BY THE DENOMINATION AS CORE BELIEFS: #7 WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
NOW CERTAINLY WE CAN AGREE THAT OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT STEMS MOSTLY FROM WHAT WE READ IN THE BOOK OF ACTS: 1:8 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 2:1-4 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them
ONE OF THE MAIN TEACHINGS RELATED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM A POSITIONAL POINT OF VIEW IS SIMPLY THIS: ALL BELIEVERS ARE ENTITLED TO AND SHOULD ARDENTLY EXPECT AND EARNESTLY SEEK THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST AND FIRE, ACCORDING TO THE COMMAND OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THIS WAS THE NORMAL EXPERIENCE OF ALL IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH. WITH IT COMES THE ENDUMENT OF POWER FOR LIFE AND SERVICE, THE BESTOWMENT OF THE GIFTS AND THEIR USES IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.
THAT IS WHAT YOU MIGHT HERE FROM SOMEONE AT THE HOME OFFICE OF THE AG.
MY QUESTION THIS MORNING IS WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THIS QUESTION IN RELATION TO 2 MAIN AREAS. WHILE THESE TWO AREAS ARE BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE OF THIS TOPIC THEY SIMPLY ALLOW US A POINT TO BEGIN AT.
GOD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE WORLD WITH A PURPOSE AND DESIGN. THE HOLY SPIRIT’S FIRST PURPOSE IS TO CONVICT SINNERS OF THEIR LOST CONDITION TURN WITH ME TO JOHN 16:7-8 (READ IT) I BELIEVE THAT MANY OF US GET CONFUSED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WE FEEL IT IS OUR JOB TO CONVICT PEOPLE OF THEIR SIN. IT IS UP TO THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO THAT.
WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
ANOTHER PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT OF POWER!
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO GIVE US
POWER IN OUR WITNESSING EDGAR LEE WROTE IN A POSITIONAL PAPER FOR THE AG THESE WORDS: Prominent in God’s purposes for Spirit baptism is the equipping of believers for witness to Christ. Jesus instructed His disciples, IN LUKE 24:29;"Stay in the city [Jerusalem] until you have been clothed with power from on high" and added, "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 1:8).
Power for witness also flows from the Spirit’s gifts (charismata) for the work of the ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:7-13; 1 Peter 4:10,11).
The Father (Operative Gifts) Romans 12:6-8 Prophecy
· Ministry Teaching Exhortation Giving Leading Showing mercy (Compassion)
The Son (Administrative Gifts Ephesians 4:11) Apostleship Prophecy
· Evangelism Pastoring Teaching
The Holy Spirit (Charismatic Gifts)1 Corinthians 12:1-14 · Wisdom Knowledge Discerning of spirits (Human, Angelic, Demonic)
· Speaking in tongues Interpretation of tongues Prophecy
· Faith Working of miracles Healing
ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS EMPOWERMENT TO SHARE OUR TESTIMONY IS FOUND IN 1 COR. 2:1-5
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
UNLIKELY AS IT MAY SEEM THE APOSTLE PAUL EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE SAME DIFFICULTIES WE FACE WHEN IT COMES TO SHARING OUR FAITH.
IN VERSE 1 HE WAS NOT ELOQUENT NOR DID HE HAVE SUPERIOR WISDOM.
IN VERSE 3 HE CONFESSES HE CAME TO THEM IN WEAKNESS, FEAR AND WITH MUCH TREMBLING.
AND HE BEGINS VERSE 4 BY SAYING “MY MESSAGE AND MY PREACHING WERE NOT WITH WISE AND PERSUASIVE WORDS…”
CAN WE SEE THAT PAUL COULD IDENTIFY WITH EVERY OBJECTION WE HAVE FOR NOT SHARING OUR FAITH?
AND IT’S ONLY BECAUSE YOU AND I ARE NOT QUALIFIED THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE SPIRIT’S POWER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS.
