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Page 1: Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – …media.minehead-baptist.com/pdf/mbc0806_vv_empowered_gods_spir… · Vision and Values - Empowered by God's ... One acts as a channel

Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – SERMON NOTES

Prayer for clarity and understanding

IntroductionVision & Value's First and foremost That we know and love GodSo that we develop a life of Worship and of Prayer, which is shaped by God's Word and empowered by His SpiritSo that we become a place of Belonging and Serving, growing in Spiritual maturity through Discipleship and breadth through Mission.

This morning – our lives are to be Empowered by God's Spirit.

Romans 8

Condemnationv1,2 tell us that those who are in Christ Jesus, those who through faith have accepted for themselves the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, are no longer under the condemnation of the law but rather have been set free from the law of sin and death – in to v21 'The glorious freedom of the children of God'!

No condemnation but obligation.V12We have been given our freedom by Jesus the Son of God, therefore we have an obligation – to be controlled by the Spirit of God – what Paul calls (v2) the law of the Spirit of Life, and in (v15) the Spirit of Son-ship, by whom we cry out 'Abba. Father!'

SO, HOW DO WE LIVE LIVES EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT?

When is the Holy Spirit given to people?One of the most frequent objections I hear when we talk about the HS is this:'Don't we receive the HS when we become a Christian?'

3 points:

The HS brings people to faith (Conversion):i. The Holy Spirit brings about Creation (Genesis 1);ii. The Holy Spirit brings about the new creation

(John 3:5 - 'Flesh, flesh; Sp, sp and 1 Cor 12:3 'Jesus is Lord ex by the Spirit);iii. The Holy Spirit lives in the believer – 'God in us!'

(1 Corinthians 3:16 – Don't you know ......);

But then there seems to be a moment beyond this when we are empowered by the HS for this life of faith – Baptism in the HS. Acts 1:8

Minehead Baptist Church: Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – SERMON NOTES 1 of 5

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Baptism in the Holy Spirit seems to be a separate and distinct event to Conversion:

Jesus' disciples had to wait: e.g. Luke 24: 49; I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay ..... wait .... in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

These guys were disciples of Jesus;They had experienced the work of the HS;Jesus had breathed the HS upon them, they had witnessed his death and resurrection, they had declared him 'Lord!';But they hadn't yet been baptised in the HS – they had to wait until Pentecost.(Acts 2:1-4);

Disciples in Samaria (Acts 8:14-17)We're told Philip had preached the gospel in Samaria;He had even performed amazing miracles;We're told the gospel had been accepted; we're told that those new disciples had even been baptised; but we're told it wasn't until Peter and John arrived and prayed for the disciples that they were Baptised with the HS - v16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ananias and Saul (who was to become the Apostle Paul) Acts 9

Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46)

Disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6)

What are the necessary conditions for receiving the Baptism Holy Spirit?i. Repentance and Faith in Jesus (Acts 2:37-39);ii. Note also the importance of Baptism in water!iii. Thirst – we must desire him; (see Luke 11:9-13; John 7:37 and Revelation 22:17.

How is the Holy Spirit given?

Jesus is always the giver John 1:32; Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

(John 16:7)

How does Jesus give HS?

In 2 of the 5 texts above in 1b the Holy Spirit is 'poured out'. Pentecost (Acts 2) we're told 'a sound like the blowing of a mighty wind came from heaven' and in his explanatory sermon Peter uses the prophecy in Joel 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people'.

Minehead Baptist Church: Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – SERMON NOTES 2 of 5

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The word 'Baptism' also contains the idea of being covered in or immersed in something – so when Jesus is described as being the one who Bap. in the HS he is the one who submerges us in the flowing water of the HS.

In the other 3 texts (Acts 8, 9, and 19) we're told that the Holy Spirit is given to a disciple by the laying on of hands of another Spirit filled disciple. One acts as a channel through whom Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to another.

Similar to the way Spiritual gifts can be given through a prophetic word with the laying on of hands (see 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:16 as an example) ..... describe ...!

A word of warning: We must take care with the laying on of hands. Something happens when we lay hands on people – it is not purely symbolic. Like marriage (!) Paul instructs Timothy not to be 'hasty' about laying hands on others – see 1 Timothy 5:22;Similarly I would say we must also be careful about who lays hands on us! Are they godly people who are going to impart the Holy Spirit to us or something not so good? Choose time, location and people carefully!

