Note: I have used some other notes collected from other sermons over the years. Not sure who to reference but I am so thankful for their help.
Building a Bridge to the Community: Power of the Holy Spirit
Theme: to show the importance of the power of the Holy Spirit in winning our community to Christ.
Text: Luke 7, Acts 1,2,4
Introduction
We got two more messages to close this series of sermons out. What we have been talking about is how we can build a bridge to this community from the church. Actually our goal is to become that bridge that leads them to Christ (the cross).
So far we have said 1) non-judgmental attitude 2) pure love and 3) being next to His presence. Or we could say 1) repentance that comes from knowing we were in Christ and how He saved us and seeing others in the same light. 2)Love that is shown in four ways a) agape-unconditional b)philo – caring c) storge – relationship d)eros-pleasure 3)us having an intimate relationship with God. Something we can feel.
This relationship is a mystery. It is where we find our fulfillment. It is different. There is something soothing and fulfilling. It is was draws people to Christ. It was causes people to do strange things.
It caused the disciples to drop everything and follow Him. It causes many people to give up life and home because they found the greatest treasure. It caused people crowds and crowds of people to follow Christ. It was nothing for 5 -10 thousand people to gather around Christ.
It is what brings us our greatest purpose. When we know that there is something missing we find Christ. When we know that there is more out there than this physical world, we find Christ. When we just quit running and fall on our face before the Lord and say I give up, we find Christ.
It was cause you to do strange things as we see in this story of the woman who gave up everything to follow Christ.
Yet as this is such a great mystery I believe that there is a greater mystery that comes along with this relationship. It is this mystery that is many times the drawing power to Christ. It is not this mystery that saves people. When people try to be saved on this mystery then they are always looking for more. Yet it is that drawing power that is in our heritage and that which we can never escape or give up on. No matter how saficated we become.
Acts 1:7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 "But you shall 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."
This is the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together (this was the attraction), and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
True Pentecostal Revival
A Pentecostal revival is not:
a revival of programs
a revival of human personalities
a revival of pomp and circumstance
1. Passion
2. Power
3. Presence
Purpose of this power.
To bring conviction.
John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (8) "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; (11) "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
I. Holy Spirit
Work inside of the believer
A. His conviction of
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove (convict, expose, refute, and convince) the world of (1) sin, and of (2) righteousness, and of (3) judgment:
(1) 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The Holy Spirit will expose and reprove sin and unbelief in order to awaken a consciousness of guilt and the need of forgiveness. Conviction also makes clear the fearful results if the guilty persist in their wrong doing. After conviction, a choice must be made. This will often lead to true repentance and a turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-38
(2) 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
The Spirit convinces people that Jesus is the righteous Son of God, resurrected, vindicated, and now the Lord of all. He makes them aware of God’s standard of righteousness in Christ, shows them what is sin, and gives them power to overcome the world.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18 AV)
(3) 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The Spirit convinces people of:
(a) Satan’s defeat at the cross.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (John 12:31 AV)
Satan has been defeated and was judged on the cross. The cross put the final nail in the coffin. It put the final touches on ending the game. The king has been trapped and all that is wanting is the final call of “Checkmate”
To bring truth -
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
To bring salvation
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND REGENERATION – Jesus and Nicodemus
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ASSURANCE OF SALVATION - Romans
To bring miracles and wonders and healings
Often times we read a very important statement made in the book of Acts. As the disciples would go out the Bible tells us that that they would go out being “filled with the Holy Spirit”. As the Apostles called forth for deacons God spoke to them and said, “find me some men who are filled with the Holy Spirit”. Set them forth. Then you see these men, like Phillip become ministers of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit.
How to receive the Holy Spirit
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18 AV)
II. Power
Work outside of the believer
It is a common known fact that there will be signs that follow after believers.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18 AV)
Signs that follow believers:
Is there signs that follow believers as we have read?
Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Here he is speaking of recognizing and discerning the false prophets. But I believe that we can also apply it to the one that calls himself a follower of Christ.
All these signs can be recognized as happening in the New Testament church except for drinking poison and I guess unless someone did it on purpose (which is odd) then no one would know that God protected them.
a) casting out devils (Acts 5;15-16,16:18,19:11-12)
b) speak with new tongues (Acts 2:4,10:46,19:6,1Cor 12:20,ch 14)
As a matter of fact to go along with this Paul talks of a whole list of gifts that come with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
c) take up serpents . . . it shall not hurt them (escaping snakebites) (Acts 28:3-5)
I don’t think this is condoning “snake handling” or “drinking poison”. We are to use common sense and make sure we don’t “Tempt the Lord our God”
d) lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Acts 3:1-7,8:7,9:33-34,14:8-10,28:7-8)
There are there for four purposes:
1) to bring glory and honor to God
2) to bring salvation to others as they see these signs
3) to bring healing to the body of Christ and those around
4) to show that one is truly a believer
Although believers should not follow signs, signs should follow believers.
Each miraculous demonstration of God’s power focused attention on the Lord Jesus Christ. Each power encounter resulted in multiplication of the church.
1. YOU MUST CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE PROMISE:
You have the power to accept the promise of God, to reject it, or ignore it. Many people have rejected the promise of spiritual power. They believe it was only for the early Church. Others have ignored it. They read the promises in the Bible, but do not act upon them. These people do not have the demonstration of God’s power in their lives because they have exercised their own power of choice and failed to claim the promise.
2. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES:
To possess any Biblical promise, you must understand the principles upon which it is based. Promises of God are always based on certain principles which always involve a response from man.
To experience the promise of spiritual power, you must understand the Biblical principles of power. In the natural world, it is similar to reading the instructions that come with a product to learn how to operate it properly.
These principles are often not taught --- that just leads to religion --- but rather they are imparted BY THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF!. He wants us to be powerFULL and powerFILLED Christians.
(MAT 16:13-19) Who do you say I am? And the result……… power in action!
Hence the reason to read and study the Word of God – so that you can learn to live like the Word tells you to!
3. YOU MUST APPLY THE PRINCIPLES:
Someone can give you a gift. You can choose to accept it. It will come with instructions. You can read the instructions and understand them. But unless you use the instructions to operate the gift, the product is still useless to you.
Mere understanding of the Biblical power principles is not enough. You must apply these principles to your own life and ministry.
BEYOND BLESSING TO POWER
Many Christians do not experience power because they never get beyond the point of spiritual blessing. The Holy Spirit begins to move upon them and they feel great joy so they sing, shout, dance, or cry. They are blessed by God and respond emotionally.
There is nothing wrong with this. The Bible is filled with such spiritual experiences. BUT GOD WANTS TO MOVE HIS PEOPLE BEYOND THE POINT OF BLESSING INTO THE REALM OF SPIRITUAL POWER, BEYOND EMOTION TO DEMONSTRATION.
Conclusion
Maybe that is what you need this morning more than any other thing. In your marriage, you need the “power of the Holy Spirit”. In that person you been
