The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
There’s something significant about Luke writing that the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas were sent out as missionaries by the church in Antioch – Acts 13:1-4. The Holy Spirit guided them in their travel first to Seleucia and then they sailed on to the Island of Cyprus and stopped at Salamis to preach the Gospel in a Jewish meeting place. Young John Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas and Luke the personal medical doctor for the team of disciples.
They traveled the length of the Island and at Paphos they met the governor of the Island, Sergius Paulus. The governor invited Paul and Barnabas to tell him about the Good news of Jesus, but a Sorcerer named Elymas or Bar-Jesus was a false prophet. He was a wizard and Fortuneteller. He did all he could to keep the governor from becoming a believer. But Paul full of the Holy Spirit looked the false prophet in the eye and said, “You bag of wind, you parody of a devil-why are you staying up nights to think of ways to scheme up ways to cheat people out of knowing God. Now you have met the true God and His hand is against you and you are going blind and for a time you will not see any light. He immediately started stumbling around and asked for people to help him. When the governor saw that happened he became a believer full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about Jesus.
From Paphos they put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia and then on to Antioch in Pisidia. Paul went to the Jewish synagogue and preached God’s plan of salvation telling how moved in history using prophets to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus the Messiah.
The following Sabbath the people of the city crowed the meeting place and when some of the Jewish leaders saw how many people turned out to hear Paul they were jealous and stirred up the crows to shout out with so much noise Paul could not be heard. Paul continued to preach and declared that he would take the good news next to all Gentiles. Non-Jewish people rejoiced at the news but the so called religious Jews turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium to preach the good news there. Verse 52: “And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”
In spite of opposition and hardships Paul and Barnabas did not walk around flatfooted bemoaning the resistance they faced in preaching the Gospel. They moved forward empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Joy is not something static. Joy is dynamic. Joy is a by-produce of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not some spooky ghost or a scary presence. The Holy Spirit only seems scary and spooky to those who are not acquainted with the miracle work and power of God. I like to refer to the third person of the Godhead as the Holy Spirit and not the Holy Ghost.
I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
The Holy Spirit has personality. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. During the times of the Old Testament God the Father was at work, during the time of Jesus, The Son of God was prominent. At Pentecost and following Pentecost the Holy Spirit became prominent.
The Holy Spirit was involved in Creation: Genesis 1:1,2, 2:7
The Holy Spirit “Thinks.” Acts 15:28
The Holy Spirit “Speaks” Acts 1:16
The Holy Spirit “Leads” Romans 8:14
The Holy Spirit “Grieves” Ephesians 4:30
The Holy Spirit is not a strange manifestation. Acts chapter 2 on the Day of Pentecost the various signs and symbols communicated the Divine Presence of God. They were a one time appearance – Sound of wind – tongues of fire and languages. All described the divine presence of God. The word for wind in Hebrew and Greek is the same word used for Spirit with a capital S. Fire was symbolic of cleaning and God’s presence. Everyone present heard the good news in his/her own language. It may have been a gift of hearing. They did not have headsets with translators. The Holy Spirit did all the translations so regardless of your native language you understood what Peter was saying. Today you don’t need to hear a wind, or have fire on your head or speak a different language to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not a feeling. Emotion is okay but emotions come and go.
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost or an evil spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus had a radiant and balanced personality. You do not need to be afraid of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will make you like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit has personality with logic and understanding. It is not a thing or an object. It is not a dove or bird. The symbol of a dove often represents the Holy Spirit.
Jesus always referred to the Holy Spirit with a personal pronoun, “He” or “Him.” “I will send Him unto you…When He is come...He will guide you into all truth.”
The Holy Spirit also has emotion. Paul wrote, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit.” You can’t grieve an inanimate object. You can only grieve a person with feeling. Paul also wrote, “Quench not the Spirit or as Phillips translation says, “Never damp the fire of the Spirit.”
Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira desired to receive special honor in the early church in Jerusalem and sold a piece of property to donate to the church. The property was worth so much say $25,000 and they said they were giving the total value of the property and only gave 10,000 to the church. Peter said to them: “Why have you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back some of the money for yourself. You have not lied to men but to God.”
The scripture is clear in its teaching that the Holy Spirit is a person.
II. What is the primary work of the Holy Spirit?
-The Holy Spirit Continues the Work Started by Jesus-
The Spirit of the Lord was active in the Old Testament by gifting individuals for specific tasks.
Bezalel – Artist – Exodus 31:3-5
Gideon – Leadership – Judges 6:15, 34
Samson – Judges 15:14
Prophet Isaiah – Proclaimed Truth – Isaiah 61:1-2
Promise of the Holy Spirit – no longer to individuals but to all – Joel 2:28-29
John the Baptist introduced Jesus as Jesus entered His public ministry. “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist said: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus taught that when he returned to heaven He would send the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-8 “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.”
Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all that He had said to them. (John 14:26) The Spirit would guide them into all the truth and show them things that were to come. (John 16:13) The Spirit would dwell in them and abide with them forever (John 14:16-17) The Spirit would also bear witness to Christ and glorify Him at all times. (John 15:26, 16:14)
Jesus told his disciples that after he ascended back to heaven they were to wait in Jerusalem until they endued with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). Jesus promised the disciples that they would be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit within a few days and that they would receive power to become effective and bold witnesses for Him throughout the world. (Acts 1:5,8)
Today we find ourselves on the other side of Pentecost. We live in what is called the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost the Holy Spirit empowered certain leaders like Sampson, Gideon, Elijah and Elisha. Now since Pentecost the Holy Spirit is available to all.
The Holy Spirit is a Person, the Third Person of the Godhead. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit continues the work and ministry started by Jesus during his earthly ministry.
III. The Holy Spirit Empowers for Service
Luke 24:48-49
Acts 1:1-8
Acts 2:1-13
“The disciples were filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit.”
The scriptures are clear that when you accept Jesus into your life you have the Holy Spirit. When you invite Jesus into your heart you are born again by the Holy Spirit. The non-Christian has the Holy Spirit working from the outside in bringing conviction of sin and guilt for sins committed.
The first step in experiencing joy is to accept Jesus and experience being born from above by the Spirit of God. Without Jesus in your life all you can hope for is human joy and human joy does not last.
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. He was wealthy and had high honor in the Jewish community. He came to Jesus and Jesus said, “Nicodemus you must be born again. You have been born of the flesh but you also need to be born of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus would say to the homeless person and to the millionaire CEOs of the Silicon Valley, “You must be born again.” Jesus would say to the average citizen in America, Asian, African, Mongolian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and church going person- “You must be born again.”
#An Indian Preacher in India told the story of a rich merchant that was being rowed across the river by the village boatman. As they started across, the merchant began to relate how many schools he had attended and how many books he had read. How far did you study in school? he asked the boatman.
“Sir,” answered the boatman, “I’ve never been to school in all my life. I can’t read or write, “Too bad. You have lost one-fourth of your life,” remarked the merchant. Then he began to relate how far he had traveled and all the great sights he had seen. “How much traveling have you done?” he asked the boatman.
“I have never set foot outside this country,” came the boatman’s reply, “You unfortunate man! You have missed half of your life,” commented the merchant. Then he began to boast of his wealth – his fields and houses and bank account. “How much money have you put away in the bank during your lifetime?” he asked.
“Sir, I have no money in the bank. I live from hand to mouth.” “Poor man! You have lost three-fourths of your life,” Remarked the merchant.
Suddenly in midstream, a strong gust of wind overturned the boat, throwing both men into the water. The boatman started swimming with strong strokes toward the shore.
“Help, help! Cried the merchant. “I’m drowning!” “What?” called the boatman! “With all your money and education and travel and you never learned how to swim? I’m telling you that you are about to lose your whole life?”
In his autobiography Just As I Am, Billy Graham recalls a story demonstrating that true greatness is not defined by wealth or fame, but by character.
Some years ago Ruth and Billy Graham visited an island in the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest men in the world had asked them to come to his lavish home for lunch. He was 75 years old, and throughout the entire meal he seemed close to tears. "I am the most miserable man in the world," he said. "Out there is my yacht. I can go anywhere I want to. I have my private plane, my helicopters. I have everything I want to make my life happy, yet I am as miserable as hell." Billy and Ruth Graham talked to him and prayed with him, trying to point him to Christ, who alone gives lasting meaning to life.
Then they went down the hill to a small cottage where they were staying. That afternoon the pastor of the local Baptist church came to call. He was an Englishman, and he too was 75—a widower who spent most of his time taking care of his two invalid sisters. He was full of enthusiasm and love for Christ and others. "I don’t have two pounds to my name," he said with a smile, "but I am the happiest man on this island."
What is it that brings joy and happiness? - The joy of the Lord.
The one basic spiritual need of everyone is to be born again by the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery (wickedness-out of control), instead be filled with the Spirit (under the control of the Lord.)”
Have you seen someone out of control – with rage, anger and spewing out hurtful and foul language? I’ve seen it in a person drunk and out of control. I had an uncle that when he got drunk he was scary and out of control.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be full of the love of Christ and in control and overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit – love, peace, joy, loving kindness, patience and gentleness. When you are full of the Holy Spirit there is no room for bitterness, hatred, anger, rage and a revengeful attitude. If you have a glass of dirty water you can pour oil in the water and the heavy oil will displace all the water until all the dirt is out and you have a cup full of oil. That’s what the Holy Spirit wants to do in your heart and life.
