►WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE? “We
believe in the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose
indwelling the Christian is able to live life abundantly.”
ME: Coalition builder, lots of
different ideas among pastors about HS, which one is right? People
hear and see things I don’t.Another issue: is the HS’s ministry ONLY to enable me to live
an abundant life for myself or does God mean for the HS to empower
me to enable others?
WE:
Suggestion: Only the first half of the story.REALITY CHECK:
M/V/S/V looks and sounds good BUT THIS IS US…
HERE’S THE DEAL:
WE ARE WHO WE ARE but …
WHAT IF GOD INTENDS TO DO MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE ABUNDANT LIVES FOR US?
WHAT IF GOD INTENDS TO EMPOWER
US? WHAT WOULD IT TURN US INTO A POWER-FILLED, REPRODUCING,
DISCIPLE-MAKING, GROUP OF FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ?
GOD:
John 13-14 (15-17) –
Upper Room Discourse//counterpart of the Sermon on the Mount.
In the Sermon on the Mount
THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM are expounded.
In the Upper Room THE MEANS TO THE ENDS OF THAT KINGDOM are presented.
The gospel AS HISTORY is now to become the gospel AS EXPERIENCE.
The
Messiah AS A FACT is now
to become the Messiah AS A LIFE
In the Upper Room Jesus transfers the kingdom
FROM HIS SHOULDERS TO THOSE OF THE DISCIPLES who are empowered
for their tasks by the might of the Spirit.
The Spirit living WITHIN
the disciples would take the place of the Savior living
BESIDE the disciples.
►THE PROCESS OF PROVISION: John 14:15-17 "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.”
►1)
IF YOU love me
►2)
IF YOU do what I command you
►3) I
WILL send ANOTHER COUNSELOR/COMFORTER (NASB:
HELPER)
Another=another of the same kind
MH: ”Christ
will not be an advocate for any but those that will be ruled and
advised by him as their counsel. Follow the
conduct of the Spirit,
and you shall have the
comfort of the Spirit.”
TRANSITION: The process of provision is only half the story…
►John
14:12 “I tell
you the truth, anyone who has faith in me
WILL DO what I have been
doing.
He
WILL DO even greater things than these…”
Death and resurrection, 40 days of teaching, then Acts 1:7, 8
►THE PROMISE OF POWER Acts 1:7, 8:"It is not
for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority. But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses
►1) You WILL receive
power
►2)
You WILL be my witnesses
BOTTOM LINE:
“You WILL receive power…”
“Stay in Jerusalem until… I hate waiting?
“WINDOW OF MERCY FOR
THE NATIONS”
►“The path
to provision and power is paved with love and
obedience”
YOU:►SO WHAT? (HOW
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE RECEIVED?) Brad Bailey S/C.com
1.
►As
new Life BIRTHED within us… by receiving Christ
►John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one
can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to
spirit.
2.
►As
new life REIGNING within
us…The Spirit wants to fill and re-fill us with His presence
►Ephesians 5:18 “Don’t be drunk with
wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit
fill and control you.” (NLT)
3.
►As
the promise of power designed to REPRODUCE that life in others
►Acts
1:8 you will be My witnesses to the ends
of the earth”)
WE:►CAN YOU IMAGINE?
Imagine a church of 50 people who
aren’t young anymore empowered by the HS (Acts 2)
“YOU WILL receive
power…YOU WILL be
witnesses (power enables effectiveness)
►
"The path to provision
and power is paved
with love and
obedience."
Where
have you been unwilling to be obedient? What can you do to deepen
your love?
Add
to your prayer requests a prayer for God to reveal your level of
love and
obedience.
ALL-PURPOSE LEADERSHIP:
“The Spirit will guide us into all truth”
Legend:
Green:
Mission and Vision Blue: Illustrations and
quotes
Red: Scripture
Note to the visitor:
These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.
They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the
service. Feel free to contact
Pastor Paul
if you’d like more detailed information. For past sermons, please visit the
Sermon Archive.
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"I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the salvation
of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16 (New International Version)
