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NOTE: This consists of Pastor Wayne's notes which may seem somewhat incomplete or difficult for some readers to follow. These notes were used to give a teaching to a Christian Men's Group in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. It is suggested that anyone, interested in getting a fuller picture than these notes will give, access a recorded format at http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/22236/episodes/123568
GOD'S POWER FOR HIS PEOPLE – PART ONE
INTRODUCTION
- We’ve been looking at becoming disciples of Jesus Christ
- A disciple is trained to do, act, and speak as Jesus gave us the example
QUESTION: HAVE ANY OF YOU HAD ANY QUESTION ABOUT YOUR OWN ABILITY TO LIVE LIKE JESUS?
- HAVE YOU WONDERED IF YOU HAVE IT IN YOURSELF TO DO THESE THINGS OR LIVE THAT WAY?
- QUESTIONED HOW THIS WORKS IN EVERYDAY LIFE?
TRANSITION
- Scripture gives us the answer to these things
- We can’t do these things in our own power or strength
o When we try, we are no different from the Pharisees or religious people
- Going to look at the power Christ supplies for His disciples to be able, not just to do as Jesus did, but also to do what He claimed we would do in John 14:12
- John 14:12 (NASB) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NASB) - For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
MAIN BODY
1. THE POWER OF CHRIST
a. Two types of power that Christ had:
i. AUTHORITY - John 5:26-27 (ESV)
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
1. Greek word here for “authority” is ἐξουσία exousia = a noun meaning “Authority, right, or power.”
2. Another example of exousia is found in John 1:12 (KJV) - But as many as received him, to them gave he power [exousia] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
ii. POWER - Luke 3:21-22 (NASB)
21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
1. Luke 4:1-2, 14, 26 (NASB) – (1) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness . (2) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. . . . (14) And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. . . . (26) And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, "What is this message? For with authority [exousia] and power [dunamis] He commands the unclean spirits and they come out."
2. δύναμις dunamis a noun meaning, “Power, might, ability, force”
a. used over 120 times in the New Testament
3. Another example of both words is found in Luke 10:19 (NASB) - "Behold, I have given you authority [exousia] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [dunamis] of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
iii. Scripture tells us that Christ left behind His rightful attributes of being God and lived as we do
1. Philippians 2:6-7 (AMP) - (6) Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, (7) But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
iv. Consequently, He had to depend totally on the power of the Holy Spirit to do the miracles He did
1. Acts 10:38 (NASB) - "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
2. THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
a. John 14:16-20 (NASB) - (16) "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (17) that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (18) "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (19) "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. (20) "In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
ILLUSTRATION: There are 2 Greek words for “another.” One means another of a similar kind. For example, a $2 coin is one coin; a dime is another coin. This is the first word, but is not what is used here. The second Greek word means “another of exactly the same.” For example a $2 coin and another $2 coin. They both have the exact same qualities: they have the same composition and the same value; they both can do the same thing. This is the word Christ used He said, “another Helper or Comforter.”
i. Christ promised the Father would sent another one, just like Himself, to be with and in His disciples. He will not leave us orphans
b. Luke 24:46-49 (NASB) – (46) and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (48) "You are witnesses of these things. (49) "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
QUESTION: WHAT WERE THE DISCIPLES TO WAIT IN JERUSALEM FOR?
- ANSWER: Both the promise of the Father [the Helper, Comforter, or Holy Spirit] and the power (dunamis)
c. Acts 1:4-5, 8 (NASB) – (4) Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; (5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. . . . (8) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." "
i. Again, we have the Promise of the Father and the Power [dunamis] He gives
3. THE BAPTISM AND/OR INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. Acts 2:1-8 (NASB) (1) When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (5) Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. (6) And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. (7) They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? (8) "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?”
QUESTIONS: WAS THIS THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER? Yes
- WAS THIS THE “ANOTHER” COMFORTER? Yes
- DID POWER ACCOMPANY THIS INFILLING/BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? Yes
- HOW WAS THIS POWER DISPLAYED/MANIFESTED?
ANSWER: (1) Sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire appearing on the heads of the disciples.
(2) Miracle of speaking in other tongues – never learned by the speakers – and the foreigners, who were in Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts, heard them, in their native languages, praising God.
