Wait for the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
General: What nation is on track to become the world’s most Christian nation by 2030? China (Pew Research, The Next Christendom, Gordon-Conwell Center for the Study of Global Christianity).
There are an estimated 734 million Christians in Africa (that’s more than twice the population of the U.S.).
68% of Christians globally are people of color, and 53% are women (Christianity is NOT the “white man’s religion”).
There are approximately 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide.
There are 2.3 billion Christians worldwide today, about 31% of the total human population (that’s up from 600 million in 1910).
Christianity is a missional faith.
Personal: We are disciples of Jesus, and our mission from Jesus is to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20).
We do this by
Baptizing them = bringing them into the life and community of Jesus
Teaching them to obey God = showing them how to live as disciples of Jesus (the six fundamentals)
Obey God’s Word
Belong to a church
Worship God in all things
Pray without ceasing
Give and serve for the common good
Share Jesus with others
We do this by creating environments where we can practice the fundamentals together
Worship = Sunday AM
Connect = Gospel Communities
Learn = Sessions
Grow = Growth Groups (coming soon)
One last piece of the puzzle:
God’s Word… tells us what to do
The Church… show us how to do it
The Holy Spirit… makes it work
Acts 1:4-5… Jesus said to wait for the Spirit.
Who is the Holy Spirit? He is God, the third person of the Trinity.
Subject: What does the Holy Spirit do? And how can we be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Body
Body
Sidebar: Acts 1:6-8… Sometimes our priorities aren’t God’s priorities.
Sidebar: Acts 1:6-8… Sometimes our priorities aren’t God’s priorities.
Major distractions for us: money, sex, power, self.
Sometimes we can’t say yes to God because we won’t say no to self.
Back to the Holy Spirit
Back to the Holy Spirit
What does the Holy Spirit do (in Acts 1:8)?
Exposition: He comes upon you with power to be a witness.
He comes upon you with power = being filled with the Spirit (see Acts 2:4; 4:31)
Don’t I already have the Holy Spirit? Yes, but you still need to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
Does that mean I need more of the Holy Spirit? No. Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean getting more of the Spirit but giving more of yourself to the Spirit—allowing the Spirit to fill more of your life.
Power to be a witness
What does it mean to be a witness?
To see or experience something
To testify about or share what you witnessed
What do we witness? Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)… “power” … Acts 1:8… The Holy Spirit gives you the power of the resurrection and you become someone who has witnessed Jesus.
How do we share what we’ve experienced in Christ?
Step 1: Show it — Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, self-control, faith, hope, humility, grace…
Step 2: Tell it
Step 3: Invite others into it — “Come and see.”
Illustration: Milt Hanson…
Application: We’re not all apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, or teachers. But we are all witnesses.
How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Explanation: By practicing the fundamentals (Acts 2:42-47).
Obey God’s Word
Belong to a church
Worship God in all things
Pray without ceasing
Give and serve for the common good
Share Jesus with others
Illustration: This isn’t flashy. But it’s faithful.
As you are faithful to Christ in the little things, living each day with him, he will fill you with the Holy Spirit and send you out as a witness here, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus has a calling for you>
Bringing clean water to desert villages in Africa
Being filled with compassion for orphans and at-risk kids
Being a foster parent
Rescuing women and children from sex trafficking
Starting an ESL class to help local immigrants learn English
Serving on the local school board
Application: Be faithful in the small things, and God will give you more in his timing.
Conclusion: Reflect
Conclusion: Reflect
Ask God: How can I be a witness for you this week?
Ask God: What small thing can I do for you tomorrow?
