Sermon Central
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The Holy Spirit Poured Out
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on May 27, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The purpose of this sermon is to examine who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in the lives of believers. Thoughts taken from an article by Jack Hayford, "Symbols of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit Poured Out
Introduction
We have been experiencing somewhat of a drought in that it has not rained significantly for some time.
Evidenced by the fires in PB that destroyed 42 homes.
Be thankful- the drought has not been as serious as many the world has experienced through history.
In Joel we can find the nation of Israel struggling with the same conditions physically and spiritually.
As we continue in Joel we will see early/later rains- picture of God pouring out His Spirit upon-
church/world- that is dry/parched/lifeless.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit in the OT and the NT- is the same Spirit.
Mal 3:6 "For I, the Lord, do not change …
NASU (Ja 1:17)
God in His most essential nature is spirit …
Jn 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NASU
God’s HS is not just an attribute of God, He is God.
There is ONE true God that exists eternally in THREE distinct Persons …
Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! NASU
This is a very important tenement of the Jewish faith.
Mtt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
When we talk about the HS remember He is fully God
HS represented by many symbols in the Bible.
A Violent Rushing Wind
Looking back now to Joel …
These verses- same verses Peter quotes as he stands up to speak in Jerusalem on- Day of Pentecost.
Let us take a look at this story in Acts …
What drew the people together- tongues of fire, speaking in other languages? No!
It was the sound like a violent rushing wind.
That violent, rushing wind was the Spirit of God falling down upon men- He came with a stir.
Five years ago- series of four hurricanes- we became all too familiar w/sound of a violent rushing wind. It was not peaceful, it was violent, it was disturbing, and even fearful at times.
The HS can come into our lives like a wind.
First symbol we see here of the HS- is a Wind.
Spirit- in OT/NT- breath, strong breathing.
Breath- air in motion- strong breathing suggests wind.
Jn 3:4-8
The invisible Spirit of God breathes spiritual life into a human being and something happens that people
do not always recognize- escapes human reason
The HS breaths/blows mightily upon a situation or individual to create or effect change.
Tongues as of fire
Look back to Act 2:2-3 …
The people heard the sound of a violent rushing wind, but they saw tongues as of fire upon the disciples.
Fire in the Bible often speaks of a purifying process.
Mtt 3:11-12 (John the Baptist)
We see this in a passage about Jerusalem- end times.
Isa 4:4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning,
HS comes as fire to remove impurities from our lives.
If we want the same level of supernatural anointing that was evident in the New Testament Church, we should also pray for a higher level of holiness. Lee Grady
The fire of God cleanses our lives of sin and brings about in us the fear of God.
In story of Ananias and Sapphira- a sober warning …
Acts 5:4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." NASU
The Holy Spirit as rivers of Living Water
Water is used frequently as a symbol of the HS.
We have already seen in Joel 2 the early/latter rains as symbol of the work of the HS.
Jn 4:10-14 (Jn 7:37-39)
The HS as water comes to renew, refresh, sustain life.
Many lawns- turning yellow/brown because of the lack of rain. The lawns need rain that can both refresh/restore what has been damaged.
The HS also comes to cleanse, heal, and sanctify.
1 Cor 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. NASU
One last picture in the OT …
Isa 44:3 ’For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; NASU
Anointing Oil
In the OT- priests, kings, and prophets were installed in office by anointing them w/holy anointing oil.
