We have been talking about The Holy Spirit & His Working In The Church
Story of one man:
He could not seem to grow anything in his garden...his lettuce was being ravaged by rodents, his watermelons looked more like sick apples...his strawberries were more like strawscarries because everytime you went to pick one to eat it their was a worm or a bug or a rotten spot. One day he came out to his tomato plants that produced nothing but green tomatoes and to his surprise he saw from a distance big red tomatoes...fully grown...and as he got closer they were tied on the tomato plant with cotton string...I guess his his neighbor must have felt sorry for him....How many of you know that the fruit has to be connected to the vine to be a fruit of the vine.
Its like anotherman:
He called the pastor’s office at a church one day to inquire into membership in the church. He stated that he would not be able to get involved or anything, but he felt it was important to have some religious affiliation. The pastor advised this man that the church he pastored might not be the best fit for him, but he knew of a place where he would fit in quite nicely. The man asked about a phone number, but the pastor only gave him an address. On Sunday morning, the gentlemen followed the directions and pulled up into the yard of a delapidated building. The roof was falling in, the doors were locked, and vines were growing into the windows. This gentlemen called the pastor and told him that he had given him the wrong directions. "Oh no," the pastor replied. "Not at all. That is the place. That church has a membership roll filled with people who did not want to get involved or committed. That is what will always happen to a church whose members do not care about its success."
I. The Spirit Filled Church Is A Growing Church
· And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47b)
A. Their Attention Was Focused On God’s Word...It Grew– Acts 2:42 – Continued In The Apostles Doctrine
B. Their Affection Was Focused With God’s Heart....It Grew – Acts 2:45 – Sold Possessions & Shared Money
C. Their Attitude Was Focused In God’s Will....It Grew – Acts 5:29 – Would Rather Obey God & Suffer Then Obey Man - 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
D. Their Attendance Was A Reflection Of God’s Plan...It Grew – Acts 2:46 – Daily In The Temple
II. The Spirit Filled Church Is A Going Church
· 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)
A. People Could Not Subdue Their Demonstration – Romans 1:16 “16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
B. Prison Could Not Stifle Their Determination – Philippians 4:11 “11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
C. Persecution Could Not Sink Their Destination – Acts 20:24 “24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
D. Problems Could Not Stop Their Declaration – Acts 6:8-15 “8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
III. The Spirit Filled Church Is A Glowing Church
· 6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (Acts 17:6)
A. God’s Power Is In Us – Acts 4:13,14 "13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
B. When We Pray He Speaks Through Us – Acts 9:40 “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up."
C. His Pursuasiveness Is Proof To Us – Acts 26:28 “28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
IV. The Spirit Filled Church Is A Groaning Church
A. Crying Out For The Lost – Acts 20:31 – Paul wept for the lost – “31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
B. Concerned For The Lost – Romans 8:26 – Spirit Intercedes for those praying for the lost – “26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
C. Compassion For The Lost – 2 Corinthians 5:11 – Knowing The Judgement Of God – “11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Conclusion:
In Order To Reach The Lost we must be a Holy Ghost Powered Church!
Mark 16:15 - 18
“15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. “
We Must Be Filled With The Spirit
· Programs wont do it
· Rituals will not produce it
· You have to have the goods
You Have Gotta Ask Him!
Luke 11:9-13
9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
LORD, FILL US UP!...