“MY MESSAGE AND MY PREACHING WERE NOT WITH WISE AND PERSUASIVE WORDS BUT WITH A DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT’S POWER.” (V4)
IF WE CAN ONLY BELIEVE VERSE 4 IT WILL SET US FREE TO SHARE OUR FAITH IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE NEED TO ASK THE QUESTION: WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? THE SAD TRUTH TODAY IS THAT WE PUT OUR TRUST AND OUR CONFIDENCE IN OURSELVES AND HOW SMART WE ARE OR HOW CLEVER WE ARE OR WHAT METHOD WE USE. IF WE ARE DRAWN TO THE FATHER AND ALLOWING THE SPIRIT FREE ACCESS TO ALL OF WHO WE ARE THEN HE WILL DIRECT US AND HE WILL GUIDE US AMEN?
VERSE 1 SAID THAT PAUL HAD NOT COME WITH A GREAT GAME PLAN OF GOOD SPEECH OR GREAT WISDOM, BUT IT SAID HE CAME TO DO WHAT? PROCLAIM TO YOU THE TESTIMONY ABOUT GOD.
CAN WE SEE WHO THE MAIN FIGURE AND CENTRAL THEME OF OUR TESTIMONY SHOULD BE? GOD!
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF PUTTING SOMETHING ELSE AT THE CENTER OF OUR TESTIMONY. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO SHARE WITH SOMEONE IS ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US.
GOD HAS DONE A LOT FOR US BUT WE SEE THAT IN VERSE 2 THE APOSTLE PAUL GIVES US THE ANSWER TO WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING GOD HAS DONE FOR US.
“FOR I RESOLVED TO KNOW NOTHING WHILE I WAS WITH YOU EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED” (V2)
ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING GOD HAS DONE FOR US WAS THE CRUCIFIXION OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR SINS. THAT’S WHAT ROM. 5:8 REMINDS US WHEN IT SAYS: “GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US”.
THE SECOND AREA I WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THIS MORNING IS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO US IN ACTS AS A MEANS OF
#2. PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION OR IN LAYMENS TERMS TO BRING ABOUT “MATURITY“.
AS WE TRAVEL ALONG IN THIS CHRISTIAN WALK WE ARE CONSTANTLY FACED WITH THE CHARGE TO MATURE AND GROW IN CHRIST. TURN WITH ME TO ROMANS 8:13 IN THIS CHAPTER WE SEE THE VALUE OF AND THE DIFFERENCE OF LIVING WITHOUT THE SPIRIT AND THEN WITH THE SPIRIT. LET’S ACTUALLY BEGIN WITH VERSE 5
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
THIS SHOWS THAT THROUGH THE SPIRIT WE BEGIN TO MATURE AND WE BEGIN TO WEED OUT WHAT WE USE TO BE FROM WHAT WE ARE BECOMING. IT IS WITH THIS CONTEXT IN MIND THAT WE ALSO ARE DRAWN TO THIS MATURING PROCESS THROUGH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? DOES THAT RING A BELL WITH ANYBODY? GALATIANS 5:22-23 PLANTED IN THIS SCRIPTURE WE FIND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT WHICH SHOULD BE PRESENT IN THE LIFE OF EVERY BELIEVER. LET’S DO A QUICK REVIEW:
A. - LOVE
DO YOU LOVE OTHER CHRISTIANS? DO YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR? DO YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES? HOW ABOUT WHEN OTHERS TREAT YOU BADLY? CAN YOU FORGIVE THEM? HOW IS IT THAT THE WORLD IS SUPPOSE TO KNOW WE BELONG TO GOD’S FAMILY? WILL THEY KNOW BY YOUR BIG BIBLE? YOUR FANCY CLOTHES? YOUR LOUD PRAYERS? BY THE BUILDING YOU MEET IN? JOHN 13:35 GIVES US THIS ANSWER: 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSES US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
B. JOY - ARE YOU JOYFUL OR DO PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU AND THINK ALL CHRISTIANS ARE CRABS - STRAIGHT FACED - AND TOO HEAVENLY MINDED TO BE ANY EARTHLY GOOD? Psalm 16:11 TELLS US THIS: 11You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
C. PEACE - DOES YOUR LIFE REFLECT PEACE IN ALL SITUATIONS? OR ARE YOU ONE WHO LETS OTHERS SEE THE WORRY AND CONFUSION OF YOUR LIFE. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance The Lord be with you all!
