Form, Function and the Holy Spirit

ACTS 2

Objective: Since God started the Church through Jesus Christ, He is the One that we answer to. There are certain absolutes and certain non-absolutes. In all of these, the Holy Spirit is the one who directs and empowers.

INTRODUCTION:

1. 1CO 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

2. Introduce some terms that are not in the text but we need to see.

Form and Function

3. Define terms:

Function—What we are to do (Absolute & unchangeable)

Form—How we are to accomplish the function (Non-absolute and changeable).

4. Example of Form and function

a. 1st Century Function—met together regularly

21st Century Function—We must meet together regularly

b. 1st Century Form—Bible does not say totally

House to house, in the temple

21st Century Form—Varies, places,

5. Functions are described in the New Testament without description of forms

Hebrews 10:24-25. 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASB 95.

6. When form is described, it is partial or incomplete

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. NASB 95.

Did they go to every house or believers only?

Did they stand outside, inside or on the rooftop?

Did they invite neighbors?

7. Form and structure varies from one New Testament setting to another

Act 5:42, in the temple, house to house,

8. Problem: People begin to make the form gospel and minimize the function.

A. Whenever you have People, you have function. Wherever you have function, you have form. People tend to make the form gospel until a crisis comes and the form begins to change.

Example—Fire in Milford where firefighters were killed

Function stays the same—Train to fight fires

Form becomes much more regulated—Power grab by government

B. Absolutes Non-absolutes

Function Form

Principle Pattern

Organism Organization

Truth Tradition

Message Method

Above Culture Culture

9. Now to Acts 2

I. Holy Spirit coming on them 1-13

A. Speaking in tongues (Languages) 6-11 FORM

1. 1 Cor 12:28-31

2. 1 Cor 14:2,6-9, 12-28, 33-40

B. All heard the Word of God in their own language

II. Function—Truth of God’s Word

13-36—Gospel message that Jesus died, buried

A. Essentials

a. Gospel

Jesus was prophesied in the past

Jesus did miracles

Jesus was nailed to the cross

Jesus died, buried and raised from the dead

Jesus ascended into Heaven

b. What must we do? V. 37-47—NEXT TIME

B. Holy Spirit

III. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

A. Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. Genesis 1:1

2. Spirit of God moved on the waters

3. God as part of the Trinity

4. Day of Jesus introduction into ministry

B. What does He do?

1. Creation

2. Salvation—Opens the hearts

3. Convict s of sin

4. Empowers you

Acts 2—Spoke in tongues

Acts 2—Opened hearts of 3000

Eph 5:18—Be filled with the Spirit

C. Does the Holy Spirit work in your life?

1. Old Testament--For Ministry

a. Came on Saints for Special ministries

1) Saul when Anointed King

2) David when anointed king

3) Joshua when leading Israel

b. Taken away at times

1) David after sin prayed‑‑Do not take Holy Spirit from me.

2. New Testament--For daily living

a. Regeneration‑‑That work where by the Holy Spirit takes spiritually dead men and makes them spiritually alive in Christ. Takes place at salvation.

Ephesians 2:1-2 NASB95 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

b. Baptism of the Spirit‑‑Takes place at point of regeneration. It is inseparable, simultaneous and yet distinct. This is the INDUCTION of the believer into the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

c. Indwelling of the Spirit‑‑This takes place at salvation. It is the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Romans 8:9 NASB95 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Romans 8:11 NASB95 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 John 4:13 NASB95 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

d. Sealing‑‑Ministry whereby the believer never looses his salvation

Ephesians 4:13 NASB95 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NASB95 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

e. Guides

John 16:13 NASB95 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

f. Teaches

John 14:26 NASB95 “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 said to you.

g. Comforts John 14:26

h. Restrains from sin 2Th 2:7

2 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB95 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

i. Gives gifts to men 1Co 12:1‑11 etc.

j. Filling of the Spirit‑‑This is the question of who has control in your life; you or the Holy Spirit? To be Spirit filled is to be Spirit controlled.

Ephesians 5:18 NASB95 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Filling is repeated and as often as a person is 100% yielded to God

k. Evidences of Spirit filling:

1) Christ‑like Character Gal 5:22‑23

Galatians 1:22-23 NASB95 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

2) Exercise of Spiritual gifts Rom 12:3‑8

Romans 12:3-8 NASB95 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

3) Produces true praise and Thanksgiving

Ephesians 5:18-21 NASB95 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

4) Led by God Rom 8:14

Romans 8:14 NASB95 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 5:16 NASB95 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

D. the Work of the Spirit

1. Creation‑‑Gen 1:2

2. Conviction of sin, righteousness and Judgment Joh 16:8‑11

3. Bring a person to Christ

John 3:5 NASB95 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

4. Sanctification‑‑Helps individuals grow in Christ

5. Restrains the world from much sin 2Th 2:7

2 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB95 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

What Essentials do we have?

Doctrine

Lostness of the soul

Value of the church

Whosoever will can be saved

If you do into have the Spirit, you are not saved

All are to serve—Gifted to serve

Must train our children and bring all to maturity

People are our Priority, not programs, programs only help us serve people.

The Bible is our Foundation—Our only rule of faith and practice

What non-essentials do we have?

Times of services

Methods of reaching people

All things to all men so that by all means, we win some

Grace is for you. Here is a place for you