THE SUPERNATURAL CHURCH #2: FRIENDSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
OPENING TEXTS:
“The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former.” (Haggai 2:9).
Discuss why this Scripture has been troubling me.
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait…until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49).
The church today is a powerless church, but its time to change that. We need the power!
ACTS CHAPTER ONE:
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3).
Paraphrase Acts 2:1-4.
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them… But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ’And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:16-17).
THIS WEEK: THE SUPERNATURAL CHURCH #2:
Original title ideas: “Understanding” or “Encountering” the Holy Spirit. No good.
This sermon is not to just learn facts, or experience a ’force’. It’s about: “Friendship with the Holy Spirit!”
MAIN TEXT: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Cor. 13:14).
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT:
- Look at all the times in the Book of Acts we see the Holy Spirit speaking...
Acts 1:16: “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke…”
Acts 8:29: “Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot.”
Acts 10:19: “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.”
Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 28:25: “Paul…said… "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet…”
The Holy Spirit was talking to EVERYONE in Acts! Have you heard His Voice?
Tonight I want to share with you a little bit about the ministries of the Holy Spirit. My desire is that you would come to know the Holy Spirit as your friend, experience intimacy and fellowship with Him, and that you would learn how to hear and obey His voice!
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Cor. 13:14).
Many people have a hard time relating to the Holy Spirit - because of His name (spirit/ghost), and some of his descriptive titles - WIND, FIRE, DOVE, etc. He is GOD!
The Holy Spirit is not ’wind’ or ’fire’ or a bird. No more than Jesus, ’The Lamb of God’ is an actual little sheep running around. These descriptive titles are to help us understand more about who He is, and what He does!
THE MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7).
- Jesus must have known something about the Holy Spirit that we don’t to say this! Why was it better for Jesus to leave, when He healed the sick, loved the unlovely, and transformed people’s lives?
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26).
These MINISTRIES are the things that a FRIEND would do for us! The first thing He does for us is He helps & comforts us!
1. Helper - Comforts us in difficult times (John 15:26a)
2. Reveals Jesus to us (John 15:26b)
3. Reveals God’s Love to us (Romans 5:5)
4. Frees us from the power of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
5. Makes us more like Jesus (fruit of the Spirit) (Gal. 5:22-23)
6. Leads and Guides our life and ministry (John 16:13)
7. Empowers us to be witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8)
8. Gives us gifts to do what God has called us to do (1 Cor. 12:7-10)
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
COMMUNICATION GIFTS:
Prophecy
different kinds of tongues
the interpretation of tongues
KNOWLEDGE GIFTS:
the word of wisdom
the word of knowledge
discerning of spirits
POWER GIFTS:
faith
gifts of healings
the working of miracles
(1 Cor. 12:7-10).
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Teaching CD’s available from your friendly neighbourhood youth pastor: The Voice of the Lord, Extreme Prophetic & Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
CLOSING: Challenge - to pursue a deeper friendship with the Holy Spirit!
