A few years ago, the power went out on the north side of town. I first noticed it when I saw that the traffic lights weren’t working but I didn’t think much about it until I tried to stop into CVS to pick up some batteries. One of the clerks met me at the door and explained: “I’m sorry we have no electricity. So, we can’t sell you anything.” And I thought… that’s odd! Yeah, all the electricity was out on that side of town, but I just took it for granted that I could walk into that store – even in the middle of a power outage – and get whatever I wanted. But I was wrong! They had no electricity and so they had no power. Without that power, their machines wouldn’t work. They couldn’t run their computers; They couldn’t open their cash registers. They couldn’t log their sales. They were literally shut down because they had NO POWER. It was only when that clerk told me they couldn’t sell me anything that I realized how important that power was for their store. Electricity empowered them to do what they were meant to do.
Now, in today’s text we are in Acts 1:8, and this is the last thing Jesus said before He ascended into heaven: “You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Here’s a question: Why was the POWER of Holy Spirit given to Jesus followers? What was the Holy Spirit supposed to accomplish according to this verse? It says – the Holy Spirit was given so that followers of Jesus could have power to be HIS WITNESSES! In other words – without the power of the Holy Spirit… the church couldn’t have done what they were meant to do! Just like CVS, God’s church would have been shut down. The Church would have been powerless.
Now, what is the name of the Bible book we just read from? It’s called the BOOK OF … (Acts). But actually, Acts has at least 2 other names people use to refer to it. One is “The Acts of the Apostles” because the Apostles did so much establishing the church. The other name folks use is “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”. But why call it that? Because without the Spirit, the church would have been powerless. It was the POWER of the Holy Spirit that gave Christians the ability to WITNESS in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the world.
On the internet, I found a site where someone had compiled a list of all the places in ACTS … where God’s Spirit was involved in empowering and guiding and prompting Christians to do what they did. (https://conwaychristianresources.com/2021/05/blog/the-role-of-the-holy-spirit-in-the-book-of-acts/). I’ve selected 5 of these passages to explain what I saw:
1. (The Apostles) were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.” Acts 2:2-6
The Spirit FILLED the Apostles. The Spirit filled these Apostles with His fire and His presence made it so that got they got the attention of the crowd which led about 3000 to be baptized into Christ. What did the Spirit DO when He filled the Apostles? He made it so that they could speak in languages they’d never learned… but those languages were understandable by the crowds gathered in Jerusalem.
2. There was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." Acts 8:27-29
The SPIRIT prompted Philip to go witness to an Ethiopian Official. Essentially, the Spirit said “See that guy over there? Go talk to Him about Jesus.”
3. While (the leaders at Antioch) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2
We talked about this last week. There were 6 leaders in the church at Antioch who were fasting - probably fasting to ask God’s guidance on what they should do for the church: “WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU GOD” and the Spirit asked them to set Barnabas and Saul/Paul apart for missionary work. This resulted in the church spreading like wildfire across the Roman empire.
4. “(Paul & Silas) went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” Acts 16:6-9
God had an agenda. Paul and Silas wanted to go to Phrygia and Galatian and Bithynia, but God’s Spirit said “I DON’T WANT YOU OVER THERE - I WANT YOU OVER HERE in Macedonia!” So the Holy Spirit Guided them to the destination God had in mind.
5. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31
The Sanhedrin tried to forbid Christians from talking about Jesus, but when these Christians prayed… the Holy Spirit shook the place where they gathered, and – being filled with the Spirit – they spoke with boldness. The Spirit filled them so they were not afraid to speak about their Savior.
That sampling of verses shows us that God’s Spirit - Empowered the 1st century Christians and Guided them and Prompted them to do the things that they did.
Now, why do I tell you all that? I went thru this recitation so that you’ll understand the importance of the Spirit. The Spirit of God was the POWER of the early church, and the Spirit of God is STILL the POWER for the church today.
Romans 8:11 tells us that “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead - dwells in you.” You have the same spirit inside you that the early Christians had. He may do things a little different with us than He did with those early Christians… but HIS PRECENSE in you is intended to give you the power to witness about Christ just like He did for the early Church.
The Spirit was given for other reasons as well but I want you to focus on this idea: the Spirit was given to empower YOU/I to talk to others about Jesus (witness) Now, how does that work? How does the Spirit empower us? Jesus said that WHEN the Spirit came He would “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8) Did you see that? The Spirit is setting you up! He’s working on people all around you… all you and I have to do find them.
