Charismata

Intro:

A Baptist preacher and his wife decided they needed a dog. When the dog was produced, the manager began giving it commands. "Fetch the Bible," he commanded. The dog bounced to the bookshelf, located the Bible, and brought it to the manager. The manager then said, "Find Psalms 23". The dog then leafed thru the Bible, found the correct passage, and pointed to it with his paw. Finally, a friend stopped by and asked, "Can your dog do normal dog tricks too?" "Let's see," said the preacher. Pointing his finger at the dog, he commanded, "Heel!" The dog immediately jumped up on a chair, placed one paw on the preacher's forehead, and began to howl. The preacher turned to his wife in complete shock and disbelief. "Wouldn't you know it, that manager sold us a Pentecostal dog!"

Begin New Series, “Spritual” — Tackle working of Holy Spirit — Needed today, more than ever! [stand up for truth, love others, fight off temptation, unite Church]

Many people afraid of Spirit… God is good, Jesus is relatable, familiar; Spirit is bonkers!

Pentecost Sunday, start by reading how it all started. STAND /

Acts 1:3-5 “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.””

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.””

Acts 2:1-8 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

Acts 2:11-12 “(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?””

Who is the Spirit and What Does He Do?

WHO? God's Personal Essence

In the OT: Deposited on individuals for particular task. Vocal action typically preceded by a supernatural experience with the divine (seeing, hearing, feeling...)

In the NT: HS falls on & empowers X at baptism, promised to all future believers; Falls at Pentecost (on already saved, filled believers); Follows conversion in almost all cases mentioned in Acts

Joel 2:28-29 ““And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

WHAT? He's Here for Revelation!

Prophecy (Words of God)

Purity (Become more like Christ)

Power (The Gifts of Spirit)

Talk about those gifts today and where we come in!

-- To Equip Church & Evangelize World —

It all starts with what scripture calls, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Open Your Gifts

Charismata - "gift"; something given freely and in good faith!

1 Cor 12:6-10 “There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

05 Myths!

Myth: Baptism in the HS is something invented in the last hundred years.

Truth: This has been the pattern since Pentecost!

Pattern in Acts… nearly every salvation accompanied w. signs!

Acts 2:38; 8:14-16; 9:17-18; 10:45-47…

Principle act: Speaking in a heavenly language (tongues)!

Acts 19:1-6 “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”

Paul’s teaching in 1st & 2nd Corinthians... those beyond Pente.

NOTE: The HS in OT... same 2-stage pattern; Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Malachi (See, Hear, Feel… then Speak)!

Myth: Spirit Baptism was only for the Apostles & early Church.

Myth: Those who are baptized in/manifesting gifts have a Greater Calling.

Truth: We are ALL called to seek/experience Spiritual giftings

Problem: Too scared or intimidated or inundated with bad theology to seek it...

Numbers 11:29 “But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!””

Moses had a prophetic desire to see all filled!

Acts 2:38-39 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.””

Starting a new policy at Pentecost!

We are the disciples who are far off, who — when we repent and call on X — we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:9 “royal priesthood”

Floor is even at the foot of the cross. ALL need Him, His power…

Paul gives very clear teaching on orderly practice within typical church setting… should be happening, but in orderly ways!

Argument of silence - not needed to be talked about, except in overuse/abuse

Myth: We Shouldn't Speak in Tongues in Public

Truth: EVERY gift is given for the Church to be built up! (Even the ones we're not-so-hot on...)

1 Cor 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Tongues, prophecy, administration, healing all for the good of the body of X!

HS presence should be Evidence of God’s special affirming hand on ministry

Note: Loud in-your-face gifts are not end-all be-all… could be happening quieter?

Note: Not the WHOLE service...

1 Corinthians 14:5 “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

Paul talking about the WHOLE service in tongues; Corinthians were bold in their practice… but no one left with anything to bring home!

Also, rowdy or unrestrained clamor (later)...

Myth: The Holy Spirit takes over your mind/body when baptized/manifesting.

Truth: God still honors our free will; we have control.

Acts 2:4 “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Spirit didn’t overtake them.

Lit. “gave them the ABILITY to proclaim/prophesy”

Philip given a vague instruction

Acts 8:29-30 “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.”

He had to use his own wisdom, perhaps, to figure out what to do; is later teleported for his faithfulness (gets to part. in unique work of HS).

Later, Paul gives very specific dir. to those exercising gifts:

1 Cor 14:27-31 “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.”

Assumption/takeaway is… we can step aside or pause or submit to pastor or others on timing.

If we’re willing and listening, God’s message will be proclaimed — this week or next!

Pastoral: come and talk to me; let me help you discern; sit down w/

Myth: If I don't Receive the Baptism in HS, I did Something Wrong.

Truth: It's in God's hands, God's timing!

Acts 1:7-8 “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.””

Jesus diverts their 2nd Coming Q, points to a closer encounter w/ HS

His diversion still stands alone as true — only Jesus knows! He is the one who gives the gift.

We just need to seek Him; means make opportunity to do so!

And…

Develop your Gifting

Seek Him, not a special power...

Test the waters! Wade into His presence.

Don’t be afraid! Remember, it’s God’s personal essence; his close comforting, helping Spirit.

How Do We Receive?

Spend time crying out to Jesus

Holy Spirit will fall upon you

How it's evidenced doesn't matter! SAME SPIRIT.

Stop speaking from your mind and allow your spirit to cry out

Get distract? Get your prayer back on track!

Listen to Jesus.