Sermon Central
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Receive The Holy Spirit Series
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Jan 6, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: In this brief study we will take a walk through the book of Acts highlighting some of the more significant verses and ideas presented by Luke.. I have drawn some material from "Act Normal" by Scott Wilson.
Acts Part 6- Receive the Holy Spirit
Review/Recap
Continue our series on the book of Acts.
Scott Wilson wrote a book called- Act Normal.
To paraphrase Scott Wilson-
We will stand out in the world as we fit into God’s pattern for the normal Christian life.
Stories of- lives of men/women we see in Acts are stories of people ACTING NORMAL- under the HS.
We are called by God to live amazing/exceptional lives.
Do not just live life, capture it! P Clyde Oliver
Last week finished up Act 6- this week- turn to Act 7-8.
Before we start
In your bulletin- Fill-in-the- Blank/Digging Deeper.
Encouragement- take notes- writing helps to-
crystallize thoughts/remember what we heard.
Engage yourself to learn God’s Word- also join a HC.
Last Weeks Challenge
For 7 days do not- say anything negative about others-
pray for them/verbally bless them (testimony?)
The Jews would be slaves and mistreated- generations would come and go without vindication.
Act 7.22-25
Moses tried- correct the problem in his strength/wisdom-
result: fled to the wilderness for 40 years.
Warning: be careful about developing a philosophy that believer’s never experience pain or difficult times.
God’s goal is not just delivering us from hard situations, but transformation.
We live in a culture- hyper sensitive to being treated unfairly- this hyper sensitivity colors our ability to look at things through- Biblical Word-view.
40 yrs before God vindicated- transformation in process
Do not insist on getting even, let God take care of it. (Rom 15.19)
Life is not always fair- rains on the just and unjust- take time and give God room to work in your life.
Act 7.30-34
Moses encounter w/God awakened in him dreams- dormant for 40 years while God worked in him.
That is why we strongly believe as a church in every person experiencing personal encounters w/God.
Our Mission Statement as a Church-
Encounter God, Love People, Share Life
The Christian walk begins (continues) when a person has a personal Encounter with Christ Jesus.
We want people to pursue holiness and obedience, as well as value God’s presence.
Act 8.1-3
Paul’s behavior was wicked- had men/women killed-
1 Cor 15:9-10
He was able to receive God’s forgiveness/serve God.
God can save you, despite your past, if your heart is broken and repentant.
Act 8.4-8
We see deliverance/healing- should we see this today?
Mk 16.17-18 (Act 28.5- Paul bit by serpent)
Lk 10.1-20- Jesus gives disciples- authority- heal/deliver
The struggle today is one of faith and unbelief.
Many have an intellectual understanding of spiritual truths but they are not alive in them.
Are we allowing God’s Word- be written on our hearts?
2 Cor 3:3 ... you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Many times Jesus said to- disciples- follow me. (Mat 16.24)
What does “follow me” mean-
1 Cor 11:1 (NASB95) Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Finally Jesus made this extraordinary statement-
Jn 14:12 (NASB95) “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.
