The Holy Spirit & His Work
Introduction:
A Jack Harris was an older man, gardener, winter he was stuck in his house.
1 Every year his kids got him a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas to give him something to do over the winter months.
a One year, 5000 piece puzzle: took him 16 months to put it together.
b After looking at the puzzle he found it was missing one piece: disappointed.
aa Daughter tried to contact the puzzle company, but piece was not available any longer.
bb It was sad to Jack because the puzzle was never really complete.
2 I believe churches should feel tremendous sympathy for Jack Harris because we too experience the feeling of a missing piece . . . a missing person, really . . .Holy Spirit.
a Though many churches confesses the Holy Spirit to be fully God, seldom worshiped. . . often ignored.
b He’s mentioned, but not a meaningful part of the life of the church.
B The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.
1 He did not come into existence on the Day of Pentecost, but He came into prominence.
a 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' "39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 (NASB)
we are told that at the ascension & glorification of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was to be poured out on the church in great measure.
b Acts 2 records that powerful/remarkable moment!
2 There were sounds not heard since the Holy Spirit roared over the waters of creation.
a Sights eyes had never seen in divided tongues of fire.
b There was a supernatural miracle of speaking and understanding that took place.
I The History of Pentecost
A Pentecost, in most people’s mind, is what they think of when you hear the word “Pentecostal.” (Pentecost has a much richer history & meaning)
1 In Exodus, at the first Passover, the Hebrews are making their way out of Egyptian bondage.
a 50 days later they are at the bottom of Mt. Sinai, already growing frustrated.
aa Moses comes off Sinai with the God-given commands (Not the 10 yet, but the promises & covenant conditions that the people willingly agreed to do.
bb God then tells Moses to tell the people He wants to talk to the people in such a way they can hear God for themselves.
b There were instructions on purification to sanctify themselves, & on the third day, Pentecost, God came down and dwelt upon Sinai. (The people had gathered just as instructed.)
aa People saw fire & heard thunder and the sound of trumpets.
bb 16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Ex 19:16 (NASB)
people trembled at the sound they heard.
2 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. Ex 19:19 (NIV) “God answered him by voice. . .”
a Means some just heard noise (thunder, wind, trumpets) while others heard an audible voice of God.
b Ch. 19, continues with Moses going to the mountain to speak to God, then Moses would go back down the mountain and talk to the people.
B 1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, Ex 20:1 (NASB)
1 In the Bible, this wasn’t another chapter, verse, but a continuation of the story begun in Exodus 19.19.
a What God wanted the people to hear (Ex. 20.2-17) were the 10 Commandments.
aa In short, God wanted His word to live inside them but the people were too afraid.
bb Again, not everybody heard the voice (only noise.)
b 19 Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die." Ex 20:19 (NASB)
2 1,500 years later, the events of Acts 2, we see the apostles & other disciples in the Upper Room. (Where Christ told them to wait for the Holy Spirit.)
a 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3 (NKJV)
aa sat (kathizo) can mean to sit or hover, but here . . . to dwell.
bb The fire came down to dwell in the believers there.
b 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (NKJV)
aa began to speak : They were saying something . . . but what?
bb 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6 (NKJV)
3 Many people were in Jerusalem from all over to celebrate Pentecost.
a The people heard their own languages, native tongues coming from various disciples
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" Acts 2:6-12 (NKJV)
aa Some see tongues (glossa) as earthly language, on first read, this text supports that argument.
bb 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." Acts 2:13 (NKJV)
b What did they hear to mock?
aa We know the people in the upper room were saying something; so why did some hear their own language and some hear the kind of babbling that would cause them to believe that the disciples were simply drunk?
bb They heard the sound but didn’t understand the sound.
C Let’s compare the two events: Pentecost @ Sinai & Pentecost @ Jerusalem.
1 Exodus: God tried to place His word in the hearts of His children, but they refused out of fear. Acts: His children were ready to receive.
2 Pentecost, as well as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is God breaking open the windows of heaven to place the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead into the lives of those who are willing to accept it. Are you willing?
II The Curse of Babel
A After the flood, mankind was joined together/united in geography, culture, language, and purpose. (What the world seeks after today, but look what happened in Genesis.)
1 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Gen 11:6 (KJV)
a imagined, Very negative connotation. (Implies plotting, scheming)
b God saw the wickedness in their hearts, saw that their ability to do evil was enhanced by their ability to speak a common language.
c God dispersed them, confounded their language...and this curse lasted through the centuries up until the time of Christ.
aa God raised up governments/empires that unified much of the known world.
bb At the time of Christ, the Roman Empire had succeeded the Grecian empire of Alexander the Great, facilitate travel throughout the empire by building roads, and unified the empire’s speech by adopting a from of Greek as its common language.
cc This common speech helped spread the Gospel but it was also a physical manifestation of a greater spiritual truth.
