The Holy Spirit Empowers

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22–23

Galatians 5:22–23 NLT

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6-7)

Jesus teaches that following him is a

High Calling

Holy Calling

Hard Calling

How do you handle high expectations?

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Jesus has high expectations of those that follow him.

What is the problem with having high expectations?

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In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6-7)

Matthew 6:1–3 NLT

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Jesus teaches a different standard

To follow Jesus we must

Guard against pride and reward

Be effective in Prayer

Manage money and possessions

Watch Judging others

Demonstrate Godly conduct

Put God’s kingdom first in our life.

A Difficult Standard

John 8:7–8 NLT

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

John 8:7–8 (NKJV)

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

The problem is not the standard

Read: 1 Timothy 1:8

1 Timothy 1:8 NLT

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.

Read: Hebrews 10:1

Hebrews 10:1 NLT

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

Psalm 19:7 NLT

7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Proverbs 30:5 NLT

5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

The Problem is us

Read Isaiah 59:1-4

Isaiah 59:1–4 NKJV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. 4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

For our Benefit

Romans 7:7–9 NLT

7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,

The power of saying “no”

So, why did Jesus command us to live a life He knew full well we can’t live on our own? The key is that Jesus never asked us to live the Christian life on our own. In fact, Jesus spent significant time teaching about His indispensable gift for living the Christian life: the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His followers it was good for them for Him to go away because the presence of the Holy Spirit would be coming into their life. God in the flesh was a wonderful gift, but God living inside us is even better. When God lives inside us, He can empower us, help us grow, and equip us in a unique way. Let’s look closer at the Holy Spirit as God.

It started in the Book of Acts

The Book of Acts begins with some wonderful events.

++The Holy Spirit baptizes Jesus’ followers

++The empowerment to radically change the world for Jesus.

++The Church is growing and people are being healed.

In His most famous sermon (Matthew 5–7), Jesus taught us to love our enemies, give to the needy, and put God’s kingdom first in our life. As His words outlined the high expectations of those in His kingdom, it doesn’t take us long to recognize a problem—our behavior. We simply can’t perfectly meet this standard on our own. It’s not in us to naturally love those who mistreat us. We often are too selfish to be generous. And we spend a lot of time building the kingdom of our own life, rather than God’s kingdom.

So, why did Jesus command us to live a life He knew full well we can’t live on our own? The key is that Jesus never asked us to live the Christian life on our own. In fact, Jesus spent significant time teaching about His indispensable gift for living the Christian life: the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His followers it was good for them for Him to go away because the presence of Holy Spirit would be coming into their life. God in the flesh was a wonderful gift, but God living inside of us is even better. When God lives inside us, He can empower us, help us grow, and equip us in a unique way. Let’s look closer at how the Holy Spirit empowers us.

Engage

Have you ever had a friend who was an exceptional helper?

In what ways was that friend valuable to you?

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For young kids, reaching things in high places is difficult. They usually run to ask an adult for help. Does someone come to mind that helped you like that? Maybe they even picked you up, so you could grab it yourself. Even as adults, we can appreciate others who help us when we have a need.

Today we’ll be talking about

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:12–13 NLT

12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

What does this say about the Holy Spirit?

This text both describes the Holy Spirit and tells us what He will do.

The Holy Spirit

Will tell us what Jesus could not

Will take us into truth

Will honor what you know about Christ

Is a good guide

The Spirit of God

Lifts us up

Brings us close to the mission of God

This is the only way we can reach God’s amazing plans for our life.

Watch

As we watch this video, think about your answer to this question: What is God’s mission and how are you involved in it?

What is God’s mission and how are you involved in it?

Small Group

Consider What the Bible Says

In today’s Bible text, we’ll meet a man named Cornelius. He wasn’t a Jew, but Cornelius was God-fearing and devout. His love and devotion to God opened the door for him to receive a vision that would change his life.

We can learn from Cornelius’s story that God wants to connect with us in special ways as we love and draw close to Him. As a Roman soldier raised in a pagan culture, Cornelius’s access to Israel’s God was amazing. God met Cornelius’s desire to know Him more by sending Peter.

The Holy Spirit Draws Near Those Who Seek God

Read: Acts 10:1–8

Acts 10:1–8 NLT

1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” 7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

Even though he was a Roman, Cornelius had a deep desire to follow God. He was devoted to God, gave to the poor, prayed often, and guided his household to do the same. His respect for God and pursuit of righteous living led to Cornelius experiencing a message from God through an angel.

What might this story tell us about the kind of person God usually speaks to?

