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COMPLETE SERMON NOTES
See Holy Spirit sermon series HERE
OUTPOURING – The Story of Pentecost HOLY SPIRIT PART 1
INTRO: Future Tense… “For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”MATT 10:20
LAID SOME GROUNDWORK
Clarification – Why this is a priority: The Holy Spirit points us to Christ; we don’t grow closer to the H.S. – we grow closer to Christ thru the work of the H.S. He leads us into a deeper relationship with Christ.
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The power of the Holy Spirit is like dynamite that ignites a hunger for God so intense that every aspect of life is changed—we become bold for CHRIST, not passive; stable in CHRIST, not fanatical; and committed to CHRIST, not wavering.
‘OUTPOURING’ – THE STORY OF PENTECOST
Helpful to start at the beginning to gain a clear picture
ACTS 2 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.
The word “Pentecost” means “fifty”, and comes from the holiday known as the Festival of Weeks inLeviticus 23:16, which instructed Israel to count seven weeks or “fifty days” from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday, that being Shavuot. This was significant for Jewish Christians because seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, during the Jewish celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out.
The 1st divide in the camp: Outpourings
Was Pentecost once and for all? Yes, in regard to the historical aspect. THE CHURCH WAS BORN. But the on-going need of the Spirit to empower God’s people still occurs.
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 Paul says that all of the Corinthians became members of Christ’s body when they were baptized by the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says, “…be filled with the Spirit.”
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DRINK! “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on…” (Rom 8:5).
The Puritans, for example, would often say “anointed by the Spirit,” “effusion in the Spirit,” or “inundation in the Spirit” and they would pray for revival.
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Old saints wouldn’t ask, “Has he received his education?”; they would ask, “Has he received his baptism of fire?”
Takeaway: The filling of the Spirit is evident – so evident that many wonder if they were ever converted in the first place.
How Much of God do You Want?
OUTPOURING – The Story of Pentecost – Can Happen Again
Let’s be honest: how many can truly say like Jeremiah, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot” (Jeremiah 20:9)? How many have truly experienced Jesus’ words in John 7:38, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water?” How many can truly relate to “times of refreshing” found in Acts 3:19? How many really understand the words of John the Baptist when he cried out, “After me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11)?
Many have head knowledge, but they’ve never truly experienced the powerful presence of God
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I KNOW WE HAVE TRUTH HERE, BUT DO WE HAVE POWER?
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I KNOW WE LIKE TO DEBATE DOCTRINE, BUT DO WE HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?
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I KNOW WE MOVE OUR LIPS DURING WORSHIP, BUT HAVE YOU EVER WEPT DURING WORSHIP?
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WE READ ABOUT PENTECOST, BUT HAVE WE EXPERIENCED IT?
PERSONAL PENTECOST involves things such as unity [one accord] humility and dying to self, seeking[desperation], vibrant prayer, and heart-felt worship.
– This is all fertile soil – not polluted soil
“I had become someone I never thought I would become. I was in complete darkness…I would sleep in my clothes for as long as I could. I began wishing that I would die. The emotional pain was unbearable.”Comments made “before” a man fully surrendered his life
“I only wish that everyone could feel the love that I experienced. I’m able to forgive others and genuinely love them. I feel like I have been re-born…elusive peace has now been found.” Comments made “after” he fully surrendered his life
It is my firm belief that, second only to salvation, the fully surrendered life is the most important aspect of the Christian life…to truly know God; to truly experience Christ.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
WE SAY, “If I could just try harder and do this and do that…”, but the problem is I’m a broken person and so are you. A broken clock can’t fix the time. A broken mom can’t fix her daughter. A broken dad can’t fix his son…only the Holy Spirit in perfect union with Christ CAN repair damage, rebuild lives, and lead us in the right direction through the filling of the Spirit.
BEE – LINE: Reconciliation is found at the Cross
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
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You either need to be encouraged
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or you need to surrender all – EMPTY TO BE FILLED
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or you need to call on His name
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