SF837 - THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SPIRIT - 5 of 9 THE POWER OF PENTECOST (Acts 5 1-11)
Acts 5:1-11
Introduction
Series Background
Ø The Promise of the Spirit
Ø The Advent of the Spirit
Ø The Fullness of the Spirit
Ø The Presence of the Spirit
Ø The Judgement of the Spirit
Theological Background
There are many figures of speech employed in Scripture to describe the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. We are all familiar with such symbols as wind, water, oil, and dew.
Of these and others that could be named, there is one which represents a more sever aspect of the Spirit’s personality and ministry. It is the symbol of fire.
Isaiah speaks of the “spirit of judgment, and… the spirit of burning” (Isaiah 4:4). In the presence of sin, the Holy Spirit burns, purges, and sometimes consumes. It is significant, therefore, that when He came at Pentecost He descended not as the dove, but as fire.
Contextual Background
The church is still in its infant stage. Satan has launched his attacks against her. He has tried to conquer the church by external persecution (Acts 4). Now he tries to corrupt the church by internal pollution.
What the devil could not do from the outside he tries to do from the inside. Our greatest danger in the church is not external persecution but internal pollution.
Satan knows that God requires that we be holy. Leviticus 11:44 (NKJV) “44For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.” Therefore, he attacks us by convincing us that we can serve God and have unconfessed sin in our lives.
It is the Holy Spirit that judges us…
1A. He Is the Revealer of Sin
One of the functions of fire is to burn as a shining and searching light, and often throughout the pages of Holy Scripture we find the Holy Spirit doing just that.
As the Revealer of sin:
1B. The Holy Spirit detects sin (5:3)
Numbers 32:23 (NKJV) 23But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
The Holy Spirit is a spiritual sin detector.
Use the example of the metal detectors in airports.
2B. The Holy Spirit describes sin (5:3)
The Holy Spirit is specific when He convicts us of our sin.
Ø In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, the sin was named; it was lying.
God expects us to be specific in the confession of our sin.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ø We are to name them, or describe them, in the presence of God, if we would know true pardon and deliverance.
Ø No sin can be covered or hidden in the individual or corporate life of the church which the Holy Spirit will not ultimately reveal.
2A. He Is the Reprover of Sin
Fire not only searches and reveals, but also sears and scorches.
Therefore, we are reminded again of the words of the Lord Jesus, “when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).
1B. There is a severity about Divine judgment (5:4b)
Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) 13You are of purer eyes than to behold evil…
Because God cannot look on sin, He reproves it.
Be certain God will not allow sin go unpunished
Exodus 34:7 (NKJV) 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
2B. There is a finality about Divine judgment (5:5)
God has the final word.
Ø When God the Spirit speaks to us, there is no room for argument; what He says is final.
Romans 3:19 (NKJV) 19… that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Ø When God reproves sin, it is final.
Ø To argue against Him is a sign of our lack of repentance.
Ø To rationalize our sin is a sign of our lack of repentance.
3A. He Is the Remover of Sin
Fire burns, searches, sears and scorches, but finally consumes.
In order to save the sinner, the Holy Spirit must not only reveal and reprove the sin, He must remove it. Like a surgeon, He must cut out the cancer; like fire, He must burn up the dross.
1B. The Holy Spirit condemns the offender (5:4)
When the Holy Spirit deals with sin, He does not compromise.
Ø God’s standard has not changed!
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
God knows sin, and therefore condemns it.
Illustrate
…by citing the example of David when he sinned against Bathsheba. Stress the point of conviction and condemnation when Nathan the prophet looked him in the eye and said, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7).
2B. The Holy Spirit consumes the offender (5:5a)
When the Spirit of God condemns, the result may be the cutting off of the life.
1 Corinthians 11:30 (NKJV) 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
1 John 5:16 (NASB) 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
We must never forget that “our God is a consuming fire”
Hebrews 12:29 (NKJV) 29For our God is a consuming fire.
3B. The Holy Spirit will cleanse the offender
We have seen something of the judgment of the Spirit in the life of the church. To ignore the “spirit of judgment” is to walk the way of foolishness and disaster.
On the other hand, to respect the “spirit of judgment” in the individual and corporate life of the church is to walk the way of holiness and dedication.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is nothing to fear if we mean business with God. The Spirit of burning and of judgment” reveals, reproves and removes the only thing in our lives which keeps us from the fullness of God’s blessing. In a word, it is S-I-N—sin.
Thou, who at Pentecost didst fall,
Do Thou my sins consume;
Come, Holy Ghost, for Thee I call;
Spirit of burning, come.
C. Wesley
(The Keswick Hymn Book by kind permission of Marshall, Morgan & Scott Publications, Ltd.)
Application
We must recognize our sin
We must repent of our sin
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NKJV) 9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
We must trust in Christ alone!
THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SPIRIT
The Power of Pentecost – Part 5 of 9
Sunday, June 20, 1999 - Acts 5:1-11
1A. He is the ___________________ of Sin
1B. The Holy Spirit _______________ sin (5:3)
Numbers 32:23 (NKJV) 23But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
2B. The Holy Spirit _______________ sin (5:3)
The Holy Spirit is ____________ when He convicts us of our sin.
God expects us to be ______________ in the confession of our sin.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2A. He is the __________________ of Sin
1B. There is a severity about Divine judgment (5:4b)
Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) 13You are of purer eyes than to behold evil…
Because God cannot look on sin, He ____________ it.
Be certain God will _____________ allow sin go unpunished
Exodus 34:7 (NKJV) 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
2B. There is a _________ about Divine judgment (5:5)
God has the final word.
Romans 3:19 (NKJV) 19… that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Ø To ____________ against Him is a sure sign of our lack of repentance.
Ø To _____________ our sin is a sign of our lack of repentance.
3A. He is the ____________________ of Sin
1B. The Holy Spirit _____________ the offender (5:4)
When the Holy Spirit deals with sin, He does not compromise.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
2B. The Holy Spirit ____________ the offender (5:5a)
When the Spirit of God condemns, the result may be the cutting off of the life.
1 Corinthians 11:30 (NKJV) 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
1 John 5:16 (NASB) 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
We must never forget that “our God is a consuming fire”
Hebrews 12:29 (NKJV) 29For our God is a consuming fire.
3B. The Holy Spirit will ____________ the offender
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.