How fascinating would it be to ask that same question of adults? It is fun to imagine our lives with some kind of superpower. Growing up I was always enamored with the Fantastic Four. I couldn’t decide which one’s powers I wish I had…(did I want to fly? be able to be invisible? to be able to stretch into any shape? or have immense physical power?)
As followers of Jesus we do not have to imagine power. Jesus did not use the word power as a metaphor or a figure of speech when he said… You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Jesus, Acts 1:8
He meant it literally. He told his disciples to expect incoming power. The inherent ability to:
· be healed and to heal others
· live with joy and strength even when you are not healed!
· conquer demonic forces
· break addictions and patterns
· release capacities to change this world in profound ways
No, Jesus wasn’t kidding or exaggerating when he said you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be overwhelmed by a presence… The actual being of God within your being…forever!
· A presence that reminds you daily that you are not alone!
· A presence that comforts you in sorrow
· A presence that advocates for you in stress
· A presence that counsels you in confusion
· A presence that spans both worlds…your very life and the throne room of heaven
And by presence He was not inferring some kind of force or mystical aura but a very real being - a person with a mind and feelings…
· and not the 3rd in line of the Trinity (not the Father, the Son and the other one )
· but God…the Holy Spirit.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Jesus, Acts 1:8
Is anyone interested in this? Does this sound enticing (although still fairly mysterious?)
· What do you suppose would happen if a whole church full of people suddenly got it? This is the question that has dominated my mind for months.
· What if Grace Church as a community and as individuals experienced this presence of the Holy Spirit and as a result started to live out and live in this power that Jesus claimed would overcome those who were baptized by fire into Him? I’ve been thinking about this a lot.
· I started to be moved by thoughts like these:
Power from on high is the supreme need of today. Charles Finney
The world is not waiting for a new definition of the Gospel, but for a new demonstration of the power of the Gospel. Leonard Ravenhill
· I started wondering what kind of power would be unleashed so that the supernatural would start to be more natural around here.
So… 3 weeks ago we launched this series the Days of Wind and Fire. Part 1) the Holy Spirit 2) Prayer 3) 10 Signs of the Supernatural in the very first church in Acts.
So today let’s dig a little deeper into what we believe about the Holy Spirit specifically let’s take a careful look at the answer to this question:
What is the process whereby human beings receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit?
· How do you appropriate His power (“make it your own”)? How do you tap into His presence?
· The quality and effectiveness of your life rises and falls on how you respond to this question.
· The future of Grace Church hangs in the balance until WE answer it correctly.
What is the process whereby human beings receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit?
The answer rests in these three biblical exhortations or admonitions:
Be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with the Spirit.
Walk in the Spirit.
· Each of those exhortations implies something that God the Holy Spirit will do in or for you but also implies there is something YOU must do.
· Together they picture a journey whereby a human being can experience the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their daily existence.
That journey begins by understanding this: Be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus: For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5
This is where your life with the Holy Spirit begins.
· “baptism” literally meant to be submerged into…or engulfed by something
· It was largely ceremonial…and still is a symbol of transformation
· But Jesus meant it literally…you will be submerged into Him…and it will be like being submerged into fire: He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11
How does one get baptized with the Holy Spirit? Listen to these words of Peter in one of his impromptu sermons: Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
· You receive the Holy Spirit when:
o You repent
o You surrender your life to Jesus (in the name of Jesus)
§ you will be forgiven
o You are baptized in water (as a symbol of your surrender)
o …and you will receive the Holy Spirit.
§ you will be baptized in his fire
This is where your life with the Holy Spirit begins. This is where access is given to the power and presence of God.
· And next week…you will have the opportunity to play this out live at either of our campuses!
Be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
But let me anticipate a question many of you are wrestling with…
I did that. Why am I not living in the power of the Holy Spirit nor am I experiencing His presence?
The answer, I believe, centers around that second exhortation: Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:14-18 page _______________
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-18
Before we look more carefully at these few verses let’s understand the context:
· This is part of a letter written by Paul to the churches in and around the Greek city of Ephesus.
· It’s a wide ranging letter but one of the themes is power. 5 times Paul brings it up clearly concerned that his readers are NOT experiencing it:
Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…
Ephesians 3:17-18 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Every one of those 5 references to power is the very same word Jesus said You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Jesus, Acts 1:8
· and it is clear he’s concerned they are not experiencing it so let’s return to Eph 5:14-18 and see the remedy he suggests:
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:14-18
This is a series of strong exhortations, maybe even commands:
1. Wake up!
2. Be careful how you live (Chapt. 4 and 5 mostly about this – the implication is repentance)
3. Make the most of every opportunity - Have a sober view of how much evil has infiltrated your world.
4. Don’t be dumb.
5. Understand the will of God – what he wants
6. Don’t get drunk with wine (or depress the pain and anxiety)
7. Be filled with the Spirit!
How? A key to understanding is in the word “to be filled” play’ro’o
· it means to be filled to the top. To make full. It also means to be complete.
· It implies something that is partially full or incomplete that is capped off or filled to overflowing
Remember Paul is concerned they are not experiencing power…he is implying that they have been baptized in the Spirit in the past, they have surrendered their lives to Jesus but are living “glass half full” lives.
· He wants MORE for them!
· Look back at Ephesians 3:19 - that you may be filled to the measure (same word) of all the fullness of God.
But, again…how?
· Wake up! Repent! Stop trying to numb the pain and issues!
· And, although he does not say it here…I can say on the authority of the rest of scriptures…especially the word of Jesus himself…
· In prayer…ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit!
Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
Ask and it will be given to you. Jesus, Matt 7:7
The prayer: Fill me with your Holy Spirit may be the most full proof prayer in history. There is no way that God will NOT answer it. (especially if the prayer is accompanied by repentance)
If you want it, you can have it. And when you get it you will experience once again or maybe for the first time the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
So, here’s what we’re going to do: I’m going to give you a week to think about this.
· next week we will offer to ways to receive the Holy Spirit:
o baptism for the first timers
o prayer for the rest of us.
· but let’s begin the process right now…let’s think a bit…and let’s pray.