Filled with the Spirit

Passages: Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 6:8-25; Acts 7:54-59; 9:10-19.

Introduction:

What’s the vision?

Matthew 28:19 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

I asked an important question before opening up the doors once again: What is the point of it all? Why am I doing this?

THE PROMISE JESUS MADE - I will send the Holy Spirit upon you!

As the church, this passage in Acts really helped us understand why we stay in the country that is at war:

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Devoted themselves

Breaking bread and prayer with sincere hearts

Full of awe at the wonders and signs

They did business to benefit others

They met together

Result: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

IMPORTANT: Where am I going with this passage?

HOOK: Something happened after the cross that made people risk lives and die for the Son of Man.

A bunch of terrified people, in a closed room, with windows down and scared for their lives - led the most effective revolution known to humankind. What did they do?! They witnessed.

Point 1: Stephen

Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. How did it look like? What were the signs? What happens if we are filled with the Spirit?

This message explains the full picture: I WILL SUMMARISE IT

Acts 6:8–15 NIV

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit will:

Fill you up with God’s grace and power

Perform great signs and wonders

give you Wisdom

Make your face shine is like the face of an angel

Also: an opposition (enemy) will lie about your witness. What will you do?

Side note: God doesn’t ask us to defend his or our honor. Matthew 28:19!

What was Stephen’s outcome? He was stoned to death. It’s a process. What was he doing while being stoned? PREACHING THE GOSPEL (or BEING FULL OF SPIRIT)

Acts 7:54–60 NIV

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen shows that being filled with the Spirit doesn’t exclude us from trouble. The Holy Spirit gives us grace to endure the trial.

This story introduces more information about this character named SAUL.

People dragged Stephen out of the city to murder him and…

Saul was holding the coats of those who were murdering Stephen.

Saul was observing how God’s chosen ones were dying one by one. Would you want to meet this guy? How would you behave around him? Are you excited to fulfill the Great Commission?

Point 2: Ananias

Q: What if your name comes up once in the Bible and never mentioned again? Or a bigger question is, “What if God has used you for His glory and you are never to be brought up again?

Acts 9:10–19 NIV

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Explaining:

Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus

Saul gets blind and is waiting for further instructions

At the same time, Ananias gets a dream about this young guy Saul

Ananias: God, I know this man’s reputation. There’s nothing good about him. He is arresting all my friends and colleagues!

God: v 15-16

Lessons from the life of Ananias:

The man who held the coats at Stephen’s murder is the very man Ananias is commanded to bless.

Conclusion:

Devotion - You need to know God’s voice intimately enough to recognise when He challenges your comfort zone

Mission - We serve a mighty God: No task is too big, no person is too far gone

Commission - God will ask you to do the uncomfortable or impossible things, but you never walk into the room alone.