ILLUS: (Transcribed monologue of J.John’s story about talking about an Uber ride he had - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1155262542684936 )
“We got in the car and told the guy where we wanted to go, and I just said this: ‘Is there something I can pray for you?’ He said ‘Yes. My mother has Alzheimer’s. Would you please pray for my mother?’ I said “Of course.” I asked for his name and his mother’s name. And I said ‘I’m going to pray now for you in the car while you drive.’ So, I started praying in the car for his mother. I’ve only been in the car one minute. I pray for his mother that God would help his mother and as I’m praying, he’s driving car and he’s going: ‘Oh, I’m sorry God! I’m sorry. I’m sorry God. I’m sorry.” And he starts going on “I’ll go back to church. I’ll go back to church.” I didn’t even tell him I was a Christian. He said that when they got to their destination, he told the Uber driver a little about Jesus and a little about church, and everything else.
And then – from there, we needed to go back to our hotel, and so Killy tries to get an Uber and the Uber app doesn’t work. It’s like “Oh no!” And we didn’t know why it wouldn’t work. And it’s getting a little bit late and we don’t know what to do. And I saw this lady and I said to Killy “Why don’t you ask her?” I don’t know why, but I just kind of felt, ask that lady. So she goes up to the lady and she says “Do you know anything about Uber apps? Because ours isn’t working.” And the lady goes “Oh no, I don’t really. Where are you staying? And Killy says “We’re staying at this hotel. “Oh,” she says “I know where that hotel is at. It’s 20 minutes away. I’ll drive you.”
After we got in the car I say to her “What’s been going in your life?” That’s my opening thing. She goes “Well, I’m devastated. I said “What do you mean?” She said “Four weeks ago my son overdosed and died.” We spent 20 minutes loving her. Sharing the love of God. We got to the hotel. We said “Please, will you wait?” We ran up to our room had loads of resources, brought down the resources, prayed for the woman, invited her to church. I believe that God stopped our Uber app working because he had an appointment with this woman.
My point in showing that video is that the Spirit still guides us… if we let Him.
But I want you to notice this preacher started conversations by focusing on the people’s needs. Can I pray for you? What’s been going on your life? All we need to open the door the Spirit has given us to just ask a question and let the Spirit take the lead. Do that, and people will share their “stories” - and in their stories, those people will tell you about their pain/helplessness/regrets that will give YOU an opportunity to tell them about what Jesus means to you.
One other thing – you don’t have to convict people of their sin. That’s the Spirit’s job. He convicts people of their Sin; of their need for Righteousness; and of the fact there’s a Coming Judgment. But you don’t have to convict anyone. You don’t have to make them feel bad about themselves. A lot of people ALREADY DO feel bad and they’re looking for a way to fix that bad feeling. But if they feel that you care enough to ask about their lives… they’ll tell you their story, and that will give you an opportunity to talk to them about Jesus. Your job is merely to introduce folks to Christ. The Spirit’s job is to SET YOU UP!
ILLUS: J. W. McGarvey was one of the leading founders of our brotherhood and he once talked about the miraculous gifts of the Spirit that were given to the early Christians. He said he would not ask for healing, tongue-speaking, or prophecy. He said would want to be given a gift that would allow him to get people to repent - to change their lives and turn to Christ. That would be the most important gift of all. And was the gift the Spirit gave to the early church.
Last thought – how does God’s Spirit give us this power to witness? Well… he comes and dwells inside of us. That’s what Romans 8:11 meant when it said that “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead - dwells in you.” The same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in you.
When did you get that power? Acts 2:38 tells us it happened when you became a Christian. Peter told the crowds who asked what they should do to be forgiven "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
INVITATION.
Scriptures in Acts explicitly speaking of the power of the Spirit of God in witnessing:
1. (The Apostles) were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.” Acts 2:2-6
2. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by him this man is standing before you well. Acts 4:8-10
3. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31
4. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (and others) who rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Acts 6:8-10
5. There was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." Acts 8:27-29
6. The church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31
7. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." Acts 10:19-20
8. The church in Jerusalem… sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Acts 11:22-24
9. While (the leaders at Antioch) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2
10. It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Acts 15:28-29
11. (Paul & Silas) went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. Acts 16:6
12. (Speaking to the Elders from Ephesus) Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28
