THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Book of Mark does quote Jesus mentioning tongues in Mark 16:17. Pastor Ryan is not referring to that moment but that Jesus doesn't bring attention to speaking in tongues as part of the experience, the day they will be filled. They didn't fully know what to expect when the gift of the Holy Spirit comes, they simply were told to wait until He does come.
Clarification For Portion Minute 16:47-17:07 of https://youtu.be/ZuEclm0c7zo?si=-krQ374gyMfhDvkF
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Main Scripture: Acts 1:1-11
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Jesus rose again and he’s about to depart from earth to be seated at the right hand of God. Before Jesus leaves he gives some very important instructions through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Instructions like Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:49, and Acts 1:4-8. Today, these scriptures will mean more to followers of Christ. To those who are seeking our Christian faith, you will learn about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and in the mission of God.
Notes:
Scripture: Acts 1:1-5 NLT
V. 1-3 We covered last week. See notes here.
V. 4
He was eating with them. Maybe they are having roasted fish over a fire. We believe in the full bodily resurrection of Jesus, not spiritual resurrection. In order to be hungry and eat you need a body. A spirit wouldn’t be able to eat. A bodily resurrection would better substantiate the resurrection. A spirit resurrection would be invisible and make it hard for us to prove. Jesus took care of proving this for us!
Do not leave Jerusalem. The location is important. The mission was the gospel would be preached starting in Jerusalem and then to the ends of the earth.
Until the Father sends you the gift he promised as I told you before.
John 14:15-17 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Luke 24:49 NIV I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The promised gift of the Father (God) is the power of the Holy Spirit to help the church be effective witnesses of the gospel.
We need to know what this gift is and why we need it. If we know we will want to wait and wait with expectation. Let’s keep digging…
V. 5
This idea of John’s baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit was actually mentioned years before in the Biblical narrative.
John 1:33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
This is John the Baptist prophesying that it will be Jesus who baptizes.
The word baptize suggests immersion such as fully covered or fully under water.
Baptized in the Spirit means to be immersed, dipped, or saturated in the Holy Spirit.
The English preposition “with” is the translation of the Greek word “en” and is often translated as “in.” So you may see scripture that says baptized with the Holy Spirit which also implies in the Holy Spirit.
Baptisms require three things
The candidate being baptized. (You)
The element you’re baptized in. (Water or Spirit two different baptisms)
The agent baptizing you. (Spirit baptism: Jesus. Water Baptism: Disciple/Pastor)
Illustration: overflow since the Holy Spirit already dwells in us.
Illustration on stage: like a garment, shirt, or sponge saturated in water. If there is a color in the water that garment absorbs and takes on the color.
This is a distinct and separate experience from salvation or spiritual birth.
We receive the Spirit upon repenting of our sins and putting our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:9; Titus 3:5).
Neither Jesus nor Luke focused on salvation in this context because they were speaking to believers who were already saved and had previously received the Spirit. John 20:19-22 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Illustration on stage: with that said there may be a better illustration to help us understand how one is baptized in or with the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit dwells in us at conversion to Christ, the baptism of the Spirit can be illustrated like we are a vessel where God pours into us more of the Holy Spirit causing an overflow and works of the Spirit in and through our lives!
Scripture: Acts 1:6-7 NLT
Now you would think Jesus’ followers would have questions about this Spirit baptism but their mind was on something else, the kingdom restoration of Israel on earth. When would Israel be physically delivered from Rome’s oppression?
Jesus did speak about the kingdom (v.3). The disciples could be anticipating the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that they themselves will exercise authority over the tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30).
Notice…“Jesus did not rebuke the disciples, nor did He deny that it was still in God’s plan to restore the Kingdom (the rule of God) to Israel. But here on earth, they would never know the specific times and the dates of that restoration.” -Stanley Horton, ACTS, pg 39.
Jesus basically says, that’s a need-to-know basis and they didn’t need to know.
Scripture: Acts 1:8
Jesus turns their focus on what truly matters right now…(and still does today)
This is the key verse of the Book of Acts. This is the same pattern for Jesus. Before Jesus began his ministry the Holy Spirit came over Jesus and filled Him.
But you will receive power. “Power” (Grk: dynamis) comes from a verb that means “to be able to” or “to have strength.” Also where we get the English word dynamite!
In Acts, power refers to bearing witness to Jesus, working miracles, and power over the devil (We’ll see this illustrated throughout the whole book).
And you will be my witnesses. The word “witnesses” comes from the word martyrs “one who testifies”
Jesus’ words “You will be my witnesses” have often been taken as a command but it is not so much a command as a promise…When they receive the fullness of the Spirit, the power they receive will inevitably transform them into witnesses.” -Full Life Bible Commentary, pg. 538
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Luke actually records this journey. Acts 1-7 is in Jerusalem. Acts 8-12 in Judea and Samaria. Acts 13-28 is the ends of the earth (known to them at that time).
The mission of God: preach the gospel to all nations. The method: followers of Christ. The ability and power to fulfill the mission: the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Baptism is a supernatural empowerment that equips the church to fulfill its mission in the world, namely, to be witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be witnesses, accompanied by signs and miracles.
This mission was also mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:17-20
Scripture: Acts 1:9-11 Jesus ascends so he can send the promised Holy Spirit
Notice the focus is on how he returns not the timing of his return. The true Messiah comes from the clouds and we will meet him in the sky.
The ascension is an important moment. Jesus goes to be with the Father then He sends the Spirit to be the church’s guide, counselor, advocate, and power for witness.
As King on His throne guess what Jesus is doing…pouring out the promised Holy Spirit. He intercedes (prays) to the Father for us and He pours out His Spirit.
TAKEAWAYS:
We are worshippers and witnesses.
We are here because the Holy Spirit set the first church on fire and became a witness that has reached our generation. They were set on fire because they were truly following Jesus and worshiped God. You can’t get on fire for the mission without the Spirit and you can’t receive the gift of the Spirit if you are not in fellowship with the giver.
We tend to worship a lot but witness little. God calls us to be both worshippers and witnesses set on fire by the Holy Spirit! How?
I would propose that we are missing an important ingredient and experience in worship. Many of us worship and fellowship with God on Sunday, in small groups, or in our homes but has our passion to witness grown?
I believe this scripture teaches us a critical lesson. It is when people seek and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit in prayer, worship, or in the waiting, that they come out of that experience more burdened for God’s mission and more passionate to be a witness. The reason is the passion and power to be effective witnesses for the gospel comes not from our own strength but from the filling of the Holy Spirit.
“God wants a community that, like Jesus, gets caught up in the transformation of the world.” Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit
*You'll need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to help you and I have good news for you…
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift God wants us to have.
Ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit’s power for witnessing.
Wait expectantly, in prayer and worship, for the Father’s gift. You have a promise that a gift is coming but you must wait. When it’s the grandparents coming over guess who’s waiting at the door. When mom, dad, or sibling say they're coming home with a gift, guess who eagerly waits and wonders with expectation? Maybe you're even waiting at the door. Jesus commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until His Father sent them the gift He promised.
Now Jesus meets us where we are if we know there is a gift and want it for His glory not our own.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
What are we being witnesses of according to the sermon last week and today? How can one be a witness to this?
How does baptism in the Holy Spirit help us become more effective witnesses?
What did Pastor Ryan mean by how the church does a good job worshipping but could grow in our witnessing?
We learned last week to reach one person this school year. In what ways have you been working towards that goal?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