2 At Pentecost the curse of Babel was reversed, and all the nations could hear the good news of Jesus.
a Peter preached a powerful sermon based upon Joel’s prophecy . . .
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Acts 2:16 (KJV)
b The message was preached, 3,000 received salvation, and the church was born.
c 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)
speaks of the gift of the Spirit, but what does the Holy Spirit do?
III The Work of the Spirit is Indispensable
A The Scriptures show us the extreme prominence/significance of the Holy Spirit.
B We turn the pages of our spiritual history and find that Scripture teaches us that the Holy Spirit:
a Agent of creation.
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Gen 1:2 (NASB)
b Inspired the sacred Scriptures
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:21 (NASB)
c Conceived the Lord Jesus in the womb of Mary
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35 (NASB)
d Filled Jesus at His baptism
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, Matt 3:16 (NASB)
e Taught through Jesus.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted ; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; Isaiah 61:1 (NASB) (Luke 4.18)
f Raised Jesus from the dead.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 (NASB)
g Birthed the church into being (Acts 2)
h Convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
7 "But 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 go, I will send Him to you.8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. John 16:7-11 (NASB)
i Brings the new birth
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again .'8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8 (NASB)
j Speaks to the church today (Rev. 2-3)
k Enables us to pray
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26 (NASB)
l Makes the Word of God come alive
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12 (NASB)
m Makes worship possible
20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."21 Jesus said* to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.22 "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.24 "God is spirit , and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:20-24 (NASB)
n Glorifies Jesus
13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:13-14 (NASB)
IV The Work of the Spirit is Individual
A Your experience with the Holy Spirit will be your experience.
1 It won’t be some pale imitation of the experience had by someone you love or admire.
a God wants to do a work in you that can only be done by you!
b To help the believer accomplish this work, God has sent His precious Holy Spirit.
2 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)
The gift of the Spirit is God Himself indwelling the believer.
a The gifts of the Spirit are the abilities of Jesus manifested through His people.
b The filling of the Holy Spirit is the action/power of Jesus in and through His people. . .which is a repeated event
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, Eph 5:18 (NASB)
aa It’s the filling that enables the believer to bear the witness to Christ.
bb The baptism of the HS is the acceptance by Jesus into the realm of the Spirit, especially the body of Christ, the Church. (Once and for all event)
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:13 (NASB)
11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matt 3:11 (NASB)
B The fruit of the Spirit is the attitude of Jesus demonstrated in the life of the believer
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal 5:23-24 (NASB)
C The call of the Spirit is the anointing of Jesus sometimes described as the Spirit coming upon (Greek, eip, “into”) an individual for a special service.
V The Work of the Holy Spirit is Inscrutable
A The Holy Spirit will not be used!
1 Those who believe they can live in sin and still flow in the work of the Spirit are headed for disaster. (They are heading “where angels fear to tread.”)
a The Holy Spirit will not be managed, fit into a human mold.
b Either He is in control or He will not stay around.
c For some this seems selfish/tyrannical, but it’s only because they don’t understand that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.2 Cor 3:17 (NASB)
2 The Holy Spirit cannot be contained
8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (NASB)
a It’s like trying to rope a hurricane!
b He pictures the river of God flowing our of the Temple.
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side. 3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles.4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins.5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded.6 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other.8 Then he said to me, "These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh .9 "It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.10 "And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.11 "But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh ; they will be left for salt.12 "By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing." Ezek 47:1-12 (NASB)
aa 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' " John 7:38 (NASB)
Said out of the temple of our hearts there could be a river of living water. LIKE A MIGHTY FIRE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD CONSUMES.
bb 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29 (NASB)
c To try to contain the Holy Spirit is impossible.
B He will break the dam of denominationalism, transform tradition.
1 When you receive Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you.
2 He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son.
a He comes to bring gifts, to bear fruit, to fill, to anoint, and to enable.
b Big question: Do you have the Holy Spirit?
c 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:8-9 (KJV)
3 The believer is “led by the Spirit of God,” and God’s Spirit bears witness with the believer’s spirit that he is a child of God
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:14-16 (NASB)
a The Spirit of Christ sends the birthing of “Abba Father” into our hearts
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father! Gal 4:6 (NASB)
24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24 (NASB)
13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:13 (NASB)
b Just as important a question as “Do you have the Holy Spirit?” is the question “Does the Holy Spirit have you?”
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
