Presence, Promise, Power, Purpose

Building Blocks

Read: Acts 1:1 – 8

  1. His Presence

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

ACT 1:1-3

The new church started by first being in his presence for 40 days after his death and resurrection. No matter what we do we have to do it by first being in his presence.  In our day it happens through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that came to us to be with us and indwell us in this age.  Christ is in us by the indwelling Spirit of God. 

  1. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35, Matt 1:18,20
  2. Jesus taught by the Holy Spirit  – do we think we can do it any other way? Acts 1:2
  3. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:1
  4. Jesus started his ministry in the Power of the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
  5. Jesus had the Spirit of the Lord upon him and this determined his ministry – Luke 4:18-19
  6. Jesus’ miracles, healing and casting out demons began after receiving the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:33-41
  7. Jesus was able to offer himself to death though the eternal Spirit – Heb 9:14
  8. Jesus raised from the dead by the Spirit – Romans 8:11
  9. Moses at the burning bush, Moses on the mountain getting the law, Joshua often stayed in the tent of meeting, Jesus often going up to the mountain.

If Jesus life and ministry were animated by the indwelling Spirit how much more do we need that daily presence of God.

It’s in His presence we learn, hope, believe and get our assignments.  It’s our daily quite time, our bible studies, our women’s ministry and Sunday morning worship where we enter the presence of Jesus. Knowledge is important but only if it is accompanied by knowing He is present.

2. His Promise

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Acts 1:4-7

Some other promises/facts about the Holy Spirit

  1. His love (Rom 5:5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us,
  2. Helps us pray, intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27), Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
  3. He is the Helper (John 14:26) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
  4. He helps us obey Gods word (Ez 36:26-27) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules
  5. Helps us kill sin (Rom 8:12-13), So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  6. He is our assurance (Rom 8:16) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
  7. He sanctifies us (2 Thess 2:13) But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
  8. He changes us to be more like Christ (2 Cor 3:18) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
  9. The fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
  10. Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor 12:11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

3. His Power

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

Acts 1:8

Why do we need power?  Because we are in a war and wars are won with advanced weaponry.  The Holy Spirit is the most advance weapon of war ever. The people of this world are lost, trapped in sin (Rom 3:23), leading to the eternal death (Rom 6:23), there is none righteous, and they hate God and won’t seek him (Rom 3:9-18)

What is the Solution?  It’s the free gift.  But how do people who are dead in the sins hear and respond to God.

The Spirit – begins his work

  1. Holy Spirit convicts John 16:8 And when the Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
  2. The Holy Spirit regenerates Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

4. His Purpose

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Our Jerusalem – Our Community

Our method – Romans 10 – Spread the Gospel

  1. How is one saved? Romans 10:9,10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
  2. Must call upon the Lord Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
  3. How will they call upon him? Romans 10:14-17 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
    1. They must hearHow will they hear? With preachingWho is sent? 
    1. How does faith come
  4. Who is the power behind it all – The Holy Spirit why?  Because he has been given to us to empower us to witness

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