Tag: disciples heart

Life in His Story Part 18

This Preaching in Shorts sermon series is called “Life in His Story”.

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The Day of Pentecost

Pentecost, a Jewish feast, was and is celebrated 50 days after Passover, and people had come to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the event.

The apostles were gathered together in a house when a terrific wind came from heaven and filled the place. They saw tongues that looked like fire, that separated and came down on each of them.

The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, who caused them to speak in languages so that everyone who had come to celebrate the feast heard the apostles speaking to him or her in their own language. Some accused the apostles of being drunk, but Peter stood and addressed them, saying they were not drunk. It was only nine o’clock in the morning. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter preached boldly to them, explaining about Jesus and the Good News of God’s plan for salvation.

Peter told them they needed to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. He promised that they would also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Many in the crowd responded to the message of Good News that Peter preached and about 3,000 people were baptized and added to the church on that Day of Pentecost.

Scripture Reading

John 14:15-17 (NIV)
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

We cannot cover all that there is to cover about the person and work of the Holy Spirit in one message, but I want to make six points about Him and His ministry today.

1. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in you. Jesus said He would give us another Counselor, to be with us forever.

Romans 8:9 (NIV)
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

So if you belong to Christ, the Spirit if God, the Holy Spirit lives in you.

2. The Spirit of truth

Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth. One of the things He does is reveal divine truth.

1 Corinthians 2:9-11 (NIV)
9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit helps us to see the truth as we read and study His word. He is able to open things up to us in a way that we can not perceive without His help. He illuminates the scripture. He makes it come to life.

3. Yielding to the Holy Spirit

As I said earlier, when a person accepts Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into (indwells) his life permanently. The Bible also makes it clear that we are to be habitually “filled” with the Holy Spirit. Is there a difference between the Holy Spirit indwelling us, and being filled with the Spirit. I believe there is. The Holy Spirit indwells us when we accept Jesus, and we are continually filled by the Spirit as we yield our lives to Him.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The verb “be filled” means “to fill up a deficiency; to fully possess; to fully influence; to fill with a certain quality.” It is written in this verse in the present passive imperative, so the verb is a command meaning “keep on being filled”. What does this look like?

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We yield to the Spirit as we live by trying to do the next right thing

The Holy Spirit not only helps us in developing this fruit He also

4. He helps us to live as witnesses

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He empowers us to be the ambassadors that we have been called to be. To love as witnesses for Him, not just with our words but with our lives.

5. He helps us in our worship

Philippians 3:3 (NIV)
3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

The Spirit reminds us of our dependence on God. He encourages us to be expectant as we Worship, and also humble in our responsiveness.

6. He helps us in our prayers

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

He is there to help us when we just don’t know how or what to pray. It is another reminder of our complete dependence on God for everything that matters.