The Spirit of the Kingdom

Chris Oswald

Acts: The Kingdom Continued • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Acts 1:1–5

Holy Spirit

Spirit of God

0 ratings

· 37 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Who’s Who

Originally, published in ??

Who’s Who Scams

We’re talking about the who’s who of the kingdom of God. Almost all of the good questions about the kingdom of God are who questions.

Who is the king of the kingdom?

Who are the citizens?

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Who

There’s a third “who’s who” we need to talk about. His name appears repeatedly in

10:17-20

The Holy Spirit

In fact, many of your bibles will include a heading that says, “The Promise of the Holy Spirit.”

And that’s exactly what we see in two different places...

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts

Acts 1:4 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

“

and again in v. 6-8,

“…until the day he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen” ()

Acts 1:6–9 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

So in v. 4 you’ve got the promise of the Spirit

In v. 5 you’ve got the purity of the Spirit (you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit)

and in v. 6 you’ve got the power of the Spirit

but before all of that, you’ve got the pattern of spirit-led ministry. Look at v. 2,

Acts 1:1–2 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

I. The Pattern of Spirit Led Ministry

“…after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (v.2)

In verse 2 we see Jesus giving commands to the disciples through the Holy Spirit. Before we discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it would be a good idea to refresh our understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in Jesus’ life. Turn with me to . That whole chapter shows the Holy Spirit guiding, guarding, empowering Jesus.

The Holy Spirit guided, empowered, guarded Jesus ()

Luke 4:1 ESV

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

The Holy Spirit guided, empowered, guarded Jesus ()

Luke 4:2–30 ESV

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

The Holy Spirit guarded Jesus (

The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus (Luke 4:14-19)

Examples: Led into the wilderness, brought the scriptures to mind (proof text) and satisfied him with God in the midst of suffering, led him both to preach the good news and to perform many miracles. Even delivered him from his enemies ()

references the doing and teaching, the suffering and resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All of that activity is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

That’s significant on two levels:

That’s significant on three levels:

If he needs it...

The other day, I was trying to tell a group of guys on Basecamp how important it is to seek out God in prayer and in his word on a daily basis. I was telling them that church history is full of guys way more gifted than them, smarter than them, more spiritually informed than them — who wouldn’t dream of being so puffed up or prideful as to presume they could go a day without God’s word to guide them.

The same kind of argument ought to be applied to Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Never trust a skinny cook.

If the meal is the Holy Spirit, then Jesus was a chubby chef. Jesus was the most spirit filled person ever. This is what he wants for us.

Reversal of fortunes

says that we once had a different spirit at work in us. says that if we are in Christ, we have the same spirit at work in us that was at work in Jesus.

says that we once had a different spirit at work in us. The spirit at work in the sons of disobedience. says that if we are in Christ, we have the same spirit at work in us that was at work in Jesus.

Realistic expectations

So just as the Holy Spirit guarded, guided, empowered Jesus — the Holy Spirit will do the very same for us. How often do you hear the phrase “realistic expectations” used to mean “raise your expectations.” The phrase “realistic expectations” is usually a diplomatic way of saying, “lowered expectations.” Isn’t it interesting that when it comes to our life in God, “realistic expectations” means “raised expectations.”

II. The Promise of the Holy Spirit

“…but wait for the promise of the Father” (v.4)

The Old Testament is full of Holy Spirit promises. This has been God’s plan all along.

Insert proof texts of OT HS

III. The Purity of the Spirit

“you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (v.5)

Wha does the phrase “baptized with the Holy Spirit” actually mean?

IV. The Power of the Spirit

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...”

We have the privilege of being filled with the same Spirit!

Reversal of fortunes

says that we once had a different spirit at work in us. The spirit at work in the sons of disobedience. says that if we are in Christ, we have the same spirit at work in us that was at work in Jesus.

Realistic expectations

:49just as the Holy Spirit guarded, guided, empowered Jesus — the Holy Spirit will do the very same for us. How often do you hear the phrase “realistic expectations” used to mean “raise your expectations.” The phrase “realistic expectations” is usually a diplomatic way of saying, “lowered expectations.” Isn’t it interesting that when it comes to our life in God, “realistic expectations” means “raised expectations.”