Walking: In comfort of Holy Spirit
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 51:24
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Peace, fear, comfort, multiplication
Peace, fear, comfort, multiplication
How does peace, fear, comfort and multiplication work together?
Look and remember how they work together (Act9:31)
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
but wait, maybe another version too.
31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
They were being built up (Act9:31, NASB)
They became stronger (Act9:31, NLT)
(The Comforter picture inserted here)
(Transition) - So the comforter promised to the apostles, and promised to all believers, and may we as we look at the scripture today find comfort as we walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
The promise of the Comforter is a great promise, a great reality, and greatly proven as given throughout the New Testament. Let’s look at the Comforter and the promise tonight.
(Illustration): “Hi I’m the comforter and it is my job to comfort you, well, and to empower you to comfort others with the comfort that I give to you, glad to meet you.” - - - -could you imagine someone walking up and starting a conversation like that?
Question: When you think of the comfort, what comes to mind?
Question: When you think of the Comforter what comes to mind?
Question: Do you think that the promise of the Comforter is the same for all people, all times?
I know those are some good questions, maybe a little basic but they help us to for our study tonight.
Comforter promised to the Apostles (Jn14:16-18; Jn14:26; Jn15:26-27; Jn16:12-13)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Another helper, a forever helper (Jn14:16)
This parakletos in the Greek, this comforter as promised to the Apostles when you in John 14.
He will teach and bring to remembrance all things (Jn14:26)
26 “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.
Jesus is speaking to the Apostles and answering a question for Judas (v.22)
Context, context, context matters
words which YOU hear (v.24) - spoken to specific people at specific time
words which were spoken to YOU while present with YOU (v.25)
We did not hear Jesus, we have not not had Jesus speak directly to us, except through His Word.
He will testify, so you will testify that you have been with me since the beginning (Jn15:26-27)
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
He will guide you into all truth (Jn15:26-27)
(transition) Again, may we remember context, who is speaking, speaking to whom, for context matters and the promise to the apostles may not be the same promise promised to the believers, may we now look at that.
Before moving on one more question.
Question: is the Promise of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Jn14-16 for all believers or the Apostles?
Holy Spirit promised to all believers (Jn7:37-39, Act2:38-39, 5:32, Gal3:26-27, 4:6 and Eph1:13-14)
Look at these passages, these promises given to all believers
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
He who believes in Me (Jn7:38)
He who believe in the Spirit, will receive (Jn7:39)
Believe in the Father in heaven, and Jesus (Jn14:1-2) now believe in the Spirit in which he will send after the resurrection (glorification)
We know in Act2:38-39, the promise is for those who repent, are baptised and those who are even far off.
Now look at this one
32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
To those who repent and obey gospel (Act2:38; Act5:32)
Promised to the witnesses, and to those who obey Him (Act5:32)
Now turning to Galatians
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Promised to those who are all sons, through faith and were baptized and clothed in Christ (Gal3:26-27)
And another one
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Holy Spirit of promise is the Spirit of the Son that cries out (Gal4:6)
and because of that we have this.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Holy Spirit of promise, Gods given pledge of our inheritance (Eph1:13-14)
(Transition) I think you can clearly see the promise and the provision of the Holy Spirit that plays a significant role in the life of an obedient believer! So from the Holy Spirit of comfort to the comfort of the Holy Spirit now.
Comfort of the Holy Spirit
Comfort of the Holy Spirit
He is called the Comforter for a reason. To comfort, so now may we turn our attention to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and hey, who does not like to be comforted?
Question: Can you name a thing or two that brings comfort to you?
Question: Do all people feel comfort the same way?
Comfort, we all need it, want it, desire it at times, and there is no better Comforter than the Holy Spirit and the comfort of the Holy Spirit is different to the apostles and to all believers and may we journey together to see that.
Comfort given to the Apostles (Act1:4-5, 2:1-4, 1:8, 2:32-33, Heb2:3-4)
The Holy Spirit, the Comforter was promised and came while they were in Jerusalem.
4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
They were going to be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Act1:5)
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit came and filled them on Pentecost, in Jerusalem just as promised if you look at Act2:1-4. Now look at this one. power with a purpose
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
The were filled with a purpose to be witnesses (Act1:8)
Power with a purpose that was. . . ? Oh wait, here is the scripture you tell me what
32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Power that was both seen and heard (Act2:32-33)
So the Holy Spirit given with a purpose, think back just for a moment, what was the purpose?
