THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH

Christian communities are a place where we can have a foretaste of heaven here on earth. What’s a foretaste? Have you ever cooked bacon before? The bacon starts frying in its own fat, and the smell is glorious. And if you’re lucky, maybe you nibble a piece or two before you’re done frying all of it. That’s a foretaste—you’re so excited about the meal that you’re nibbling and eating little bites of the food as you make it. Now, the BLT that the bacon is being cooked for will be even better, of course. That’s what happens in worship on Sundays. When we worship in church, we’re eating a foretaste of the Bread of Life, which we’ll enjoy one day at the wedding feast of Christ. It gives us a foretaste of being in presence of God because the Holy Spirit is alive and active in a Bible teaching church. It is the desire of God that the Holy Spirit be the leader of His church. It was the Holy Spirit who established the church on the day of Pentecost. It was the Spirit who maintained the church in the book of Acts, as well as throughout history. When the Spirit has His rightful place within the church, the church will be a powerhouse for God, changing the world as the early church did.

Let us Pray!

I. PREPARING THE CHURCH—1 Corinthians 12:13 – For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

A. The Spirit. “For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body” (v. 13a). Jesus told Nicodemus that men must be born of the Spirit and of water in order to enter God’s kingdom

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

When we are born into God’s family, He is our Father and we are His children

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

B. The scope. “… whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free” v. 13b. Salvation is for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Rom. 10:13 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Spirit calls all men to salvation. Those who respond and accept Christ, become members of God’s family, as well as His church.

It is impossible to be a member of God’s family and not His church –

C. The sharing. “And have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (v. 13c). Church customs and rituals mean little to God. All who have been born again are members of His family.

To be born again – of water and spirit – believers should follow through with baptism -

II. PERSONALITY OF THE CHURCH—Ephesians 2:20–22 – built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

A. Foundation of the church—v. 20. The church is built upon Christ as the chief cornerstone, not upon a man, an organization, nor a dogma. Matthew 16:18 tells how Christ would build His church upon the rock.

B. Frame of the church—v. 21. The church must be properly put together and must be holy in the sight of the Lord. Paul spoke of the holiness of the church in Ephesians 5:25–27 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

.

C. Fellowship of the church—v. 22. Note the four-fold fellowship:

1 John 1:7But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1. Fellowship with God—1 John 1:7a – God is light

2. Fellowship with Christ—1 John 1:7c – the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

3. Fellowship with Christians—1 John 1:7b

4. Fellowship with the Spirit—through prayer and praise

III. POWER OF THE CHURCH

A. Praying power—Luke 24:49. Note the importance of these words: stay, wait, pray. The power of prayer is shown in Acts 4:31.

Luke 24:49 – I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 4:31 – After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

B. Preaching power—Acts 1:8.

Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

See Peter in Acts 2 preaching with authority. Just a short time before he had denied Christ, now he is changed. The Holy Spirit made the difference.

IV. PROVISION FOR THE CHURCH

The Holy Spirit provides proper leadership for the church.

A. The selection of leaders—Acts 13:2–5 – While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

The Holy Spirit knows who is best qualified for certain jobs and selects accordingly.

B. The sacredness of leadership—Acts 20:28 – Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

The Holy Spirit appoints certain men to take care of the flock of God.

C. The stability of leaders—2 Corinthians 6:4–6 – Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

Sufferings, misunderstandings, and even pain are part of being a leader.

It has been said that the success of the early church was three-fold: Jesus went up; the Holy Spirit came down; and the disciples went out.

Are you ready and willing to allow the Holy Spirit to take you out of the church building and into the world?

Have you been baptized by immersion – following the example that Christ Himself gave? What’s your hesitation?

How would you rate your active participation in God’s family?

How would you rate your active participation in God’s church?