March 7, 2004
Morning Worship
Text: 1 Samuel 10:1-7
Subject: The Holy Spirit
Title: You Shall Be Changed
Revival is here! I have been waiting to say that for many years. I have looked here and there searching for evidence of revival wherever I have been. I’ve been to the mountaintop, thinking revival had come, and have spent time in the valleys of disappointment when it did not last. But I’m telling you now that revival is here and I believe it is here to stay and it is not at all what I thought it would look like. This revival has quietly taken place in the hearts of many and has stirred this church to worship, exalt, love, and serve the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit. This revival is not defined by the sensational outward experiences that often occur, but is characterized by an awesome sense of expectation every time we come together. We expect to see people healed, delivered, filled. We expect the word of God to come alive when it goes forth. We expect the gifts of the Spirit to be fully operational so that every time we come together, Jesus is magnified through the Spirit. I want to continue today, not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Who is the Holy Spirit? Various groups have described the spirit as an impersonal force, an abstract principle, a subordinate being, or even as an angel. But what does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? Let’s first look at the Holy Spirit on the spiritual plane. The Holy Spirit is mentioned on an equal level with God. In the great commission, Jesus tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” By using the word, “another” (GR. Allos) Jesus is saying that the Father and I will send another one just like Me. He is equal in power, authority, majesty, and importance. But His job is not the same as Jesus’. Jesus’ purpose was redemption; the Holy Spirit’s purpose is empowerment.
The Holy Spirit is named by many different names in the Bible. He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of the Lord.
He is a person. God gives life … “through His Spirit who dwells in you…”. It is the Spirit who bears witness…” John 14:26, “He will teach you all things…” Romans 8:26, “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…”.
The Holy Spirit has emotions. He can be grieved, and He loves.
He has a mind, He speaks, He knows, has awareness, can be lied to, can be tested, is a witness, forbids, searches, and teaches.
The one thing that the Spirit does not do is exalt Himself. John 16:13-14, “However, when He, the spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
The reason that I have gone into this preliminary teaching about the person of the Holy Spirit is because the Holy Spirit is central to revival in this church. Why do I say that? 1) “The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” 2) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” 3) No one comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father who sent Him. How does that happen? The convicting power of the Holy Spirit. In essence, revival is all about getting closer to God. It doesn’t happen without the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives.
Our passage today is from the book of 1 Samuel. It defines the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. If this is the type of thing that happened before the Holy Spirit was given to all, how much more should it be happening today?
I. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL COME UPON YOU.
A. The Holy Spirit Ministers. Which member of the trinity has His total ministry here on earth? The Holy Spirit. God revealed Himself to humanity in a pre-incarnate form. Jesus walked the earth for about 33 years. But the Holy Spirit has been here since the creation. In Genesis 1 He hovered above the face of the waters. In Genesis 41 speaking of Joseph, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?” Moses was empowered by the Spirit. All the Prophets were enabled by the Spirit. The judges were raised up by the Spirit. The New Testament believers receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved. Ephesians 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” When you accept Christ the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you.
B. Jesus is the Baptizer. Let us look at what all four gospels say about Jesus. Matthew 3:11, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…” Mark 1:8, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Luke 3:16, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…” John 1:33, “this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” The sealing of the Holy Spirit at salvation is not the same as the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Turn over to Acts 19 verse 2, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, we have not heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. Verse 3, And he said to them, Into what then were you baptized? So, they said, into John’s baptism. Verse 4, Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance saying to the people that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” These believers in Jesus knew enough to know that their faith in Christ was not the Spirit Baptism that was to come. They did not realize that the Holy Spirit that was promised had been given. But they wanted to receive. Verse 5, “And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
C. Power For Life. “And when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you shall be My witnesses…” Why do people go through their entire Christian experience without receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Some don’t know. Others don’t believe. Still others think that if they receive power through the baptism, more will be required of them. But those people fail to understand that when they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, it is no longer their power at work but the power of God working through them. In Acts 18 Apollos was a Jewish Christian who it says was fervent in spirit (his own) and spoke and taught accurately the things of Jesus. But he knew only the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. They taught him about the baptism in the Holy Ghost. He in turn went to Achaia and greatly helped “those who had believed through grace.” How? He taught them about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Christian living comes from the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Power packed living comes from the Holy Spirit overflowing from you – being immersed in the Spirit as you were in water baptism. It is the magnification of the measure of the Spirit that dwells in you at the time of regeneration. Like any part of your physical body, if you do not use the power available, the muscle tone will dwindle.
