SPIRIT-EMPOWERED DISCIPLES
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: SPIRIT-EMPOWERED DISCIPLES
Scripture References: ACTS 19:1-7
Intro:
There were many observable changes in the disciples between their pre-resurrection, pre-Pentecost experience, and post-Pentecost experience. They were hiding, afraid, and confused. But once they saw the risen Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit they were ignited with hope, courage, and zeal for witnessing, spoke with authority, and used their spiritual gifts. Christianity was new and what was ahead would not be easy but the Holy Spirit would be there to help them. Paul encounters 12 disciples in Ephesus on his third missionary journey. What does Paul concentrate on? Making sure the disciples know and experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Notes:
Summary:
Paul comes to Ephesus where he finds twelve disciples who not been baptized in Christ nor experienced the filling or baptism in the Holy Spirit. These believers knew only of John’s baptism, one of preparation and repentance of sin to prepare them for the Messiah. Paul clarifies the need for further baptism and performs the water baptism into Christ. Now, regarding the baptism of the Spirit or receiving the Spirit, Paul lays his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues (languages) and prophesied. This event is approximately 25 years removed from the day of Pentecost.
Paul asks, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
The literal translation of Paul’s question is, “Having believed, did you receive the Holy Spirit?” or “Did you receive the Holy Spirit after you believed?” Fire Bible, page 1745.
Paul wasn’t referring to the Spirit’s presence that enters a believer when he or she first surrenders to Christ and is “born again” spiritually (John 3:3-6). “Paul clearly knew that all followers of Christ have the Spirit living in them from the moment of their spiritual conversation from a life of sin to a personal relationship with Christ.” Fire Bible, page 1745
Ephesians 1:13 And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
The indwelling comes before the infilling
Paul also wasn’t checking to see whether they were true believers or not, he was asking if they had been filled or “baptized” with the Holy Spirit. Paul was referring to the same experience from the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8; 2:4).
Acts 1:4-5 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
R.A Torrey says, “In regeneration, there is the impartation of life by the Spirit's power, and the one who receives it is saved: in the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there is the impartation of power, and the one who receives it is fitted for service.”
The twelve disciples were unaware of baptism in the Holy Spirit
Theologians find this verse difficult to interpret because these believers would have heard of the Holy Spirit from Old Testament scriptures and John the Baptist who taught about the Holy Spirit. Theologians believe Luke simply left details out of Paul unpacking the baptism of the Spirit to the disciples since he is quickly summarizing these events.
What is believed is they were ignorant of any subsequent experience with the Holy Spirit or filling of the Holy Spirit, after faith in Christ.
This is why Paul is prompted to ask what baptism they had received. They experienced John’s baptism but had not yet been baptized in water as followers of Christ to demonstrate the outward sign of their faith and life with Christ.
Paul immediately water baptizes the disciples so they can demonstrate their spiritual cleansing and publicly identify as followers of Christ.
Paul doesn’t stop at water baptism and leads them in receiving or experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Paul lays his hands on them, most likely to pray over them to be powerful witnesses and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The laying on of hands is not necessary as seen in previous examples.
How would they know if they had been filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit?
“God linked speaking in tongues with the baptism in the Spirit from the very beginning (acts 2:4) so that the 120 believers at Pentecost and all of Christ’s followers after that–would have an experience to confirm that they truly received the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45-46).” -Fire Bible, pg 1697
“The book of Acts never presents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit without any outward evidence. Rather, it shows it to be an obvious and identifiable experience that could be verified by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.” -Fire Bible, pg 1746
“Speaking in tongues is a supernatural expression of God’s Spirit. It is a Holy Spirit-inspired way of speaking, praying, or praising God by which a Christian speaks in a language (Greek: glossa) they have never learned. When a person speaks in tongues, it may be an existing spoken human language (Acts 2:6). Or it may be a language unknown on earth (1 Cor. 13:1, where Paul mentions speaking in “languages of…angels”). -Fire Bible pg. 1697.
“Speaking in tongues is not merely a matter of human will. The Holy Spirit initiates this manifestation. In full submission to the Spirit (“as the Spirit enabled them”), they speak and act as the Spirit leads them. Such utterances are not ecstatic speech or mere gibberish.” -Full Life Bible Commentary
When can a believer receive the filling or experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Only believers would know, seek, and care to be filled with the Holy Spirit for help. Someone can’t be baptized in the Holy Spirit unless they are a believer and the Spirit dwells in them already. Someone shouldn’t be water baptized until it has been confirmed that they believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. One can believe, experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then be water baptized (Acts 10:44-48). Someone can believe in Christ and immediately experience the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit.
It’s common to believe in Jesus Christ, be saved, be water baptized, and not yet experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Why does Paul make sure they received the filling or experienced the baptism? Why should the current church continually seek and open our hearts to this experience?
The purpose of seeking the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit…
The purpose of the baptism in the Spirit is twofold… “Worship and work…The baptism in the Spirit deepens our worship of the Lord through giving us a language of praise that we have not learned—speaking with other tongues. It also gives us power in our Christian witness...” -Wood, George O. Living in the Spirit
“The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift of God that, if received, will give great depth to a Christian’s personal worship of and public witness for Christ.” -Fire Bible, pg 1745.
“The entire book of Acts emphasizes this charismatic experience of receiving power for evangelism. The Ephesian twelve receive the fresh vital power of the Spirit so that they, like the disciples at Pentecost, Samaria, and Caesarea, will be equipped to fulfill the commission of Acts 1:8.” FLBC, pg 637
When we are witnesses for Christ under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit our efforts are powerful and fruitful.
The power that Jesus said to wait and receive would be the presence of the Holy Spirit, His help, counsel, guidance, gifts in operation, courage, faith, etc.
The Holy Spirit helps you be a powerful witness, but He also gives you the power to handle tests, trials, and temptations.
How do we receive the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit?
We approach God with faith and ask
We put our faith in the scripture that says God gives his Spirit to those who ask Luke 11:13
We surrender time to seek after God
We surrender our hearts to be filled with God
We surrender our lives to be used by God
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
Why does Paul make sure the disciples received the filling or experienced the baptism?
Why would we want to be baptized in the Spirit?
How can we prepare ourselves to be filled and baptized in the Spirit?
How can we pray for you or someone in your life, today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life 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 decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. 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!