The Holy Spirit is Not A Side Show Act
When I was a new Christian I latched on to anything that had Christian in it. I had every part of Jesus Christ Superstar memorized. Then I found out it was written by a Jew and an atheist and was not meant to be a worship album albeit some churches still have their choirs perform it. I also sang along with Neil Diamond’s “Brother Love’s Salvation Show.” Not sure what the songwriter’s or Neil’s intent was as it could be a fond memory of such meetings or a mockery. I am afraid that some have tried to make the Holy Spirit some sort of circus side show act. You cannot promise miracles and healings will happen because Paul left Trophimus was left at Miletum sick rather than immediately healed. There are many things that go on that may make a meeting exciting or theatrical, but I am fairly sure it is not the fruit of the Spirit.
I have been reading through Acts as my personal devotions and some things have caught my eye since the Lord gave me the last message I preached. I am going to share a few verses that speak to the kinds of things that happen when the Holy Ghost moves or people are full of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Obviously, this is a very familiar passage and in essence a keystone passage for Pentecostals. Yet, I think we often get caught in up the fact of tongues, but fail to see what was going on. The very first act of the Spirit was to fill the 120 in the room, but the second act was to get them into the street and evangelize. Too often we want the Spirit to fill us to solve some problem, bring us a sense of ecstasy or something else personal.
Jesus told them that they would receive power when the Holy Ghost came upon them. Indeed, what was that power for? Here it is clearly to win souls as a start of the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Did they feel goosebumps or joy? I am sure there was some joy, but that joy translated into service that is near and dear to God as it is what Jesus came to do. Seek and save those that are lost. It was power for service, not pew sitting.
It was power for preaching. Peter spoke like he never did before. He had denied Christ for fear of three people and now he is boldly preaching in front of three thousand. He had never been to a homiletic or expository preaching class, but he was getting truth out and it was convicting the people to repentance, not rebellion because the Spirit was all over the audience.
Sometimes, the Spirit empowering your message will get some people saved and some mad. John Wesley asked his preacher boys two questions after they came back from a preaching opportunity. “Did anyone get saved?” If they answered no, he asked, “Did anyone get mad?” If they answered no, he told them to go home because they were not called to preach because preaching will lead to salvations or anger. He did not believe true preaching would leave someone apathetic.
Peter in chapter four led five thousand to the Lord before he was arrested by religious elite. Sometimes the ones that should be the most open to a Spirit empowered sermon are the ones most against it. When William Carey, the father of modern missions, addressed a board for support they told him to “Sit down, you miserable enthusiast!” Fortunately, for many souls he did not sit down and shut up.
Act 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,…
Peter was full of the Holy Ghost and again faced a body of people that were anti-Christ and the Gospel without fear. Boldness in the face of enemies is a normal result of the Spirit being in control of a saint.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
This is how you pray when persecuted. You bring the story to God. He will handle a situation. What was the reward? The building shook and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost! What did they do when filled? They spoke the word of God with boldness. There were no theatrics.
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Again we see great power that would be of the Holy Ghost being used to speak of the Gospel and part of results of that preaching was great grace upon everyone.
Act 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
When the Holy Spirit empowers you see people healed and demons cast out as the following verses show. No one is acting strangely in this except maybe the demons as they were cast out. No one is doing belly flops across the platform or hissing like snakes. Brother Homer is not running head long into a wall.
Act 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
When the Spirit empowers or fills people He can send angels to open prison doors. He makes people rejoice that they have been persecuted and even beaten. They continue their ministry knowing they may be arrested and beaten again! Indeed, people are empowered to go through troubles not around them. Paul said that it is not only given us to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake so if you are looking to be filled to have an easy life you are looking for the wrong thing and may be greatly disappointed. He is not a spa treatment.
Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Stephen and the others were full of faith and the Holy Ghost yet served in a position that was probably not overly fun and not glamorous. Indeed, he walked into a ministry where there had been complaints and mistrust. Making people happy especially in the food area is hard as any military Mess Sergeant will attest. The Holy Ghost may call you into a servile and sometimes thankless ministry. Then again, Jesus said that if you wanted to be chief you need to become the servant of all. Stephen was later martyred after giving a powerful message. As he died he saw heaven open and Jesus standing there. If you want a vision of heaven you may have to be about to die a martyr to see it.
Act 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Barnabas was a Spirit filled exhorter and soul winner. He built up the saints as well as building up the church membership.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
When you are full of the Holy Ghost you have discernment and will call out the false prophets and in this case even curse them. Indeed, as a good shepherd a pastor is called to call out the wolves and hirelings to protect the sheep.
I cannot go through the whole book of Acts in one sermon, but I believe I have made my point clear. The Holy Spirit is not a circus act performing at 10, 2 and 4. He is not a spa treatment designed to fulfill our personal desires. He is not weird. Everything He empowers a person to do is for a purpose not to appease the needs of an audience or enliven a meeting. I think bringing a soul to Christ, healing of all kinds and bringing boldness to saints to preach the Word even before the enemies while convicting the world of sin and righteousness as He leads the saints into all truth is enough. He need not resort to parlor tricks or making people do things unseemly or appear insane.
You may have some odd preconceived notions about the Holy Spirit based upon some teaching you received or by something you experienced. Dump those and ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment as you the read the book of Acts. See what was the purpose of the miracle or what a person did when they were filled. You may be very surprised and have a better understanding of Him and appreciation for the work He does. Maranatha!!!
