Unmasking the Holy Spirit Week 4 - Why We Need the Holy Spirit Part 3 (Removing the Mask of Fear)

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Today is BGMC Sunday!

3. Offering box is in the back

4. Bible reading plan is on the back table

5. We are needing individually wrapped candy to hand out on the square. You can drop them off from now until our TableTalk next week. Please see Pastor Charity with any questions.

6. Our next TableTalk is next week, Sunday, October 26th at 5PM, and the theme is “Around the World” and afterwards we will be putting the candy bags together for the square for those who can stay after and help.

Worship:

Glorious day

2. Great Is

3. Who Else

4. Worthy, You Are Worthy

Introduction:

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been walking together through what it means to unmask the Holy Spirit — to see Him for who He really is and to allow Him to work fully in our lives by removing the masks we are wearing.

In week one, we learned that the Holy Spirit is a person — not a force or an idea. He reveals the heart of God the Father and the presence of Jesus the Son, and He is always with us.

In week two, we discovered that the Spirit helps us in our weakness — when we don’t even know how to pray. He intercedes for us according to God’s will. And we learned the importance of removing the mask we often wear to hide our need for help from God and from others.

Last week, we talked about the fruit of the Spirit — the evidence of His work within us. The fruit is the outward sign of what the Spirit is doing on the inside. And we noted how love is listed first, perhaps because it is the root of all the rest.

And now, as we finish this series, I want to talk about one more mask the Spirit wants to remove — the mask of fear.

Masks can serve a purpose. Soldiers wear them for protection. Firefighters put them on to face smoke and flames. They provide safety — a barrier between danger and the one who wears it. But sometimes those masks can represent fear — fear of danger, rejection, or failure.

The early disciples knew that kind of fear. Even after Jesus’ resurrection, they hid behind locked doors. They had seen the empty tomb but their hearts were still full of worry. They believed, but they were afraid to live it out.

Then came the promise. Jesus told them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit — not a new program, not a new plan, but power from above. The Spirit doesn’t just comfort us when we’re afraid; He empowers us — with gifts, courage, and grace — to live boldly, unmasked, and unafraid.

Illustration: The Lamp and the Power

Imagine you walk into a dark room and see a beautiful lamp sitting on a table. It has a perfect design — a strong base, a clean shade, and a standard bulb. Everything about it says, “I was made to shine.” But when you flip the switch… nothing happens.

You check the bulb — it’s fine. You check the switch — it’s working. Then you realize the problem: it’s not plugged in.

The lamp has everything it needs to be a lamp, but it’s missing connection to the power source that makes it shine.

That’s what it’s like for all of us. They’re flipping the switch, but there’s no power flowing.

Now imagine you plug that lamp in. Instantly, light fills the room. The lamp didn’t suddenly become more of a lamp — it just became empowered to do what it was created to do as it was connected to the power source (Jesus - abiding in Him).

But then you put in a brighter bulb that lasts longer, etc.

That’s what the baptism in the Holy Spirit does. It’s like being plugged into God’s power source but also having an infusion of power. The Holy Spirit doesn’t change who you are (we are made in the image of God); He energizes who you are. He gives you boldness to witness, wisdom to speak, and discernment to act. He distributes spiritual gifts — like prophecy, healing, faith, and tongues — so that the light of Christ shines through His church in many different ways.

Without the Spirit’s power, you can be designed for purpose and shine the light of the Gospel. But when you’re baptized in the Spirit, you don’t just shine the light — you are empowered to be the light (Becoming more like Christ and shining brighter to more people).

Acts 1:8 (CSB) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So let me ask you: are you like a lamp that’s unplugged—full of potential but without power (a nonbeliever)? Or are you plugged into Jesus, shining the light of the gospel? Or better yet, are you not only connected to His power, but fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to shine the light of the gospel brightly to the world around you?

It’s scary to think about not just shining the gospel to the world as it will lead to rejection, etc. But also purposefully walking out and crossing barriers to share the Gospel personally. This is where the mask of fear comes into our discussion this morning.

Transition: As we walk through Acts 1:4-8, we see that the Spirit transforms timid hearts into bold witnesses. The same power that moved the early church is still available to you and me today.

Exposition of the Text (Acts 1:4–8)

Acts 1:4–8 CSB

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Power, Not Timidity (v. 8; cf. 2 Timothy 1:7)

Acts 1:8 CSB

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

2 Timothy 1:7 CSB

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Jesus didn’t call the disciples to go in their own strength. He told them to wait — to depend on what only God could provide. The word for “power” here is dynamis — the same root as “dynamite.” It’s explosive, transformative power.

That power doesn’t just remove fear — it replaces it with spiritual gifts that reveal God’s strength:

1 Corinthians 12:7–10 CSB

7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues.

Brief explanation of the gifts:

The gift of faith helps us trust when fear says, “You can’t.” (1 Cor 12:9)

The gift of wisdom gives clarity when fear brings confusion. (1 Cor 12:8)

The gift of healing restores where fear brings despair. (1 Cor 12:9)

The gift of tongues and interpretation strengthen us in prayer when fear steals our words. (1 Cor 12:10)

When the Spirit fills you, His power enables you to live unafraid and to operate supernaturally, not just naturally.

Transition to Point 2: But the Spirit’s power isn’t given to make us feel strong — it’s given to make Christ known. The power has a purpose.

