How to Receive The Holy Spirit

20201108_Acts 10v34-46_How to Receive The Holy Spirit

Acts 10:34–46 (NIV)

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,

40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,

Introduction

As a Christian,

One of the important things is receiving the Holy Spirit.

It is necessary and important for us to receive The Holy Spirit.

Why?

Because When Jesus was alive, he always emphasized it over and over.

Especially,

In the last supper, he continued to say to his disciples about The Holy Spirit, and

after resurrection, Jesus appeared and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and

even before going up to heaven, he said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, wait for the promised Holy Spirit.”

Q. Why did Jesus emphasize receiving The Holy Spirit?

Because it is so important to Christian.

For example, look at the disciples.

The disciples were completely different before and after receiving the Holy Spirit.

Before receiving the Holy Spirit ,the disciples was very weak.

For example, Peter denied the Lord three times, and all the disciples fled from the Lord on the night Jesus was caught.

But

after receiving the Holy Spirit, they were changed. They were not afraid of death, and they were able to boldly preach the gospel, and even the miracle of healing took place through the apostles. All of these things happened because they received the Holy Spirit.

In the same way, as a Christian,

We also need to receive The Holy Spirit.

Only through the guidance of The Holy Spirit, we can have safe and powerful life.

So, through today’s bible, let’s see how to receive The Holy Spirit.

# Body

In today’s bible, we can see Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit.

It is amazing story. Because it is the first scene which the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit.

Peter was also surprised by this scene, and through this, he realized that the Gentiles can also receive The Holy Spirit.

Then, what kind of person were they, so did they receive the Holy Spirit? And doesn't this apply to us too?

So, let's see how they were able to receive the Holy Spirit.

First, They obeyed to The Holy Spirit when The Holy Spirit guided them.

You can see the story in the bible.

Cornelius had a dream from God and obeyed just as God led him. The day after he woke up, he sent his servants to invite Peter. He obeyed to God as directed in his dream. As a result, he and his family were able to receive the Holy Spirit.

Second, They were afraid of God and they did what is right.

Look at verse 35.

Peter said,

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Yes. God does not focus the appearance of man, but the mind.

Especially, God focuses whether people are afraid of God or not and whether does what is right or not according to the mind.

Third, they believed in Jesus Christ.

Look at verse 44.

When Peter said this, the Holy Spirit suddenly came upon their hearts. This happened because they believed what Peter was saying.

What is Peter's message?

Peter's message is about Jesus Christ.

The Content is that

“Jesus is the Son of God, who came to the world to save people from sin.

Jesus revealed himself as the Son of God through countless miracles and authoritive words,

Even after he died on the cross, he proved it by being raised again from the death and ascension to the heaven. and

he will come to the world again and he will judge everyone in the last day.

Only those who believe in Jesus can get the forgiveness of sins.

These are the message of Peter.

The Holy Spirit came upon those who hear and believe this essential messages.

# Application

These facts should apply to us as well.

If we, also, want to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit,

First, we must obey as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Second, we must fear God and do righteousness.

It is a matter of attitude.

What mind do you have to God? And

What is your attitude in your life?

If you are afraid of God, your life would be changed.

Third, we must believe in Jesus Christ as God's Son and our Savior, and We should always rely on Him. Only through Jesus, we can have the salvation.

Only through Jesus, we can have forgiveness of Sin.

If you follow to these guidance,

God would pour out the Holy Spirit to you.

# Conclusion

Today, we looked at the story how Cornelius and his family received The Holy Spirit.

Let’s follow to this life style.

When the Holy Spirit lead our life,

Let’s just follow to Him.

Let’s obey to him.

If you do like that,

The Holy Spirit will keep leading on your life,

As a result, you will be prosperous in God.