Sermon Tone Analysis

Holy Spirit: Power to Bless               Acts 1:1-8                   March 15, 2009

 

Do you like buying gifts?

I have such a hard time finding the right gift, and one that is affordable.

What’s the best gift you ever gave?

*Our text describes the best gift: *Jesus equips all His followers to be able to bless others with abundant life filled with His joy.  

 

!!!! I.    Acts 1:1-8  The “Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

A.

*1:2  The Holy Spirit was at work */while Jesus was teaching them in person./

!!!!           1.

In fact, Jesus’ entire ministry was by the power of the Holy Spirit: Acts 10:38, Jesus anointed was with “Spirit and power” at His baptism.

!!!!           2.

So, here, it is by the Spirit that He ‘gave orders’ (commanded, evnteila,menoj) – spoke with the power of His kingly authority.

B.

But then Jesus promised that *they – and we – would receive the very same Spirit.*

1.

As Jesus received the Spirit and power (δυνάμει), so we would receive the Holy Spirit who would give us power (δύναμιν).

2.

*As Jesus pressed His claims on them by the power of the Spirit, so His followers would, by the power of the same Spirit, press the claims of Jesus on the world – that He was Lord and Savior.

*

          3.

They were a small group under the thumb of the might of Rome.

Romans called these early Christians terrorists, atheists and cannibals!

But  by the power of the Spirit they soon overcame the might of Rome!

!!!!  

!!!! II.

How does the power of the Spirit work in us?

Well – many ways!

But here is one pattern I notice in Acts: The Spirit works in us and our lives to create a platform from which to powerfully proclaim the good news of Christ.

[With apologies for the alphabetical listing!]

     A.

By our *Availability *– Phillip was teaching about Jesus in Samaria to very receptive crowds (8:6f).

But the Holy Spirit sent Him into the wilderness!

(8:26).

1.

“Why would God want me here?

Things were going so very well, why would God put me in this wilderness?”

If he had to write a report on success stories he’d never come here – so much more was happening in Samaria!

          2.

Then he heard a chariot – an Ethiopian who was treasurer in the court of the Queen, reading out loud (custom) the book of Isaiah, the famous chapter describing the future messiah and His sufferings for His people – but completely baffled.

“Do you understand?”  “No!

Who is he talking about?”

          3.

*And the door was opened: *And Phillip explained this was about Jesus, and *His words had the power of the Spirit,* and the Ethiopian accepted Christ, and was baptized.

4.

/Are where you are by the power of the Holy Spirit: car broke down, restaurant, neighborhood, work, the Northeast?

*The power of the Holy Spirit makes us available.*/

B.

By our *Boldness* – The disciples were ordinary people; fishermen with no training in politics, rhetoric or theology.

1.

Acts 4: Peter and the apostles had healed a man in the name of Jesus, and were hauled in front of all the leaders of Israel – *intimidating!* (Acts 4:5f).

And they spoke *boldly* (4:8f): “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders…let it be known to” you that this man was healed by the power of Jesus – /whom you crucified!

/Woe!

          2.

The leaders were shocked at the boldness of such ordinary men – *except that they had been with Jesus, who gave them the Spirit.*(4:13)

3.

So the Holy Spirit gives extraordinary boldness – /I can’t believe I said that! /And everyone knows it’s not just you, *the passion and power comes from deeper* – and people listen intently.

4.

That’s what Whitfield was asked why so many people come to hear him: “I set myself on fire and people come to see me burn.”

*The Spirit makes us bold.*

C.

By our* Courage* – Stephan, filled with the Spirit (6:5, 10) stood in front of crowds who howled at him in anger – they hated him.

(6:12f)

          1.

He could have said, “/Well, I’ll wait till a better time…” /but instead he put his life on the line by making a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus.

2.

7:55 – As he finished, “full of the Holy Spirit” he saw the glory of Christ and worshipped Him – out loud!

And his enemies rushed on him and stoned him to death.

3.

But watching from the sidelines was Saul.

