Summary: Part 2 of a 5-part sermon. Luke recorded for Theophilus an account of those acts which preceded the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ physical absence. 17 acts setting the stage for the Spirit of God.

B-Setting the Stage for the Spirit-II—Acts 1:4-8

Luke recorded for Theophilus an account of Jesus earthly acts/ministry as well as an account of those acts which preceded the coming of the Holy Spirit in His absence.

How is the stage set for the acts of the Holy Spirit?

8 ways in which the Stage is Set for the Spirit of God are...

1. FRIENDSHIP(:1)

2. INITIATION(:1)

3. EXPLANATION(:2)

4. SENDING(:2)

5. CHOOSING/CHOICE(:2)

6. RESURRECTION(:3)

7. SUFFERING(:3)

8. MINISTRY(:3)

9—Setting the stage for the Spirit are

Acts of FELLOWSHIP / COOPERATION(:4)

—Explanation:(:4)

:4—“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;”

“Assembled together/Gathering”—????????—Gather together, assemble; To accumulate or convene; Meet with. From —???—denoting union—association, companionship, etc. & —?????(to throng).

—Argumentation:

Mat. 18:18-20—“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””

Heb. 10:24-25—“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

—Illustration:

Scuba diving/Club in Charlotte/Trips to Florida, Cayman islands, Cave diving, Wreck diving,etc./Gathered around common love—scuba diving

—Application:

?Your Stage been Set thru your ACTS OF COOPERATION?

?You Set the Stage for the Holy Spirit?

10—Setting the stage for the Spirit are

Acts of ANTICIPATION / EXPECTATION(:4-5)

—Explanation/Argumentation:(:4-5) Fulfillment

:4—“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;”

:5—“for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””

“Wait”—????????—To wait for. From—????—&—????—meaning to remain or abide ‘about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.’

“The Promise”—?????????—Announcement, promise.

—This Promise is the Holy Spirit, an obviously important & key promise for the church. Jesus Himself had previously told them of the Promise’s coming.

Lk. 11:13—““If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!””

Lk. 24:49—““Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.””

Jn. 7:37-39—“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood & cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me & drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Jn. 14:16, 26—““And I will pray the Father, & He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--”...““But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, & bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Jn. 15:26—““But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

Jn. 16:7—““Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Jn. 20:21-23—“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, & said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.””

—Illustration:

Childbirth/New parents/ANTICIPATION / EXPECTATION

—Application:

?Your Stage been Set thru your ACTS OF ANTICIPATION / FULFILLMENT

?You Set the Stage for the Holy Spirit?

—CONCLUSION—

Setting the stage for the Spirit are Acts of....

COOPERATION(:4)

ANTICIPATION / EXPECTATION(:4-5)

FRIENDSHIP(:1)

INITIIATION(:1)

EXPLANATION(:2)

SENDING(:2)

RESURRECTION(:3)

SUFFERING(:3)

MINISTRY(:3)

Presented 03/13/05am to:

Richland Baptist Church

40510 Stewart Road

Zephyrhills, FL 33540