The Empowered Journey
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The life of a believer is a life on purpose—and that life needs the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us look at the Scripture to give us clarity to what this means.
27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.”
29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Num 11:27-29
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Joel 2:
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Prayer
Introduction
Introduction
A study of Scripture reveals that fellowship with God is responsive, relational, purposeful, and dynamic.
Fellowship with God is:
Responsive.
Relational.
What God does in a person for that individual’s benefit.
What God does through a person to impact others for their benefit.
Purposeful.
All to the Glory of God!
Dynamic.
Fellowship happens by the work of the Holy Spirit—a work that God wants to do in and through you right now.
The life God wants you to live is a life that is:
Supernaturally responsive the presence and will of God.
Intimately relational (look to the parent, child relationship, the husband and wife relationship, and relationships between friends—God created these relationships to help understand relationship with Him).
Deliberately purposeful—fulfilling the plan/mission of God for redemption and reconciliation.
Powerfully dynamic—utilizing various ways to impact the world with His gospel.
The experience of the first Christians as recorded in describes a supernatural event that radically unleashes the truth of what God intends for real fellowship with Him (what was promised by God in the Old Testament and revealed by Jesus Christ).
Real responsive, relational, purposeful, and dynamic fellowship happens through encounters with the Holy Spirit.
Five Encounters with the Holy Spirit
Five Encounters with the Holy Spirit
(This section is based on the teaching ministry of Tim Enloe.)
Let us look at the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
1. Convicting
1. Convicting
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Concerning sin.
- “convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin.
Scripture portrays sin in terms of wrongness before God. All sin (attitude or actions—directed at God or people or things) is rebellion against God.
Primarily a wrong relationship with God, which may express itself in wrong attitudes or actions towards God himself, other human beings, possessions or the environment. Scripture stresses that this condition is deeply rooted in human nature, and that only God is able to break its penalty, power and presence.
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the sin in our lives in order for us to look to God—who is remedy for our sin.
2. Regenerating
2. Regenerating
Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
— we have “new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
Regeneration is being born again—salvation! It is starting over.
We are saved through the work of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit changes us from spiritual death to spiritual life.
3. Indwelling
3. Indwelling
Romans
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
— “you have the Spirit of God living in you.”
At the very moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells within us.
As the Holy Spirit abides in us, that begins an ongoing change of our behavior (attitudes and actions).
4. Maturing
4. Maturing
Gal
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(there is fruit, evidences of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, like love, joy, peace…)
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit leading us toward holiness—pursuing and desiring what honors and glorifies God.
— “Fruit
Furthermore, the maturing work of the Holy Spirit leads us specifically to align with the character attributes of Jesus. Maturity is all about becoming more like Christ.
A Transition Comment/Observation.
These first four encounters are primarily what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives—helping us grow and mature as a believer in Jesus Christ.
But, it is the fifth encounter that is primarily all about what God is wanting to do through our lives.
The first four encounters center on the Holy Spirit coming into our lives—but this fifth encounter is about the Holy Spirit coming upon our lives—centering on ministering power.
5. Empowering
5. Empowering
Look at what Jesus said as He prepared His followers for the future.
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus makes three essential points for the church (you and me) to follow:
8 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.”
There is a message to be told.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again.
Repentance, forgiveness, and salvation is available to all who would believe.
The Christian is called to tell this message to the world.
There is power for this message to be told effectively.
Human effort alone is not sufficient. The believer needs empowerment of the Spirit for effective ministry service.
Empowerment effects every aspect of the Christian’s life. There is...
Transition
Effectiveness in Communicating the Truth about Jesus
Effectiveness in Communicating the Truth about Jesus
What your unsaved family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors need is Spirit-empowered words from you that will truly change their lives—and open the door to God’s saving grace.
Boldness in the Face of Opposition
Boldness in the Face of Opposition
The world is hostile to the message of Christ. We need to be empowered or fear may silence us—and people will not have opportunity to consider the hope that only Christ can give.
Faith to Know and Act upon God’s Will
Faith to Know and Act upon God’s Will
We need a faith that is more than wishful thinking. Confidence in knowing what God wants you to do and say will change your life and the lives around you (for example, Peter and John and the lame man at the Temple).
Discernment to Lead and Protect God’s Church
Discernment to Lead and Protect God’s Church
The church is made up of people—with different preferences, backgrounds, and issues. This invites disunity and ineffectiveness. Discernment from the Spirit will enable leaders to give wise direction that will safeguard the church to fulfill its purpose.
Transformation in Prayer
Transformation in Prayer
Openness to Spiritual Manifestations
Openness to Spiritual Manifestations
The Holy Spirit provides for the church supernatural gifts (words of wisdom, healing, knowledge, discernment, prophesying, utterances in tongues, and interpretation)—to build up, encourage, motivate, and direct the church to fulfill its purpose.
Holiness to Shun Sin and to Embrace Righteousness
Holiness to Shun Sin and to Embrace Righteousness
A life that is saturated by the Spirit is a life yielding to the will of God—conforming to the character of Christ.
Transition
This is what happens when we are encountered by the Holy Spirit with His empowerment.
This is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
As I stated at the beginning, there are five encounters of the Holy Spirit. The first four (convicting, regenerating, indwelling, and maturing) happens in us—it is His work in us.
The empowering encounter happens upon us—it is the work of the Holy Spirit that is expressed outwardly—in our service to God and others.
When I look at what God’s Word says about the Holy Spirit and His empowering encounter, there are several important truths that we need to consider.
There are some things we need to embrace to become receptive to what God wants to do in our lives.
Empowerment is for All Believers
Empowerment is for All Believers
The promise Jesus offered was not just to the original believers.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Acts 2:
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Acts 2:
The promise of Empowerment is for all believers.
A Gift
A Gift
The promise is given by God.
Just like salvation, the gift of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not earned or deserved.
It is not about your merit, but God’s grace.
To be Received
To be Received
Faith: believing that Spirit Baptism (Empowerment) is for all believers and that it is a gift from God.
Willingness: open to receive God’s gift.
Respond to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
In Prayer and Praise
In Prayer and Praise
In an attitude of praise and worship, our desire is to receive all that God intends for us. In praise and worship we hunger for God, His presence, and what He wants to do in our lives.
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke
According to Jesus, we are not a passive part in the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are to ask God!
Faith, willingness, and responsiveness leads toward asking God to empower you.
Our faith, willingness, and responsiveness is built up as we honor and glorify God.
Not Settling for a Once and For All Experience
Not Settling for a Once and For All Experience
In Scripture, we are reminded never to settle for past experiences.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit implies continual fillings—a continual work.
The early church, following their empowerment on the day of Pentecost (), did not rest on that past experience alone.
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:
Conclusion and Prayer
According to Scripture, God wants to empower you.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit will change your life.
For those who have received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, God wants to fill you again.
This is a gift from God to be received by faith, not settling for past experiences.
When we look at the Book of Acts, every time someone was Baptized in the Holy Spirit, there was observable, evidence of the Baptism.
According to , that evidence was speaking in an unknown (unlearned) language, as the Spirit gave them that ability.
Altar Call
Altar Call
What to expect when asking God to receive His gift of the Holy Spirit:
Worship God (it is all about God and His plan for your life)
Ask God to receive His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Receive.
Obey.
Speak the language His gives you.
Confess and repent for those things that the Holy Spirit convicts you.
Open yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
What are the different ways the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer?
In what ways does the Holy Spirit work through the life of a believer for ministry to the lost?
What is the purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
What hinders Christians from receiving Spirit Baptism?
How can someone receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?