So, given with a purpose to comfort, and to empower, how about to confirm too?
3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Question: because words matter, who was this confirmed by (Heb2:3) and how was it confirmed (Heb2:4)?
Confirmed by those who heard (Heb2:3)
Confirmed by signs, wonders and various miracles (Heb2:4)
(Transition) I believe you can see by the context that the Comfort and the comfort given at this junction was for the apostles so they could fulfill their task (be witnesses). We should not presume the apostles’ experience was the same for all believers, but then, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter was given to all believers and there are things we all have in common.
Holy Spirits comfort to all believers (1Cor12:13; Rom5:5, 15:13; Gal5:22-23; 1Cor12:27-31, 1Cor13:8-13)
For we need to remember how we became believers, the church.
13 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.
Comforted by One spirit when we were baptized into one body (1Cor12:13)
God’s love poured out as stated
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Poured out within our hearts by Holy Spirit (Rom5:5)
Poured out so we may abound
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abound in hope, filled with joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom15:13)
And also made fruitful by the fruit of the Spirit as noted in Gal5:22-23.
Now, not all had the miraculous spiritual gifts then
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
Question: According to 1Cor12:31, what do you think is the greater gifts, a more excellent way?
Some of the gifts were temporary and I offer up this passage.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
God’s greater gifts, faith, hope and love (1Cor13:13) may we desire those things, and they come from belief in the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
(Transition) the Comforter comes with power, comes with promise and comes with direction and now may we look at walking in the Spirit too this evening.
Walking in Holy Spirits comfort
Walking in Holy Spirits comfort
Application of the power and comfort given!
For the Apostles and early church
The Holy Spirit was directly involved, directly guided the apostles and may within the early church. We have the recorded of it and can learn much from it.
Comforted by spoken words (Act8:29, 10:19, 13:2-4)
The Holy Spirit spoke to them
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip (Act8:29) and Peter (Act10:19) specific words for specific purpose.
Comforted and guided (Act16:6-7)
Holy Spirit guided, and in some case forbade things
6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
Comforted by the works with and within them (1Cor12:11)
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Holy Spirit works all things, and distributes to each as He wills.
Comforted even by the warnings (1Tim4:1-3)
The Spirit is explicit at times forbidding, or forewarning
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
Spirit explicitly says what was to come, what the results were going to be and why it was going to have those results.
Maybe I better give you the context here.
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
Question: What does the Holy Spirit say is going to happen (1Tim4:1)?
Question what are the results going to be (1Tim4:1)?
Question: How were the results going to be accomplished (1Tim4:2-3)?
(Transition) Comfort, correction, warnings from the Spirit to the early church. In a time of change, in raising up and establishing the church. The church that God was revealing “all truth” to from the Spirit as Jesus said would happen in John 17. Now how about for Christians and the church today?
For the church, the Christians today.
We have God’s revealed and complete word (2Tim3:16-17; 1Cor13:10)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
All scripture is inspired by God (2Tim3:16).
(transition) in the early church
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
(Transition) in the early church they did not ave the compiled word of God, they had the letters and the gospels circulating, but one day the perfect came when the God inspired word was put together in the 66 books we call our Bible, God’s perfect word! It gives us everything we need.
Complete inspired word to provide everything we need for life and godliness(2Pt1:3)
It is God’s tool, sword (Eph6:12) that is able to defend against the spiritual battles we face (Eph6:11) even if it is too cut withing ourselves (Heb4:12)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Question: according to Heb4:12 what can the sword of the Spirit (the word) do?
A few more items to touch on, time permitting if not they will be on your outline.
Spirit and the Church today:
Spirit dwells within us (1Cor5:19)
Spirit is God’s instrument to bless us (Eph3:16, 20-21)
Spirit empowers us, bringing comfort and helping to produce spiritual fruit (Rom8:12-13, 15:13; Gal4:6 and 5:22-23)
(Transition)
So the Spirit working with the Word helps us to walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit today! So what is the results of all of this too, Go back and look again at our passage tonight (Act9:31)
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
(Transition) One more point, reminder, the result of walking in fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy spirit was continued increase, growth, multiplication of the church!
(encouragement slide- Be the church-1) lead to invitation/encouragement (prayer) prayer (exit)