10.8.17
"Spirit-Filled History"
TEXT: Acts 2:4, 2:12-13, 8:17, 10:44, 19:6
TRUTHS:
1. The Book of Acts provides us with the biblical accounts of believers being baptized in the Holy Spirit. In each account where the Holy Spirit fills believers, the work is accompanied by a rather dynamic sign and/or experience. We also see that God refuses to force the baptism of the Holy Spirit on anyone. Satan is the one who works using pressure and force--God does not. This implies that you can resist the work of God's Spirit. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit requires that we are desiring and hungering after God's gracious work.
2. We used the Book of Acts to answer several questions concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit: (1) who is the baptism for, (2) when does it happen, (3) where does it happen, and (4) how does it happen?
- Who? The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all people. There are no qualifying factors besides being human and being born-again.
- When? God promises to pour out His Spirt during the last days. In the Bible, the phrase "last days" refers to the Church Age. The Church Age started when Jesus ascended into heaven and will end when Jesus returns to earth. To suggest that God has ceased to fill believers with His Spirit is also to suggest that Jesus has returned to earth a second time and we are living in some strange time after the return of Jesus that the Bible makes no mention of.
- Where? In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples they will be His witnesses in "Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 2 shows the promise being fulfilled in Jerusalem, Acts 8:17 and 10:44 record it being fulfilled in Judea and Samaria, and in Acts 19:6, we see the promised power of the Holy Spirit beginning to move out into all the world--and it still continues to happen today!
- How? Although there is certainly no formula that makes the Lord pour out His Spirit on believers, the Book of Acts does provide some insight on how it happens. Believers need to be praying and seeking, we should be intentional in asking the Lord for it, we can pray and lay hands on each other with expectancy, and we are to inform those who may not know about or understand the promised work of the Holy Spirit. We also see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit may be poured out on believers somewhat unexpectedly. For example, when Peter was simply preaching the gospel at Cornelius' house and the Spirit was poured out.
3. The baptism of the Holy Spirit can take away the seeking of earthly things as our source of joy. It provides an assurance of something--that we are His--and is a totally unique experience that nothing in this world can replicate.
4. When seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there are several truths believers should meditate on and remind themselves of.
- Focus on the Baptizer--Jesus. Jesus promised the Spirit and is the one who pours the Spirit out on believers. We should ask Him to do this and seek to focus on who He is, what He did and promised, and how faithful and truthful His Word has proven to be.
- Ask and wait. If someone prays to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and it doesn't happen, that does not mean the gift of Spirit baptism is not for them. We must continue to ask, patiently wait for God's providence and timing, and fight the temptation to quit praying about it.
- Receive by faith. There is no formula or anything we can do to make it happen. Just like salvation, we simply ask and receive it by faith. It is a gift, and a Spirit-baptized believer is not greater or more important than a believer who has not yet received the gift.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. How does the baptism of the Holy Spirit cause believers to move away from seeking earthly pleasures as their central source of joy and contentment?
2. How does one focus on Jesus when asking the Lord to baptize them with His Spirit? What truths and realities should we focus on?
3. What should the motivation of our hearts be when asking the Lord for Spirit-baptism?
TALK TO GOD:
3. What should the motivation of our hearts be when asking the Lord for Spirit-baptism?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray as you feel led concerning the following area(s):
That Jesus pours out the Spirit on our church this coming Sunday!