The testimony of Stephan, sealed with his death, must have kept echoing in his heart till he finally came to Christ.

4.

*When people know that you’re talking about something that is dearer to you than life itself – they listen!

The Spirit gives us courage.*

D.

By our *Deliverance* – Often God delivered His people – rescued from prison, cleansed from Evil, healed.

And as the news of *the deliverance* spread people wanted to know more.

1.

Deliverance opens doors: a serpent bit Paul in Malta and everyone waited for him to die, and when he didn’t people wanted to know why.

2.

A young man met us (Papa) at the airport.

His brother was the black sheep of the family: angry, sullen, drinking, wasting money.

But he heard the good news of Jesus and received it in faith – and *he was delivered from his old life, *so dramatically that the “good son” came to the airport to find out what happened!

3.

Phil 1:19, “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance…” *The Spirit delivers us! *

      E.

By our *Endurance*– (16:22f) Paul and Silas were in chains, backs burning from being whipped.

But they weren’t swearing and complaining about prison food, but were singing songs of praise to the living God – and “the prisoners were listening” (16:25)!

          1.

Now, this is the work of the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:18f  (I Cor.

14:15) says the Spirit leading us to worship with music!

Notice: it doesn’t say they sang well!

          2.

They *endured* this unjust punishment with joy in the *Holy Spirit*.

It says the jailor fell asleep (16:27) – *but he could hear as well, *and the songs must have worked their way into his dreams!

Until midnight when an earthquake woke him, and tore the prison apart.

And the jailor fell on his knees and *– without hearing a sermon –  asked about the Savior they had been singing about!

(16:30)*

          3.

People are watching how you suffer and *endure*!

I Peter 3:15 – where the theme is suffering, it says people will ask, “How can you suffer like this and still have joy and hope?” *The door swings open!

That’s how the Spirit works!*

 

!!!! III.

I would not want to box the Spirit in – but one way He works is this: The Spirit works changes us and our lives to give power and effectiveness to our presentation of the gospel.

!!!!      A.

The Holy Spirit prepares the way, but then we have to speak – tell the good news!

!!!!           1.

Matt.

28:19 – expands on our text – which says witnessing means teaching the commands of Christ – pressing on people His claims to be Lord and Savior!

!!!!           2.

At some point a Christian should be ready to share the good news in the power of the Spirit.

!!!!       B.

Could you give a 1 minute presentation of the gospel?

Time me…

          1.

*The most amazing fact* about the world is not Black holes or Angelina and Brad…but that there is a God who loves us so deeply that He is willing to suffer to bless those He loves.

2.

*The most obvious truth: *We know we’ve ruined God’s creation, mistreated people He loves, and ignored and broken His good laws – in effect, slapped Him in the face!

          3.

*The best news: *These sins have earned punishment.

But because of His love, God offered to take our punishment on Himself.

It’s as if you recklessly smashed your old heap into someone’s brand new car, and instead of making you pay, the guy offers to pay for the whole thing!

And Christ’s death on the Cross is that payment: God in person~/in the flesh paying for our sins, and offering you forgiveness for every single thing you have ever done – or will ever do!

The proof that this news is true is that Jesus rose again from the dead – proved He was God indeed.

4.

*The most important decision: *You can receive this gift: Turn away from the life that ignores this loving God, and turn to Christ – trust in what He has done for you, and call Him Lord and God, which is what He is.  

!!!!       C.

Could you share the gospel?[North

New Salem 3~/14 – only 5th grader could answer!]

That’s the best gift you can give!

There is no gift like the gift of experiencing God’s love now, and then eternal life.

1.

The* power of the Spirit works in us so that when we share the gospel, our words have unusual power and effect.

*

          2.

The Spirit *gives us a powerful platform by what He does in our own lives:* A quiet young man I met told me of his time in a middle eastern country– engineer, started a bible study in his home, one day police burst in and arrested him because it was illegal!

He was put in a prison with hundreds of others – including some Al Qaeda terrorists.