YOU SEE GOD CARES FOR HIS PEOPLE. AFTER ALL DID HE NOT FEED ABOUT 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE DESERT WITHOUT A SUPERMARKET OR BAKERY? THEIR SHOES DID NOT WEAR OUT NEITHER DID THEIR CLOTHES. DO WE NOT FIND THIS PEACE IN THE WORDS OF MATTHEW 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
D. PATIENCE - LIFE SOMETIMES GETS HARD AND DIFFICULT AMEN? ARE YOU ONE TO SAY I GIVE UP OR I QUIT WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH? REMEMBER THE LITTLE SONG WE HEARD WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FRUIT IN OUR SERIES? HAVE PATIENCE HAVE PATIENCE DON’T BE IN SUCH A HURRY . . . . . .
DO WE BELIEVE THAT GOD’S WORD IS TRUE WHEN WE READ THE WORDS FROM ROMANS 8:28 WHERE IT SAYS And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. DO WE BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE?
E. KINDNESS - KINDNESS IS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND SEEN IN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. HE SHOWS US AND LEADS BY EXAMPLE.
2 Cor. 6:6
"In all things approving ourselves by pureness, knowledge, patience, kindness by the Holy Spirit and by genuine love."
Col. 3:12 "
Put on therefore as the elect of God:tender mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness and patience."
2 Pt. 1:6-7
"Add to your faith: knowledge, self-control and to self-control, patience, and to patience, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love."
Eph. 4:32
"Be kind, to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ, forgave you."
1 Cor. 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind;"
Luke 6:35, 36
"Love your enemies and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful, just as Your Father is merciful."
Notice the importance of being kind - even to those who don’t deserve it.
F. GOODNESS - OUR GOODNESS IS SEEN AS A REFLECTION OF GOD’S OWN GOODNESS. REMEMBER WE LOOKED AT GENESIS AND THE ACCOUNT OF CREATION AND SAW THAT PHRASE: IT WAS GOOD WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD. WE SAW THIS REFLECTED IN JAMES 1:7 (EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT COMES FROM ABOVE) PSALMS 84:11 (NO GOOD THING DOES HE WITHHOLD)
G. FAITHFULNESS - WORDS LIKE DEVOTED, TRIED, CONSTANT, RELIABLE, UNWAVERING AND DEPENDABLE WERE USED WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT GODS’ FAITHFULNESS. WE TALKED ABOUT FAITHFULNESS AS LOVE HANGING ON! NO MATTER WHAT! WE SAW THE TRUTH OF PSALM 100:5 “FOR THE LORD IS GOOD; HIS MERCY AND LOVING KINDNESS ARE EVERLASTING, HIS FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH ENDURE TO ALL GENERATIONS”. THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS WE ARE TO BE FAITHFUL IN WE NAMED A FEW: STEWARDSHIP, SERVICE, MARRIAGE, WITNESS, PRAYER, MINISTRY JUST TO NAME A FEW.
H. GENTLENESS - WE LEARNED HERE THAT GENTLENESS IS NOT WEAKNESS. A GENTLE ANSWER TURNS AWAY WRATH (PR. 15:1) OUR GENTLENESS SHOULD BE SEEN BY ALL. WE CAN LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN US RICHLY. OTHERS WILL BEGIN TO SEE THAT WE DEAL WITH LIFE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
I. SELF CONTROL - DO YOU FLY OFF THE HANDLE AND LOSE YOUR TEMPER AT EVEN THE SMALLEST THINGS? A MAN CAN CONTROL A TRAIN, A SHIP, A PLANE, BUT IT TAKES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US CONTROL OR TONGUE AND TEMPER. REMEMBER PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
NO THOSE ARE JUST SOME FRESH REFLECTIONS ON THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. THE QUESTION REMAINS: WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? REMEMBER THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO HELP US AND GIVEN TO GUIDE US, SO WHY DOES IT SEEM THAT MOST OF US DON’T WANT HIS HELP? HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT PASTOR? BECAUSE I SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO HOLD BACK AND HEDGE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY.
IF WE ARE A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH THEN WHERE ARE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT IN PLAY TODAY IN THEW CHURCH? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HEARD A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE OR A WORD OF PROPHECY? WORD OF FAITH? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE SAW SOMEONE HEALED? GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY - TODAY - AND FOREVER. HE NEVER CHANGES! WE HAVE CHANGED. WE HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM HIS PROMISES AND FROM HIS TRUTH REVEALED IN THE WORD.
IN CLOSING THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS: WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