Ephesians 6:18 is a command: “Do not be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” The tense of “be filled” is to keep on being filled. What happens if you quench the Spirit or put out the Spirits fire? Stagnation sets in and you become spiritually dry. John 7 Jesus talks about being full of the Holy Spirit and springs of water – fresh springs pour out with streams of love and joy.
How do you receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit?
1. Make confession. Confess that you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Confess sinful attitudes, disobedience, and be willing to be emptied of all un Christ like attitudes and to die out to all selfish attitudes. It is possible to pray, “Lord fill me,” but inwardly say, “Lord don’t expose my resents, don’t disturb my comforts.” I John 1:9 “If you confess your sins, Jesus is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and the Holy Spirit will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.”
I’m not talking about physical death but spiritual surrender.
# One Sunday morning, Pastor McGhee noticed that little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The 7-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."
"Good morning, Pastor," replied the boy, focused on the plaque. "Pastor McGhee, what is this?" Alex asked.
"Well, son, these are all the people who have died in the service," replied the pastor.
Soberly they stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Little Alex’s voice barely broke the silence when he asked quietly, "Which one, the 9:00 or the 10:30 service?" The dieing to self I’m talking about is found in Galatians 2:20 where Paul said: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and give himself for me.”
2. Repent and ask forgiveness. Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. For ten days they prayed and waited. Then on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came and filled their hearts and empowered them with boldness. Why ten days. It make have taken that long for repentance and seeking forgiveness. Some of the disciples need to go to another individual and ask forgiveness and others needed to ask forgiveness of the entire group. When they were of one heart and one mind the Holy Spirit came.
3. Make a total surrender to the Lord. When you ask Jesus into your heart you have the Holy Spirit. When you surrender totally to the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit now has you.
#Suppose you invite a guest to our home… You tell them to make themselves at home. They can have the run of the house. Your guest opens the closet to hang up clothes and the closet is jammed packed. No room. Your guest opens the chest of draws to put his clothes and all the draws are full of quilts, family pictures and various odds and ends. There is only one place for the clothes back in the suitcase.
When you surrender to the Holy Spirit you are emptying all the closest and drawers of our life and asking the Holy Spirit to come in not as guest but as Lord and Master of all you are and have.
When you become a Christian the Holy Spirit is resident in your life. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to make Him President of your life.
Peter before Pentecost wanted to be in control of his life and ministry. When the angry mob threatened Jesus he took out his sword to take his stand against the army. When Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter influenced others to go back to their old profession of fishing. “I’m a fisherman not a Preacher or Missionary; I fish for fish and not for men.”
On the day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came and filled their hearts Peter is a changed man. He stands up with boldness. Peter is no longer afraid of being arrested and denying the Lord to escape arrest. He stands up for all to hear and preaches a great sermon on the fact of the resurrection of Christ and the need for all to repent and follow Jesus.
Spirit filled Christians were accused of being drunk with wine. They were far too happy to be sober. The world thinks - “You can only really be happy when you are out of your mind drunk with wine or some other drink.” Peter filled with the Holy Spirit stated they were not drunk with wine, they were filled with the Spirit of God and the joy of the Lord.
To have the joy of the Lord may be to be accused of being high on something. Yes you are high on the Joy of the Lord no artificial substance needed.
Total surrender is not taking a piece of paper and writing at the top: My consecration to the Lord and writing in all your resolutions and commitments to the Lord – I will pray, read my Bible every day and attend church on Sundays, I’ll sing in the choir and teach a Sunday school class and pay my tithe-ten percent of my income and all my assets.”
The Lord Jesus hands back the sheet and says: “That’s not what I want. Just sing the paper at the bottom and I’ll fill in the rest.”
Remember the Lord has your best interests in mind. You are not surrendering to a cruel tyrant who wants to make your life miserable and boring. The Lord wants to give you an abundant life and make something out of your life for His honor and glory and the blessing of humankind. You may not always have your way but you’ll discover that His way is the best way.
4. Receive the Filling of the Holy Spirit by faith. Acts 5:32 Peter and John preached to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” In Acts 15:8-9, Peter addressed the church in Jerusalem, concerning the Holy Spirit filling Gentiles as well as Jews: “God who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them b giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”
You are saved by faith and You are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith.
# Corrie Ten Boom explains the work of the Holy Spirit in her life like this:
I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. We are gloves. It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.
Possessing the Fruit of the Spirit is Evidence that you are filled with the Holy Spirit. You may not have the fruit of the Holy Spirit it all the completeness you want but when you desire to live out the fruit of the Spirit you have evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the supreme evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling presence. Galatians 5:23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.” You can’t pass laws to make people posses the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who are surrendered and yielded to continue the work Jesus started.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. This morning you can also be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
#God’s Promise, Luke 11:11-12
Prayer Chorus:
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me, Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