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The angel gave Cornelius very unusual instructions. It would have been odd for a Roman army officer to call for a Jew. But Cornelius didn’t pause to consider the instructions he received. He obeyed what God commanded immediately. Meanwhile, in Acts 10:9–15, the Holy Spirit gave Peter a vision as he was praying that would prepare him for an interaction with Cornelius later. But Peter was left with questions after seeing the same vision three times.

Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit directing you to connect with someone in a specific way? How did you respond?

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The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for God’s Work

Read Acts 10:19–23

Acts 10:19–23 NLT

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Peter’s confusion was resolved through the Holy Spirit’s direction. God’s Spirit prepared Peter to accept Cornelius’s invitation. Before the three men arrived, Peter had already been informed and empowered for God’s mission. The Holy Spirit speaks to empower believers today, too.

How can we make sure we’re listening for the voice of the Spirit of God?

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God may desire to use us just as He used Peter. What can we do to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, so we can be used for His purposes?

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The Holy Spirit’s Empowerment Is Available to All Believers

Read: Acts 10:44–48

Acts 10:44–48 NLT

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

God sent Peter to Cornelius to share about Jesus. While Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on not only Cornelius, but on everyone who heard Peter’s message. Those who came with Peter immediately recognized Cornelius’s household had received the Holy Spirit. They knew it as they heard the Gentiles speak in tongues—a language they had never learned—as God empowered them.

God used Peter’s declaration of Jesus to bless everyone on the scene that day, regardless of where they were from. Romans would have been seen as outsiders by Peter and other Jews. However, what happened to Cornelius shows us that when it comes to the gift of the Holy Spirit, God does not restrict us from getting closer to Him because of our background. He wants us to pray and persevere as we ask Him to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Many people are afraid to pray for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Why might this be?

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How should knowing that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is available to all people unite believers?

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What was the confirmation that these people had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

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Did You Know?

The distinction of Cornelius being a “God-fearer” is not a unique descriptor used only in the New Testament to describe those Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel. Inscriptions all over the ancient Greek and Roman world speak of these individuals, highlighting how they were forced to live on the fringes of both Jewish and pagan Gentile society, neither of which they belonged to. One example is in the great theater in the city of Miletus (Acts 20:15). The theater has a designated spot where the God-fearers were to sit alongside the city’s Jewish minority.

Reflect

The Holy Spirit Empowers

Cornelius had spiritual hunger, and God made a way to meet it. When one man sought God, the doors opened for all who were present to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Isn’t our God generous? Our obedience and righteous living can make a way for others to have more of God. God baptizing so many Gentiles in His Spirit highlights His inclusive nature.

God always wants to pour out His Spirit on all nations, tribes, and peoples. In fact, the Jewish believers present with Peter immediately accepted Cornelius and other Gentile believers because God had placed His seal of approval when He baptized them in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit unites us in this way. This gift of God breaks through cultural divisions to empower all of us who call on the name of the Lord and earnestly pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Listen to God

Let’s pause and listen to what God might want to say to us about what we have read and shared. Be silent for a few moments and reflect on the following questions. Respond to the one that most resonates with what God is saying to you now. Then complete the others during Day 1 of your devotion time this week.

Personal Reflection Questions

Record your answers to the following questions in the space provided or in your personal journal.

Have you seen the Holy Spirit empower people? If so, how?

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How would you describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit? If you haven’t yet, what’s keeping you from asking God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit?

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What honest questions do you have about the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

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Take time to ask and discuss these questions with a Spirit-filled believer.

Large Group

Activate

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is available and necessary in the life of every Christian. When we partner with God’s Spirit, previously hard things become possible. Obeying Him is easier, words flow when we witness to others, and even our gifts are readied for use. We need the baptism in the Holy Spirit in our life.

Challenge

Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Share your experience with your group.

Do you desire to be baptized in the Spirit? Ask a Spirit-filled friend to pray with you and ask God to baptize you in His Spirit.

Prayer Requests

Note any requests from the group and remember to pray for them during the week.

Before next time, continue to spend time in God’s Word with the personal devotions.

What We Believe

The Holy Spirit Empowers All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all believers in the Early Church. With the experience comes the provision of power and productive service for victorious Christian living. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effective ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Corinthians 12:1–31).

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate from salvation and follows the new birth experience (Acts 8:12–17; 10:44–46; 11:14–16; 15:7–9). With this Baptism come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37–39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified commitment to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for those who have not yet accepted Him (Mark 16:20).

The Significance of This Doctrine

Emphasis on the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a major focus of the Pentecostal Movement.

Some have felt that Pentecostals stress this doctrine and the person of the Holy Spirit to

the neglect of the other members of the Trinity (God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ)

and of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, such as salvation and sanctification. But

a survey of the teaching curriculum and general literature published by Pentecostal

groups shows a balance that matches the emphases of Scripture. We believe after

centuries of neglect, Pentecostals have brought back into the Christian experience an