Go in Power and Bring Them In!

Bible Introduction (2m)

A Glove without a Hand is Useless

Can’t do anything, unless a hand is inside guiding it.

Gift - HS - filled with power, confidence to speak about J and to fulfil their purpose in life.

Same power available to you and me. J wants to fill us with his HS so we can share his power and make noise about him in the world.

Graham - Acts 1:6-11 & 2:1-13.

Introduction (5m)

The Problem with Makeovers

Plain, fat, weak > beautiful, healthy, strong. Show us anything can happen - we can do it too! Problem: willpower and money (makeup, diet/gym membership). Too often fail - we need some other power to transform us.

The “missing” Holy Spirit?

The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell. (General William Booth)

If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference. (A.W. Tozer)

Explanation (5m)

The Disciples Wanted to be in Control of Events

Perhaps that’s why HS might be missing in modern church/SA?

Acts 1:6–7 NLT

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

Messiah - overthrow Romans and restore Kingdom of Israel. Defeated death, what are you waiting for!

Our questions

When will church reopen again? (Wrong question! It hasn’t closed!), etc. Defeated death. Helped world to start to defeat Coronavirus. What are you waiting for!

Answer: Not for you to know!

(Mum: Wait and see!). Father sets timetable. In his time. Don’t be impatient. Trust God’s timetable. Wise, good, all-powerful. Chaos, but he is in control.

Something Better - The Dynamic Power of the Holy Spirit

But = Forget about what happens next, relinquish desire to be in control, I have something much more exciting for you:

Acts 1:8 NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

You will receive HS - the presence of J living in you

Power to be witnesses in city so afraid of, in Judea, to your enemies in Samaria, ultimately throughout the world > You will see extraordinary results of that power in you. What a promise!

For you and me too!

J invites us beyond the anxiety of not know what’s next to the divinely established purpose he has for each of us. Life of Christian is not showing what we can do for God, it’s showing/telling others what God has done for us and can do for them too. Each one of us can be a powerful witness.

It came when they were in one place, praying and studying together

Long for HS to descend on us again? “We need another Pentecost.” “Give us a day of wonders, Jehovah, bare thine arm; Pour out thy Holy Spirit.” “Quicken our hearts by the Holy Ghost’s power, Pour out thy Spirit, a great, mighty shower.” “Come, great Spirit, come, Make each heart thy home; Enter every longing soul; Come, great Spirit, come.” Revival?

Condition:

Acts 1:14 NLT

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 2:1 NLT

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

Key to preparation for HS coming/revival: praying together

Excited: 3 > 25 > 4. Encourage those who’ve dropped out, those never joined us to join us. Pray constantly with us - prevailing prayer, keep praying without giving up until the answer comes.

Disciples had received J’s promise, but no idea when it would be fulfilled

Day 1? Day 1000? So simply kept praying until HS arrived.

As we pray together, God makes us ready to receive what he has for us

We become increasingly aware of our need to be filled, attunes us to his will, helps us engage in war against Satan/forces.

History of church demonstrates revival comes only after constant praying together.

It came in wind and fire

This is what we are praying for:

Acts 2:2–3 NLT

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.

Spiritual power rolls through them

Filled with confidence. Fear evaporated. When HS comes upon followers of Christ today, the most unlikely people become conduits of his power.

People with HS power

Not highly educated - powerful, deeply spiritual poet; simple, humble people who made deep, spiritual connections with music and interpreted it for others in a profound way; people so in touch with G through prayer they can prophecy and see visions through the most simplest of objects; people who keep serving through old age, illness, their own concerns, solely focused on the needs of others.

That’s HS power I need. That’s the HS power I must be praying for. Will you join me?

Application (5m)

Will You Quit Worrying about What’s Going to Happen Next and Prepare for a Dynamic Filling of the Holy Spirit?

Stop fretting over the future and speak to the One who knows the future

Fearful/Confused/Waiting on God/Need an answer - pray! Disciples prayed about 12th disciple. We can pray together about when restrictions will be lifted, who might be involved, what shape our ministries might be in, what our programme might/should look like. God will answer in his time.

We can pray alone, but life of EC teaches us it’s not enough

EC met, travelled, worked together. Community is central to the life of the church. We need each other - witness, support, challenge, care in order to fulfil God’s purpose together.

Power of HS is God’s gift to us. A gift that we cannot take for granted

Our waiting and praying … indicate that the gift of the Spirit is never an assured possession of the church. It is a gift, a gift which must be constantly sought anew in prayer.… Until those who know the facts also experience the power, they do well to wait in Jerusalem and pray. (William Willimon, theologian)

We meet together to pray for ...

Understanding, wisdom, guidance, strength in these uncertain times, and especially for a new outpouring of HS.

A new life in the Spirit - for us as individuals, and for us as a corps, and for wider church, is exciting

Are you committed to God’s plan whatever it is? Let’s pray for HS power, new life, revival, another Pentecost and trust the future to him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as your people we pray today to experience the comfort, conviction, and power of your Holy Spirit as we commit to meeting together and worshipping together and praying together and witnessing together in The Salvation Army. Will you keep us accountable to each other and will you baptise us again in the power of your Holy Spirit as we go from this place in power and bring others into your Kingdom. Amen.

Next Steps

SB 708 - I want the gift of power within

I want the gift of power within, Of love, and of a healthful mind; Of power to conquer inbred sin, Of love to thee and all mankind, Of health that pain and death defies, Most vigorous when the body dies. 2 When shall I hear the inward voice Which only faithful souls can hear? Pardon and peace and heavenly joys Attend the promised Comforter; O come, and righteousness divine And Christ, and all with Christ, are mine! 3 O that the Comforter would come! Nor visit as a transient guest, But fix in me his constant home And take possession of my breast, And fix in me his loved abode, The temple of indwelling God. 4 Where is the sure, the certain seal That ascertains the Kingdom mine? The powerful stamp I long to feel, The signature of love divine; O shed it in my heart abroad, Fullness of love, of Heaven, of God! Charles Wesley (1707-1788) Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 708