(3) The apostles received a boldness they lacked before this. Fifty days prior to this, Peter denied Christ three times and ran off to hide behind closed days. In his shame and humility, he returned to his fishing, even after the risen Christ appeared to him and the rest of the disciples.
b. HOW ELSE WAS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYED?
Peter, who fifty days before had been a coward and denied Christ three times, and then after Christ’s resurrection went back to his fishing completely humbled, NOW preached to thousands
- What was the response/show of power in Acts 2:37-39 (NASB)?
(37) Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
(38) Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized 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 your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
c. A SECOND EXAMPLE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON BELIEVERS
i. Acts 8:5-13 (NASB) - (5) Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God."
11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
QUESTION: HOW WAS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYED HERE?
ANSWER: PHILIP, ONE OF THE DEACONS CHOSEN IN ACTS 6, PREACHED THE GOSPEL WITH SIGNS AND MIRACLES, PEOPLE BELIEVED AND WERE BAPTIZED.
QUESTION: WERE THESE PEOPLE “SAVED”? (YES) HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
ANSWER: THE PEOPLE BELIEVED AND WERE BAPTIZED
- Not the end of the story
- Acts 8:14-19 (NASB)
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
QUESTION: WERE THESE BAPTIZED BELIEVERS AUTOMATICALLY FILLED OR BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
ANSWER: NO. THE APOSTLES, PETER AND JOHN, WERE SENT BY THE REST OF THE APOSTLES TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
QUESTION: HOW WAS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYED HERE?
ANSWER: OBVIOUSLY BY MEANS OF SOMETHING WHICH WAS SEEN AND/OR HEARD AS IT WAS SOMETHING SIMON, THE SORCERER SAW. AND IT BEAT OUT THE MIRACLES HE SAW PHILIP PERFORMING!! SO WHAT WAS IT HE SAW OR HEARD THAT CAUSED SUCH A RESPONSE?
QUESTION: WHAT ACCOMPANIED THE BAPTISM/INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WAS SEEN AND/OR HEARD?
ANSWER: THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT GIVE THIS DETAIL HERE, BUT IN ACTS 2, 10, AND 19 THERE IS ONE VISIBLE RESULT – THEY SPOKE WITH OTHER TONGUES. SO, IT IS REASONABLE AND MOST LIKELY THAT THIS IS WAS SEEN AND/OR HEARD BY THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA.
d. A THIRD EXAMPLE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON CHISTIANS Acts 10:1-6 (NASB)
1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"
4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
5 "Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;
6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea."
- Peter came and preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his household
- And the story continues in Acts 10:44-48 (NASB)
o 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
o 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
o 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
o 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"
o 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
QUESTION: WHY WERE THE JEWISH BELIEVERS, WHO CAME WITH PETER, AMAZED?
ANSWER: THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK IN TONGUES AND EXALTING GOD – JUST AS THEY HAD!
- THIS WAS REITERATED IN Acts 11:15-17 (NASB)
15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
e. A SECOND EXAMPLE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON THE BELIEVERS AT EPHESUS - Acts 19:1-2 (NASB)
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
QUESTION: WHY DID PAUL ASK THEM THIS QUESTION?
ANSWER: BECAUSE IT WAS THE NORMAL WAY OF LIFE FOR THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH TO TEACH ON THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER AND BE BAPTIZED IN, OR RECEIVE, THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER SALVATION
i. Many modern translations use the word, “when” in verse 2.
- However, the conjunction used here is “εἰ ei”, a conjuction which means. “If, since”.
- King James Version correctly translates it “since” There is no “when” here in the Greek.
- Acts 19:3-6 (NASB)
3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
QUESTION: WHAT WAS THE DISPLAY OF THE BAPTISM, INFILLING, OR RECEIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
ANSWER: THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES AND PROPHESIED.
CONCLUSION: We’ve seen that Christ provided for His disciples, Holy Spirit, Who would fill and empower His disciples to do the work and live the life He taught them to do. The Scriptures teach that this comes by way of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we have seen that this baptism may be accompanied by various signs and wonders, but always by the speaking in other tongues.
In part two, we will further examine how this Gift of the Holy Spirit works out in practical ways in the lives of the disciples of Christ.
