Church Ministries - Lecture 16 - The Power of Ministry is the Holy Ghost

16 Church Ministries - The Power of Ministry is the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 61:1-3 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

“Though he was the very Son of God in human flesh, he labored the way he knew his followers would have to labor: in total dependence on the Spirit of God.” 107

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

God took blue collar workers (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) and did incredible things through them!

They were not rich. (Acts 3:6 “silver and gold have I none…”)

They were not college-educated. (Acts 4:13 “…unlearned and ignorant…”)

What then was the secret of their ministry?

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

“In New Testament language, “to be filled with” means “to be controlled by.” To be “full of hypocrisy” (Matt. 23:28) means to live a life controlled by playacting and pretense. "Full of anger" (Luke 4:28) means "controlled by anger," and "full of envy" (Acts 13:45) means "controlled by envy." When we are filled with the Spirit, we are energized by the Spirit - thinking, desiring, and doing what the Spirit wills for us.” Page 108-109

Either God is in our ministry or He is not.

“Let's not allow the excesses and counterfeits of some people to rob us of the real blessings that the Spirit alone can confer on all who will yield to him. Either God is accomplishing his will in and through us by his Spirit, or we're doing our own thing in our own way and passing it off as the work of God.” Page 109

“The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, it's plain that he isn't going to fill a dirty vessel.” Page 110

“The Spirit of God is also the "Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; 15:26; 16: 13), which implies that there can be no place for deception in the life of a Spirit-filled believer.” Page 110

John A. Broadus wrote: "After all our preparation, general and special, for the conduct of public worship and for preaching, our dependence for real success is on the Spirit of God." Page 111

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his book: Preaching and Preachers wrote, “We all tend to go to extremes; some rely only on their own preparation and look for nothing more; others, as I say, tend to despise preparation and trust to the unction, the anointing and the inspiration of the Spirit alone. But there must be no "either/or" here; it is always "both/and." These two things must go together.”

(I taught this in December 23 to the freshman and Senior classes, but only had 15 minutes)

Acts 17_1-34 The Power of the Spirit

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. 14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

1. The Power of the Spirit Produces Endurance. Courage

i. Endurance in His Custom. (v.2 – “…as his manner was…”)

a. His Custom was to be Faithful! (“…three sabbath days…”)

i. Went to an unfriendly place and preached!

ii. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and steward of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

b. His Custom was to be Fervent!

i. Peter was the one that lied and denied Jesus three times, the final time fleeing from a young lady.

ii. But the Power of the Spirit Produced a faithful, fervent, endurance in the Apostle Peter!

c. The Power of the Spirit produces a custom of endurance in your life!

i. In my 20 years, on December 3rd, of ministering the gospel in Pentecostal churches, this is OFTEN what is missing in Church member's lives!

ii. IF YOU CANNOT HAVE A CUSTOM OF ENDURANCE, it has been too long since you experienced a personal Pentecost!

ii. Endurance in His Concentration. (v. 3 “this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”)

a. After Paul’s Damascus road experience, “this Jesus” is what he preached.

i. Over and over again He preached Christ!

1. Acts 13:16-47 He preached Christ to the Jews in Antioch – Explaining how God’s work in history leads up to Jesus.

2. Acts 17:22-31 He preached Christ as the “Unknown God” to the Greeks at Mars Hill.

3. Acts 20:18-35 He reiterated that he had preached repentance to God and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ to the Church elders in Ephesus.

4. Acts 22:1-21 He preached his testimony explaining his meeting with Jesus Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem

5. Acts 26:1-29 He preached how Christ caught him, convicted him, and converted him to King Agrippa and his court.

b. A powerful Pentecostal experience will keep you preaching Christ and Him crucified!

iii. Endurance for His Converts. (v. 4 – “…some of them believed…Greeks a great multitude…”)

a. “they consorted with Paul and Silas;”

i. He took what time he could with them and discipled them.

b. Paul told his son in the faith, in 2 Timothy 2:3 “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Seven verses later Paul told Timothy, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes…”

c. The last recorded epistle that we have from this great Apostle, and He’s still enduring for his conversion’s sake!

d. Sometime you have to endure for someone beside yourself!

i. His second imprisonment in Rome, following a fourth missionary journey not recorded in the book of Acts.

ii. Impending death, abandoned by friends, desperate for his coat and his books, and desiring to see one more time, His spiritual son.

iii. He says to that son, I’ve “fought the good fight.”

iv. It is a personal letter and he doesn’t take this time to bemoan his sad estate.

v. But he encourages his convert to endure like he has!

2. The Power of the Spirit Produces Enemies:

i. Our Enemies Are Moved with Envy. (v. 5 – “…the Jews…moved with envy…”)

a. Don’t be surprised when envy creeps in.

i. It’s the product of our enemy!

ii. Guard against envy coming through you.

1. It could be one of your peers are being used because God has a job that they are perfect for right now.

2. You might be a late bloomer, but it does not mean you will be less effective.

ii. Our Enemies Are Motivated by Evil. (v. 5 – “…took…lewd fellows of the baser sort…”)

a. Make no mistake, this push for abortion and transgenderism is motivated by evil.

iii. Our Enemies Are Amassed in Entirety. (v. 5 – “…set all the city on an uproar…”)

a. Unity is not just something that happens in a Holy Ghost environment.

i. The devil’s followers are unified as well.

3. The Power of the Spirit Produces God’s Endings:

i. Unintended Compliments. (v. 6 - “these…have turned the world upside down…”)

a. v.5 – “The Jews which believed not…”

i. They intended this to be to their detriment.

ii. But to Holy Ghost filled individuals it is a compliment!

b. The Power of the Spirit turned my life upside down.

i. From bashful and bitter, to whatever I am now. 😊

ii. My testimony is what the first verse for “When I Think About the Lord.”

1. He saved me, He raised me, He filled me, He healed me…

2. He picked me up and turned me around, He placed my feet on solid ground.

iii. The change that God has worked in my life is miraculous!

1. As you preach Christ every where you go, you can like Paul, tell your own testimony of God’s grace in your life!

ii. Unintended Consequences.

a. These enemies did not know that a Sovereign God would use their evil actions to bring about great endings.

i. (v. 10 “…immediately sent away Paul unto Berea…”)

ii. (v. 15 “…brought him unto Athens…”)

b. “The Devil’s Plot fits into God’s Plan!”

i. Our enemy is not Sovereign nor is he omniscient!

ii. Psalms 37:12-17 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

iii. Unplanned Conversions. (v. 34 – “…certain men clave unto him, and believed…)

a. To those on the “Americanized Christianity” side, it probably appears that the enemy was at work or even winning.

i. WHY?

1. Because anytime something goes against our wants it must be the devil.

b. But this is not the case at all is it?

c. V. 16 - While Paul “waited.”

i. “Waiting time is not wasting time.”

1. He was Stirred. (v. 16 “his spirit was stirred in him…”)

a. Hearing in Chapel on Thursday November 16th, Bro. Randy Frazier talk about his ten years working at the Lazy Boy Factory and other Factories, and how it felt God had forgotten about him or even forsaken him.

2. He was Studying. (v. 16 “he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”)

3. He was Striving. (v. 17 “disputed he in the synagogue…”)

4. He was Steady. (v. 17 “daily with them that met with him.”)

d. Paul had much greater responses in many different places.

i. But to God those two named souls and the “others with them,” were of great value.