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Pastor Greg - July 27, 2014
Acts 1
God does not call to qualify, God
qualifies the call.
What happens when you share the
gospel and the person says yes? Then you pray with them right now!
You don't send them on their way
without praying!
Acts 4:13 NLT
[13] The members of the council
were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see
that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They
also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
It's not what you know, it who
you know. You personally know Jesus Christ.
When you are asked that question
you don't know the answer, pray right there for the answer! Then it is possible
that the word from God will come right from you to answer the question.
God empowered the disciples on
the day of Pentecost. That same power is here for us today right now.
Is the world shaking us or are we
shaking the world?
Acts 17:6 NLT
[6] Not finding them there, they
dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before
the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the
world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city,
too.
It was quoted - Organized Christianity
that fails to cause a disturbance is dead.
In the year 200, it was quoted -
that Christians invaded all of the Roman world. It impacted every nook and
cranny of the empire.
The stories in the Bible is the
norm! What we have is not, we need to turn back to it.
To set the seen of the passages
below; the people saw the Romans kill who they thought would become their king.
He did come back after that and appeared in front of thousands of people over
40 days.
Acts 1:6 NLT
[6] So when the apostles were
with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, has the time come for you to free
Israel and restore our kingdom?"
Jesus did not come to do that in
a literal sense.
Are you missing something, not
clearly understanding what God wants you to do?
Matthew 28:16-20 NLT
[16] Then the eleven disciples
left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [17]
When they saw him, they worshiped him-but some of them doubted! [18] Jesus came
and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on
earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new
disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am
with you always, even to the end of the age."
Acts 1:8 NLT
[8] But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling
people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth."
Power to live for your faith, die
for you faith, live your faith and share your faith.
We often see things done in the
name of the Holy Spirit that are just bizarre. Who are those people,why are
they falsely doing that? Many of us think if that is the Holy Spirit, we don't
want it. But that is not the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit is
given to us to be a witness to Him.
The Bible says, don't quench the
Spirit. Have you done that? It is when you are resisting the Spirit when it is
on you to speak of your faith to someone and don't.
Greg says that could be a sin. It
could be a sin of omission, because you are doing what you are supposed to do.
Acts 1:8 NLT
[8] But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling
people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth."
The word power in the scripture
is defined as "explosive power" not political power to overcome Rome,
but the power to speak the gospel.
Acts 2:1-6 NLT
[1] On the day of Pentecost all
the believers were meeting together in one place. [2] Suddenly, there was a
sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the
house where they were sitting. [3] Then, what looked like flames or tongues of
fire appeared and settled on each of them. [4] And everyone present was filled
with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit
gave them this ability. [5] At that time there were devout Jews from every
nation living in Jerusalem. [6] When they heard the loud noise, everyone came
running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by
the believers.
Nothing like this had ever
happened before. This was a super natural action.
Should we expect this to happen
today? Yes and no. The flames were most likely unique to that time.
Fire fighters today use
"back fire" that is to start a fire to stop a fire, it is a
controlled burn.
The Bible is not talking about a
wild fire, but a controlled you.
You don't lose control when the
Holy Spirit comes upon you, you become in control. The Spirit become self
control.
Acts 2:38-39 NLT
[38] Peter replied, "Each of
you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. [39] This promise is to you, and to your children, and even
to the Gentiles-all who have been called by the Lord our God."
Are you plugged in and turned on
with the power of the Holy Spirit or are you unplugged and asking why it's not
working.
What does it mean to be filled
with the Spirit?
Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT
[18] Don't be drunk with wine,
because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, [19]
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music
to the Lord in your hearts. [20] And give thanks for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To be filled is translated in the
way that wind fills a sail. It also is sometimes defined as being preserved and
filled like salt preserves meat.
God's plan for evangelism is to
start where you are.
John 4:34 NLT
[34] Then Jesus explained:
"My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from
finishing his work.
Some people want to cross the sea
for Christ, you need to start by crossing the street.
John 11:22 NLT
[22] But even now I know that God
will give you whatever you ask."
God gives refills to us over and
over again.
Acts 4:29-31 NLT
[29] And now, O Lord, hear their
threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
[30] Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders
be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." [31] After this
prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
God fills you, refills you, fills
you and fills you some more.
Any clear thinking Christian wants
all the power that God has for them.
Are you asking God for the Holy
Spirit to fill you?
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