What happened when the Holy Spirit is given?In the New Testament (Acts) a number of things happened:1. Spoke in tongues (or other languages – Worship and Prophetic);2. Changed life (Acts 2:7 'Galileans'?; Acts 4:13 'Unschooled'?)

God uses weak and 'insignificant' things - Praise the Lord!Do you feel inadequate? Great, God can use you! (1 Cor 1:27-29; 2 Cor 4);God brings down the proud but exalts the humble (Phil 2)

I don't know about all these manifestations we see on TV that happen when the HS 'comes down on people' – it has happened to me though – in a sense I couldn't give a stuff – what happens next is the most important thing!How is the life changed?And does the changed life bring about change in others?

Pastorally: We are never so like Jesus that there is no more in us for him to change.

If you don't feel you have grown spiritually in recent years or over a longer period then I lovingly encourage you to examine your life and gently and honestly ask yourself about your openness to the work of the Spirit today.

I'm not standing in judgement of anyone – remember, there is no condemnation, - but I am here to remind us we do have an obligation!

The HS is flowing and active and does change our lives – our thoughts, words, deeds - and if we are not changing then we have to search our hearts. Paul says 1 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Minehead Baptist Church: Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – SERMON NOTES 3 of 5

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Why happen? 1. Ignorance or lack of understanding; 2. Don't see the need; 3. Sin;4. A lack of desire – if we're not asking we won't receive; 5. Disillusionment – started the race, too fast, worn out – that's why I am not wanting to move too fast; 6. Fear; 7. Tiredness (spiritually dry when I get tired often caused by family – Mum said “......”); 8. Get out of the habit – too busy;

Why is the Holy Spirit given?Brings Healing & Wholeness (See the many miracles of Jesus and the early Church difference this made in individuals lives);In Joel ch 2 – Pentecost and healing “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten'

Initiates confession (John 16:8);Helps us to change (Romans 8:13)Know God (Eph 1:17-18);Bible (2 Timothy 3:16; John 14:26; Acts 2);Prayer (Romans 8:26; Eph 6:18 etc);Ministries: Build up the Church (Ephesians 4; 1 Cor 14:12);Fruit: Become like Jesus in the world (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22);Obedience (Phil 2:13)Witness (Acts 1:8);War against Spiritual Powers (Ephesians 6);Life before death (Romans 8:11);Assures us life after death (Romans 8:16,17);

Highlight:1. Brings glory to Jesus (John 16:14)– never says 'Look at me' but always points us to Jesus – one of the tests about the work of the spirit is does it truly bring glory to Jesus? Beware of Counterfeit!

2. Worship (John 4:24); Makes a connection which is deeper than the mind or even the heart – touches the Spirit sense the joy of the Spirit who loves to bring glory to Jesus by helping me worship Him;

3. Gifts: Effective for God in the world (Acts 3; John 4:17 'Word of knowledge' – go and get your husband) - gets to the heart of the matter;

Ongoing need to be 'Full of the HS'One Bible commentator likens the Bap HS as the difference between watering a garden with a watering can and using a hose – one is contained but limited (we all have the HS) but one is flowing and makes us more effective.

I liken my exp to striking oil! Except I didn't become stinking rich!The oil was there – it was good, the HS lived in me;But then something happened – like something was unplugged - and the oil began to flow.

In Ezek 47, John 4, John 7: HS liked to a flowing river; John 3:8 (and Acts 2) likened to the wind;

Minehead Baptist Church: Vision and Values - Empowered by God's Spirit – SERMON NOTES 4 of 5

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The HS lives in us, but Baptism in the HS, which is dependant on faith in Jesus but seems to be a separate and distinct event to Conversion, seems to open something such that the HS is enabled to flow in our lives;

Time and time again we're told the Apostles were 'full of the HS' (eg Acts 4:8; 31 etc);

Ephesians 5:18 Paul says don't get drunk on wine but rather 'Be filled with the HS'. The phrase is a verb, a doing word, with the effect of 'go on being filled';

Why so important?Romans 8:13 suggests, that it is by the Spirit that we put to death the misdeeds of the body (so we change), and

I think, so we're prepared for whatever the Lord may put in our path (Peter and John on the way to the Temple in Acts 3 – did they pray before hand?).

The Holy Spirit and the whole of Life?Is the Holy Spirit the Panacea of all ills?David and SaulSailing: Wind, rudder and keel

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