Equipment for Ministry

Ministry is a fun! Ministry is also a challenge. We are all called to do ministry. I praise God for Bethel Temple and the wonderful ministry that is taking place through this church…..but I’m concerned that too many of us are trying to do the ministry in our own power. That is NOT how God designed it. I’m looking forward to the next few months where we are going to have opportunity to reach out to our neighbors and tell them about the Gospel, but we need to be full of His Spirit to get the work done. We want to make ourselves available to the Spirit to use us.

Acts 2:1-42 (NIV)

1. To get Equipment for Ministry You Have to Follow the Command of Jesus

a. Acts 1:4-8 (NIV)

b. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

c. [1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984. (NIV)

d.

I like the promise in verse 8, YOU WILL receive power and YOU WILL be my witnesses.

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

2. When God is Giving the Equipment, ….You Want to Receive It

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

It is normal for people to ask questions, it is also normal that some will take it as an opportunity to ridicule.

3. Once You Receive the Equipment, Tell the Best News in the World

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Musicians would you come?

4. Let the Spirit Do the Work of the Ministry Through You:

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

God does want to use you. God intends on using you to do the work of His Spirit.

First I have to ask? Do you know Jesus? Are you a Christian? If you have heard this message and like the listeners you’ve been pricked at your heart, you feel anxious and asked what Must I do to be saved? Jesus says Come to Me and I will give you rest. You don’t have to carry those burdens any more….Jesus is a burden bearer.

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

But there is another group here…. You want so much to do the work of God, to teach, to share, to reach out to others but you feel like you don’t qualify, or you don’t have the skill that it takes….and as you’ve listened this morning that hunger that you have has been growing. You need the baptism in the Holy Spirit…you need equipment for ministry. Maybe you’ve been prayed for before and haven’t received, but your hungry for more of God…this is your day.

If you want to be baptized in the Spirit, when we open up the altars this morning, come down here and we’ll pray with you to get it.. But you won’t be praying alone,