Sermon Central
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Spiritual Intoxication Part 1
Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Dr. Wood used this sermon to show his listener that the first church was totally consumed with God and they did great things in His power. Unbelievers cannot understand the happenings of Christianity until they give their heart and life to Jesus Christ.
When we hear the word intoxicate we instantly think of drunk with alcohol.
Another definition:
- To excite or Stimulate
- To fill with High Spirits or fill with enthusiasm
We will see a type of intoxication like never seen before.
An Example Would be:
Like the silver and the dross
Dross must be removed
The winnowing fan
Removing the chaff from the grain
What takes you over
We find the day of Pentecost
Pentecost – an annual feast – the day after the seventh Sabath after Passover.
Measure by “weeks” it was often called the feast of weeks
Pentecost means 50 – 50 days after the Passover thus the day is called Pentecost
This was 1 of 3 major feast celebrated by the Jews
- Passover 50 days before
- Pentecost
- Tabernacles 4 months later
This feast was originally called The feast of First Fruits
This is significant because many would follow Christ this day were the first fruits of many to be saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Some fundamentals of Spiritual Intoxication
1. Give your attention to God when He calls
a. Holy Spirit
i. Para = Beside
ii. Kaleo = To call to ones side
1. Both Together = Paraklesis
b. God got the attention of dry bones
ii. None of us are beyond God getting our attention
There is a story of a young man in a theology class who was an atheist. He went the entire semester. He antagonized the professor and mocked at his teaching. On the day of his final exam he turned in the test and just before walking out the young man said to the professor “Do you think I will find God?” The professor allowed the man to get just about to the door when he said “No, but He will find you” many years had passed the professor tried to keep up with the guy. He found out that he had contracted cancer. One day the man walked into the professor’s office and told the professor That he had pondered often on the professor comment. He said he never realized that God would find him in such a way. The young man who had grown into an older man now accepted Christ and made amends with his family and lived out his remaining days guided by the Holy Spirit that found Him.
c. Make note of the wind
i. It was not felt
ii. It was a sound
iii. Be careful of feelings
1. Many people will not follow the drawing of the Holy Spirit because they do not feel anything.
2. You must Receive the Holy Spirit when it comes to you
a. We have the choice of answering the door when someone knock or not
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
b. Look at v3 we now find the visual appearance
i. The word Looked like or as of Fire
ii. Tongues of fire - Symbolized the purifying effects of the Gospel
1. Fire is heat and heat will cleanse
iii. The word of God will cleanse any undesirable element if we will receive the words
c. V4 every one present was filled
i. Why everyone – Back to verse 1 they were all in one accord
ii. This filling is also called Baptized
1. Baptism is a form of receiving
d. We can believe but we must receive the Holy Spirit in us
i. Consider Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His
ii. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not a repeated act
1. You will not find anywhere that the Holy Spirit left those in attendance that day
2. The key is the spirit is in you but how do you consult the spirit
a. Ephesians 4:29&30 rings out here
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
e. Speaking in tongues was an instrument used that day
i. It would limit God if this was the only way to say that a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit
