Empowered by the Spirit

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

To Cultivate a Deeper Spiritual Connection

Jeremiah 29:12–13 ESV

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Question: What about a superficial connection?

1 John 2:3–4 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

The Charismatic movement began on April 3, 1960 when an Episcopalian priest, Dennis J. Bennett, told his congregation that he had experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His sermon sparked a new Pentecostal revival and lead to many churches adopting some of the beliefs and practices of Pentecostal Christians. However, unlike the first major Pentecostal revival, the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles California, the Charismatic movement tended to stay within the mainline denominations.The movement emphasizes the use of spiritual gifts, or charismata, and baptism with the Holy Spirit. It also emphasizes gifts such as:

Word of wisdom

Word of knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healing

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Discerning of spirits

Speaking in tongues

Question: What can you do to cultivate a deeper spiritual relationship with God?

Psalm 119:15–18 ESV

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

John 4:23–24 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

To Promote Global Evangelism and Mission Work

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Question: What are some effective methods of evangelism?

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 ESV

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.