2. The Holy Spirit Empowers Us to Witness (v. 8)

Acts 1:8 (CSB) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses…”

The Spirit’s power isn’t for prestige or position; it’s for purpose — to make Christ known. The Holy Spirit equips us with gifts that make our witness effective:

1 Corinthians 12:7–10 CSB

7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues.

The gift of prophecy declares God’s truth with conviction. (1 Cor 12:10)

The gift of knowledge gives insight that confirms His Word. (1 Cor 12:8)

The gift of discernment helps us recognize truth from error. (1 Cor 12:10)

Fear silences testimony. Fear says, “You’ll sound foolish.” But when the Spirit fills you, He gives you the right words at the right time (Luke 12:11–12). (Remember we talked about this in week 2?)

Luke 12:11–12 CSB

11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

Illustration: Think of a microphone. By itself, it’s silent. But when connected to a sound system, it amplifies a voice so everyone can hear. You and I are the microphones — the Spirit is the power that amplifies the message of Christ through us.

You may feel unqualified or unnoticed, but the Spirit uses ordinary people to carry an extraordinary message. He doesn’t need your perfection — only your surrender.

I am an introvert. The only reason I am doing what I am doing for the Kingdom of God is because He has called and equipped me to do it. I have to completely rely on the power of the Holy Spirit each and every day if I am going to accomplish what the Lord wants me to accomplish each day.

Question: What is the Lord calling you to do that you are not comfortable doing? Is it because you are so focused on what your limitations are rather than relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Transition to Point 3: And when we yield to His power, something even greater happens — the message doesn’t just reach us; it moves beyond us.

3. The Holy Spirit’s Power Crosses Barriers (v. 8)

Acts 1:8 CSB

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

Jesus said the gospel would spread from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. That’s not just geography — that’s courage in motion.

The Spirit gives gifts that unify the church and break barriers:

The gift of tongues helps the gospel transcend languages. (1 Cor 12:10)

The gift of interpretation builds understanding and unity. (1 Cor 12:10)

The gift of mercy moves us toward compassion instead of fear. (Romans 12:8)

Romans 12:6–8 CSB

6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

The gift of evangelism and helps push us beyond our comfort zones to reach people different from us. (Eph 4:11-13)

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

Illustration: The Berlin Wall once stood as a symbol of fear and division. When it came down in 1989, families were reunited, and freedom spread where fear once ruled. That’s what the Spirit does in the Church — He tears down walls and pushes the gospel beyond barriers - even barriers between people in the church.

Transition to Application: So if the Spirit gives us power, purpose, and courage — what mask still hides our faith from the world around us?

Application

Many of us still live behind masks — the mask of fear, silence, or comfort. But the same Spirit who empowered Peter to preach, filled Stephen to stand boldly, and gave Paul gifts to heal and teach — that Spirit lives in you.

You don’t have to manufacture courage. You just have to stay connected to the source. The Spirit who filled the upper room now fills your heart, equipping you with gifts not for display but for mission.

So take off the mask. Speak boldly. Serve faithfully. Live freely. Step forward in His power.

The Nine Gifts of the Spirit Fall into three Divisions: 

The Gifts of Revelation

The Gifts of Inspiration

The Gifts of Power.

Gifts of Revelation:

1-The Word of Wisdom: A supernatural revelation, or insight into the divine will and purpose, often given by the Spirit to solve perplexing problems and situations.

2-The Word of Knowledge:  The Word of Knowledge is a supernatural revelation of Divine knowledge or insight in the Divine mind, will or plan, to know things that could not be known of oneself.

3-Discerning of Spirits: This is a supernatural revelation or insight into the realm of spirits to detect their presence and plans.

Gifts of Inspiration:

4-Prophecy: Prophecy is the supernatural utterance in the native tongue. It is a miracle of divine utterance, not conceived by human thought or reasoning. It includes speaking unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort.

5-Divers Kinds of Tongues: The supernatural utterance in other languages that are not known to the speaker.

6-The Interpretation of Tongues: The supernatural ability to interpret in the native tongue what is uttered in other languages not known by the one who interprets by the Spirit.

Gifts of Power:

7-Gift of Faith: This is a supernatural ability to believe God without human doubt, unbelief, and reasonings.

8-The Gift of Healing: The healing of all manner of sickness by supernatural power, without human aid or medicine.

9-The Working of Miracles: Is supernatural power to intervene in the ordinary course of nature and to counteract natural laws if necessary.

Conclusion:

Masks of fear may seem protective, but they limit your freedom. They keep your voice small and your witness quiet. But when the Spirit fills you — with His power and His gifts — fear loses its hold.

The Spirit removes the mask of fear and gives you the courage to live out your faith unashamed. So take off the mask. Step into the boldness of the Spirit’s power. Live unmasked — not by your strength, but by His.

Romans 10:8b-10 (CSB): “This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 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 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

Communion

As we come to the Lord’s Table today, we remember that the Spirit’s power is rooted in the cross. On the night before His death, Jesus took bread and broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is for you.” He took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.”

At the cross, Jesus looked powerless — broken, rejected, defeated. Yet that moment of weakness became the greatest display of God’s power the world has ever known.

When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim that same power — the power that raised Christ from the dead and now lives in us through the Holy Spirit. And the same Spirit who raised Christ also fills us with gifts — gifts to strengthen His Church and extend His Kingdom.

So as you come to the Table today, lay down the mask of fear. Remember the One who faced the cross unmasked and unafraid. Receive His strength, His Spirit, His power. Then rise from this Table ready to live boldly and use the gifts He’s placed within you for His glory.