To Live in the Spirit

Intro

A little Bible Trivia for you

Who wrote most of the New Testament?

Luke (Wrote more of the New Testament than Paul. The two books Luke wrote totaled 37,932 words, while Paul’s 13 books totaled 32,408), Paul, Moses, or John

Luke wrote Luke and Acts and we are going to be studying Acts

We are a church full of passion that desires to see God move, but when their is no direction (guidelines) or wisdom the passion won’t get us very far

This year I want us to refocus our minds as believers and as a church to be all that he has called us to be

We will be diving into an inside view on what the early church and believers looked like, This inside view is found in Acts, and over this next year we are going to be diving into the words of Acts

This is going to be a tough series with a lot of tough conversations, but necessary conversations

With that being said if you do not like what I say, do not just come to me with hurt feelings, but with Scripture

Anything I say from this pulpit I strive to make sure it is backed in the Word

What is cool about this is the Gospels is the story of Jesus coming while the book of Acts is the story of what happened when the Holy Spirit came

Baptized in the Spirit

Acts 1:5 ESV

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

What does this scripture mean?

First of all what does the baptized mean?

The Greek for it is baptizo, which means to immerse

Interesting bit of Bible translation history is that they did not translate baptize because they predominantly done sprinkling

Baptize is to immerse

“John baptized with water”

Jesus is referring to John baptizing people in the river (Mark 1:4-8)

So why do we baptize? And is their a correct way?

Colossians 2:11–12 ESV

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Baptism is done as symbolism of the change that has occured in our hearts

You look at Scripture, Biblical-ly you need to be baptized by immersion if possible, we see exceptions such as the thief on the cross

Baptism is not required for salvation (and does not save you) , but baptism is required for obedience.

“baptized with the Holy Spirit”

This is saying, “immersed with the Holy Spirit”

Until we get to the events of Acts 2 the Spirit did not dwell constantly within believers

It is Jesus talking about what He promised before his crucifixion

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

So the question comes what does a life look like that is baptized in the Spirit?

Go home and read the book of Acts and you will see what a Spirit filled life looks like

Sneak Peak:

Acts 2 shows divine intervention

Boldness to share the Gospel despite the circumstances

Dedicating all you have to God

Accountability

a heart of service (and this is all just in the first six chapters)

Let me give you a few take away this morning believer:

As a believer you are immersed in the Spirit means you did not walk into the Spirit this morning when you came through those back doors

You are a traveling temple this is just where we congregate (kind of like a campground) for discipleship, fellowship and accountability

Their is no an area of your life that is not impacted

Your work is holy, your home is holy, your marriage is holy

You want to improve any part of your life, seek God deeply

Being immersed in the Spirit means every aspect of your life will show changes

Your character should not shift depending on the crowd you are with

people should know you are crazy in love with Jesus

If I took my wedding ring off around certain people, how does that look? How is Lindsey going to feel?

Now put yourself in that example

How do you think Jesus feels when we put up what marks us as His?

Upon salvation we all receive the same amount of Holy Spirit, but the reason some of us are less bold is we put up more friction and spend less time in the Word

Witness in 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.”

So one of the first things we see that is impacted by being filled with the Spirit is our witness

This is a very summarized version of the Great Commission:

Jerusalem- Locally

Judea and Samaria- Nationally

End of the earth- internationally

Witness comes from the Greek word martyr

Originally, one who gives witness to religious truth; in the later sense of the term, one who seals that testimony with his or her death. -Millard J. Erickson

How do you give a witness to this truth?

How do your actions line up with the words?

How do your words line up with these words?

We have all heard the quote in some form of, “Preach the gospel. Use words when necessary.”

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Words are always necessary, but we must walk and live in the Spirit constantly because our actions show the genuineness of our words and give us credit with people, but for people to get saved words must be used.

Lastly as we think of how the term martyr has transformed through the years.

How do you finish well?

Will your life leave a lasting legacy of faith or will you let your guard down and leave behind a tainted legacy?

What to Not Live in

Often we get caught in endless debates that do nothing to further the kingdom of God

This morning we see two

Acts 1:6 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Don’t get caught up in waiting for a political movement

Acts 1:11 ESV

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Don’t get caught up watching for signs of Jesus return

What you need to know he is coming again

And on a side note in getting caught up in looking for Christ to come again we loose the point of revelation

It is not to know when he is coming again scripture makes that clear

It is to give us hope in the most dire of times

It is to give us wisdom in the most of dire times

Matthew 24:36 ESV

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

So if you got books at home on signs predicting end times and saying we are in them now, throw them away and stop listening to that preacher because he is trying to have access to something Jesus Himself does not access

As we are going to this study I can’t stress it enough be on the guard against false teachers/preachers and not let them hinder you from listening to the Spirit and growing in the Spirit

The demonic is going to do all it can to distract you from what God wants to do in your life and in this church

Outro

What skeletons are in your closet risking tainting your legacy you need to come lay down at the alter?

What demonic teachings do you need to cast from your life? What thoughts do you need rebuked this morning?