I. HE EMPOWERS US FOR SPIRIT-LED LIVING
John 6:63 ESV - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
A. Empowered to Witness
1. Acts 1:8 (Quote) - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the Uttermost parts of the earth.
a. Our community, Our county/parish, State/Province, The Whole Wide World!
2. Share the fishing example: Why keep fishing where everyone else is fishing? Go to the ponds and lakes that others haven’t been to!
a. Grassroots ministries are the heartbeat of God!
b. Not everyone has a television or the internet!
c. GRASSROOTS STRATEGIES ARE NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD!
B. Empowered to Serve
1. David and Goliath, Bear, Lion – The Spirit of the Lord came upon him!
2. The Church is empowered to serve through Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV - All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
C. Empowered to Pray
1. Romans 8:26 – When the Spirit prays through us with groanings and intercessions.
2. Praying in the Spirit through tongues. (I Corinthians 12:10-11; 14:2, 14-17).
II. HOLY SPIRIT COMPLETES AND SUSTAINS GOD’S WORK
From the foundation of the world until the second coming of Christ and beyond, Holy Spirit is the “Completer” of the Godhead! He could accurately be called the “Divine Administrator” of all things God!
A. In the Earth…
1. He moved on the face of the waters at Creation – Genesis 1:2
2. We will see Him when the ‘New Heavens’ and the ‘New Earth’ are revealed.
a. Revelation 21:3 KJV declares that in that day “the tabernacle of God is with men, (Holy Spirit residing with mankind) and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
B. In Us…
1. He came to the earth corporately baptizing believers in the book of Acts and empowered them to do the mighty work of the church – Acts 2:4
2. He manifests (makes known) God’s presence today as the ‘firstfruits of the Spirit’
Romans 8:23 ESV - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
3. Paul calls Him our ‘seal’ and ‘earnest’ (down payment) of the ‘full manifestation of God in the earth – II Corinthians 1:22; 5:5
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 KJV
21. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 5:5 KJV - Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
III. HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES US – SETS US APART FOR HOLY SERVICE
Sanctify - To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
A. Set apart from the world.
1. There is a standard of holiness that we should live by.
a. Leviticus 20:7 - Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
b. 1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
2. Sometimes people ask me, “Pastor, how do I overcome worldly desires?”
a. My Answer, “You learn to love God, His people, and His work more than anything else in your life!”
B. Set apart from “Powerless Christianity”
1. If I were the devil I would try to convince people that Holy Spirit is not for today.
2. Don’t be ashamed of who you are! You’re a Christian… A Spirit-Filled Christian… A Pentecostal!
a. You can have your powerless brand of faith!
b. “I believe in miracles because I believe in God!” – Kathryn Kuhlman
c. “The greatest testimony that Spirit-filled believers have is a changed life for which there is no natural explanation!” – Dr. Vorce
Luke 10:17-20
17. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18. And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
20. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
CLOSING:
• We all need Holy Spirit inside of us and working every day.