II. YOU WILL PROPHESY
A. Speaking the Word of God. Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Spirit that comes after you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. “He who prophesies edifies the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:4) Many strictly equate prophecy with foretelling the future. Prophecy is forth telling – speaking forth God’s word - and that builds the kingdom. Do you know that prophecy is one of satan’s greatest enemies? Because it builds the church. Satan doesn’t want to see the church built. He is thrilled to see denominations argue over pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib rapture. He doesn’t care that denominations are coming together in fellowship and compromise trying to work out theological differences. He loves to see churches focus on social venues to try to change society in their own power. But don’t ever let the churches come together in the power of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and begin to work as a united force in the world. Don’t let the main line denominations come to the understanding of the nature and work of the Holy Spirit in the kingdom of God, because when the Holy Spirit is talked about and understood in the church the strongholds of the enemy are being torn down one by one and the word of God is going forth with revelation and understanding like never before. With the baptism of the Holy spirit and renewed emphasis on the speaking forth of God’s word in the world, the sword of the spirit is being taken into the world with a vengeance and satan is loosing his grip on his kingdom. Satan does not care if church goers tell everybody that “God is love”, but let a born again, Spirit filled, tongue talking, Bible thumping, stronghold crushing Christian start telling people about hell, and the thief, murderer, destroyer, the accuser of the brethren, and how he is a liar who roams around like a hungry lion, seeking those he may devour, and he knows that his kingdom is in trouble. Let the word of God go out from the mouth of a Holy Ghost baptized man or woman or boy or girl and watch the enemy tuck his tail and run. Church it is time to stand up once again in the power of the Holy ghost and tell the world that Jesus is real, He died for their sins, and He is alive and He is coming back for His church.
B. It’s a Matter of Choice. The only thing that will keep you from being the man or woman of God is your doubt. Pastor Mike, you just don’t know how nervous I get when I talk to people. I don’t know what to say. My tang gets all toungled up. My tongue gets wrapped around my eye - teeth and I can’t see what I want to say. Pastor, I’m just not made that way. I’m a shy person by nature. God surely wouldn’t expect me to stand up in front of someone and be bold would He? You bet He would! In fact He commanded it! You have the word of God right in front of you. Jesus told His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all things that I said to you.”!!!!!!! The apostle Paul took a young man with him on his missionary journeys and trained him to be a pastor. He wrote a letter of encouragement to him and said, “Timothy, remember your genuine faith that you have and your mother and grandmother had before you. Remember, and then stir up the gift of the God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Use your spiritual gifts. Timothy, I know you are a quiet, unassuming young man, but remember that you are baptized in the Holy Ghost and God has not given you a Spirit of fear, but of power, and love and sound mind.” Church it is in our weaknesses that we become strong in the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Use your gifts. Prophesy, speak in tongues, discern the spirits, lay hands on others to be healed, get a word of wisdom, a word of knowledge.
III. YOU WILL BE CHANGED.
A. Natural progression. Do you remember the difference that the Lord made in your life when you made the decision to accept Him as Lord and Savior? I could ask every one of you here to testify of the change in your life – how you were before you accepted Christ – and how you are now. Listen, you need to understand something. If you don’t have a testimony, you need to do a self-check, because people who are saved are changed. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, behold all things become new.” That is the first step of what God has to offer you. Before I received the gift of eternal life I was full of doubt and lacked assurance concerning my eternal state. I felt I could never be sure but could only hope that I was good enough to earn heaven. I’m glad Jesus was good enough, because I failed. After I accepted Christ, a transformation took place. I was sure. I had a new home waiting for me and I wanted to tell everybody about it.
