Holy Spirit is a big deal Acts 19:1-7
Paul is in the travel ministry – from one place to another
He finds some disciples – Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
“Into what were you baptized” He asked
Which they answered, into John’s baptism
Paul, explains to them that, they need to believe in the one that came after John. He is referring to believing in Jesus.
They said, yes, we want the Holy Spirit – and they were baptized and the Holy Spirit fell on them
And they began to speak in other tongues
Question for you,
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
1.Back Then
Many things have been said about the Holy Spirit and tonight I want to start a conversation
…because, the Holy Spirit is the most ignored Person in our Christian life. Yes, He is a BIG deal in our walk as Christians.
It may come as a surprise to some, that the Holy Spirit has been there since the beginning of time.
We see the Holy Spirit in the old testament.
Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
- The Spirit of God, God who is Holy was there from the beginning.
- The idea that the Holy Spirit came when Jesus left is not true
Not only that but, people were anointed with the Holy Spirit as well.
Ezekiel 36:24 -28 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
- We see God promise the Holy Spirit – to the Israelites, even though they are rebellious and won’t listen.
- When you they turn away from sin, believe and repent, they received the Holy Spirit. Just like today.
- The Holy Spirit is a BIG deal
Psalms 143:9-10 – Deliver me,
O Lord, from my enemies; [a]In You I take shelter.
10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your
Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
David knows the importance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches and leads him!
That’s why in the next verse after he sinned with Bathsheba, he prays that God’s spirit is not taken away from Him.
Psalms 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will not dwell in unclean place. We have to constantly ask God to search our hearts of anything that may separate us from Christ Jesus
This is not specific to David, God will remove the Holy Spirit if we continue to sin
The Holy Spirit is everywhere. You cannot hide your thoughts, deeds or intentions.
Psalms 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in [b]hell, behold, You are there.9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
David knew that the Holy Spirit was everywhere, which was a great thing, if he lived right and not so good if he disobeyed – Like your parent who have eyes on the back of their head.
We see The Holy Spirit at work in the life of King Saul:
The good part: I Samuel 10:10 – 10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Not so good part: I Samuel 16:13-14 – 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him (David) in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So, Samuel arose and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him
The Holy Spirit empowers:
Exodus 31:3 – Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Holy Spirit gives us abilities according to God’s plan for our lives.
2. Here comes Jesus
Luke 3:23- And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.
“The three persons of the Trinity were all manifested at once. The Holy Spirit came in bodily form like a dove, the Voice of God the Father was heard, and the beloved Son was baptized.
From the beginning, God loves us so much and want a relationship with us. He wants to live among us.
And that is why Jesus came so that we can be saved and live forever with God.
John 14:15 – “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Jesus does ministry, the Holy Spirit is in Him. He is persecuted and crucified, yet His love for us doesn’t change.
He didn’t want to leave us as Orphans. God knows that alone, you and I are like an orphan, no direction, no protection, no reason to live…alone.
John 14:16 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
Surprise, Surprise…The Holy Spirit lives in you.
How would you live with that awareness…every single moment…When you talk, when you do the things you do…
Jesus kept His promise.
Acts 2:3-4 – 3 Then there appeared to them [a]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Matthew 28:19-20 – 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
We were left with an assignment- the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit are not for our own comfort…but to be able to accomplish the assignments that are before us.
3. What about today?
John 14:26 – But the [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. (AMP)
This is a promise to us:
- Comforter – Are you restless this evening
- Advocate – a person who publicly supports /represents recommends a particular cause or policy (The fight belongs to Christ) we are not to try and defend ourselves
Matthew 10:19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
- Counselor – (a person trained (The porter Himself) to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems.) What do you need guidance for?
- Intercessor – Let Him Pray and plead for you
- Strengthener –
- Standby – This denotes, presence…always there, you have no excuse that He was late.
4. Now what?
Now that you know that Holy Spirit stands at the door and knocks, if anyone hears His voice and Opens the door to their heart, He will come in and dine with them.
In this world there will be troubles but He has overcome and there is a helper to guide you through it. You don’t have to do it alone.
He knows you more that you know yourselves- Search me Lord and know my heart
He knows what you should or shouldn’t do…. Whatever you thinking may look good but a 1-degree turn changes the course of your destination
He loves you much
Ephesian 4:28 -And do not grieve (cause great distress) the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
You can only grieve the people you love
I don’t want you to miss this:
When Paul had raid hands on them to believe in Jesus Christ, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they spoke in tongues:
Romans 8:26-27 – Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When Paul laid hands on them and they turned to Christ, they were automatically adapted into God’s Kingdom and the Holy Spirit went to work immediately, interceding for them with groaning (tongues)
Saints, this is the same promise, when we believe in Jesus.
I know that some of you are thinking- Well, I have the Holy Spirit, and I believe in Jesus …
Luke 11:10-13 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for [a]bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
But remember, to whom much is given, much is required.
If you pray for more Holy Spirit, know that it’s not to advance your own desires, it is to do greater things for Him who is in you!
Question for you again,
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
