The Gift that Leads to Life (Acts Pt. 25)
Series Recap
Acts 10-11 has quickly become one of my favorite stories in the Bible. I love the way that heaven is interacting and leading these people. I love how Cornelius’ expectation led him to gather all his family and many of his friends! I love the simplicity of the message that Peter declared to them. And I LOVE how the Holy Spirit fell with the clear preaching of faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. But I have a confession to make… I inadvertently skipped the final paragraph of chapter 10, which happens to be the culmination of the entire story!
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. — Acts 10:42-48
When Jesus comes on the scene in the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, we get a powerful and dramatic introduction.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” — John 1:29-34
2 Primary Components of Jesus’ Ministry
Take away our sins, thereby making us righteous and reconciling us to God
Baptize us with the Holy Spirit
The 4 Gospels focus mainly on the first part… the perfect life and substitutionary death of Jesus in order to take away the sins of the world. The Book of Acts focuses on the second part.
What does it mean to baptize?
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. — Acts 2:1-4
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “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. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” — Acts 2:37-39
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. — Acts 4:31
Fruits of the Spirit Baptism
(Not to be confused with the “Fruit of the Spirit”)
Dreams & Visions
Boldness
Unity & Generosity
Signs & Wonders
Evangelism
Speaking in tongues
Worship
Freedom
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:4-8
Jesus Himself told us that it was to our ADVANTAGE that He went away to the Father so that He could send the Helper. Jesus told us many things about the Holy Spirit.
He called Him the “Spirit of Truth” and the “Advocate”
He would REMIND us of Jesus’ teaching
He would REVEAL to us even more!
He would be with us and IN us
He would EMPOWER us to be witnesses
But you know what He never called the Spirit? A GIFT. That language came directly from those who had experienced it. And that tells us everything we need to know!
The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift we can ever receive from God.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” — Luke 11:9-13
Have you experienced the gift of the Spirit?
Have you asked for the gift of the Spirit?
Do you regularly thank God for the gift of the Spirit?
Do you regularly ask to be filled with the Spirit?
My heart for this message…
We focus so much on the first part of Jesus’ ministry, His wonderful ability to take away our sins and make us right with God. This is right and good. I want to submit to us that we have largely overlooked and underestimated the incredible importance of the second part of His ministry… to baptize us in the Holy Spirit.
Response
If you would like to ask the Father for a fresh filling of His Spirit, I want to invite you forward today. But this is not just a one-time thing… This is an ongoing pursuit for every believer. A daily gift to seek, a daily portion to ask for, and a daily promise to receive.