B. Powerful transformation. I received the Baptism in the Spirit some years later. I was quite like the Ephesian believers. I didn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit. I was never taught. But I began to read. I read books – Benny Hinn’s Good Morning Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12-14 (over and over again) went to the St. Louis Catholic Charismatic Conference and heard people praying and singing in the Spirit. I knew that there was something to this baptism in the Holy Spirit so I began to seek after it on my own without any instruction. I did not understand that the Holy Spirit had already been given and all I had to do was ask and receive. It took some time of hungering for more of the Lord but finally it came. And I was turned into a different man. Is the Baptism life changing? Ask Peter. I can see it now. A news conference on the temple steps on the day of Pentecost. Samuel bin Nosy, star reporter for the Jerusalem Post is asking the questions.
“Excuse me sir, can you tell me what is happening here today?”
“Yeah, I can.” (Peter was a hillbilly; you can recognize that by his accent.)
“Is everybody in that upper room drunk?”
“All I can tell you is this. I walk with Jesus. He changed me from a fisherman to a fisher of men. I didn’t change my personality much though. I was a big talker, always the first one to speak out on any subject. I cut off a guy’s ear once. Even though I was a big talker, I was the first to run when they accused me of bein’ with Jesus. I was about to give up when they crucified Him. Then we saw Him alive after we knew He had died. He told us to come here and wait for the promise of the Father. We’ve been here ten days prayin’ and singin’. ‘are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb…”
“Then what happened?”
“We was just sittin’ there when we heard a noise like the wind and we saw tongues of fire that lit on each one of us and people started laughing, and praisin’ God, and stumblin’ around and every one of us started talkin’ in some kind of language we didn’t even know. The next thing you know, I’m standin’ on the temple steps preachin’ words I didn’t even remember that I remembered. People started getting’ nervous and askin’ questions, wantin’ to get saved. Before you know it, three thousand are at the altar givin’ their hearts to Jesus. I didn’t even have time to pass the offering plate.”
The Holy Spirit is the agent of change on the earth. Without His ministry, you could not have been drawn to Christ. Without His seal upon your life you would not know that you are a child of God. Without His witness in your heart, you could not be assured of eternal life. Without His guiding, you could not know truth. Without the baptism in Him you will never make an impact on your world. But somewhere, somehow, we have forgotten the kind of church we are supposed to be. Even in some of our hymns the songwriters seem to have given up and given in to the fact that satan is going to rule on earth for a while. #425 in your hymn book. “Hold the Fort” verse 2 says, “See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on; Mighty men around us falling, Courage almost gone…” Folks that’s not the church I read about in my Bible. See the mighty host advancing, Jesus leading on!!! Holy Ghost filled men and women of God are standing for the kingdom and pounding the gates of hell that cannot prevail against us. Satan cringes at the mere prospect of one Spirit filled believer rising up in faith and power against the satanic forces of this world to tear down the strongholds that he has been building since the fall of man. As we move forward in our community with the sword of the Spirit, the prompting of the Spirit, and the power of the Spirit, we cannot be halted but must continue forward till the day of Christ Jesus. The walls of this city are about to fall with the shout of triumph from the people of God. Revival is here. It is the revival of biblical Christianity with the holiness of God, the salvation of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit taking hold of believers of all denominations once again to become united in the Spirit to take back what satan has stolen. The enemy wants to conform you to the world and deform you in sickness and sin. The Holy Ghost has come to form you, conform you, transform you, inform you, and reform you in power to be a paratrooper in the army of God, ready to fly into the enemy’s strongholds and tear them down in Jesus’ name. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. That abundant life can only come through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and active participation in His power.
Are you ready to do battle?
Are you ready for revival?
