The Holy Spirit
Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, 26 Jan 08
The Church
Acts 9:31
The church became stronger because the people lived in the fear of the Lord. The church increased in numbers due to the encouragement/ comfort of the HS.
Their daily lives were lived in the consciousness of the “fear of the Lord” (i.e. reverential fear, honour of God) and the “comfort of the HS”.
On the day of the Pentecost – “In the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.” .: The HS is the present administrator of God’s plan.
As the individual is in the marketplace, in the world, trying to preserve our values, the HS sees it, seizes that heart and makes it the sphere of influence in the world.
Luke 4:18
The spirit of the Lord is upon me.
The success of Jesus’ ministry was because of the HS.
The HS anoints the leadership etc. It is still relevant today in CHC. He is the power by which we accomplish Kristo Kai Kosmo. .: We need to move up to be in places of influence.
The Disciples
Acts 1:6
Up until Jesus died and resurrected, the disciples did not understand His teachings.
Matt 1:8-18
When the disciples first encountered Jesus, they thought Him to be a prophet. They did not understand Jesus to be the Messiah, the incarnation of God.
The HS is going to be as to you what Jesus has been to the disciples – to prove protection, provision etc.
John 13-17
Acts 1:6-8
The disciples still did not get His kingdom and Messiah-ship.
“You shall receive power when the HS has come upon you”
To the disciples: Wait in Jerusalem, so you will receive us.
Witnesses: the people whose story is so convincing that the jury has to say that he is right
.: When the HS comes, what they did not see before, they will see clearly.
We don’t go into the world because we have power vs. we are the power. Recognise the difference of having power vs. representing power (Like policemen) – We are to represent the authority of Jesus.
Peter received a revelation from the HS – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. But he did not understand the meaning of what he said.
Matt 16
“He told them sternly: Do not tell anyone what you have just heard” – Jesus put a prohibition on their understanding of His Messiah-ship.
Matt 17
Icons: Moses and Elijah – Individuals whose deaths were mysterious (i.e. no body found or was lifted up to the Heavens)
God may not reveal some things to us because of our reaction, which might potentially be in error.
“Do not tell anyone what you saw until after my resurrection” The prohibition on the disciples was because in their present moral and spiritual capacity, they could not have represented Jesus in a clear and proper way. Not without the HS, who will “bring all things into your remembrance”
How do you witness the reality of someone living when you don’t have a physical body?
In Acts, when the HS came, there was wind, fire and they saw tongues falling into them such that the disciples spoke a message that convicted the 3,000 people who were present. What did they preach? The resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have to share with similar conviction, to show how real our living God is even though there is no tangible body.
When you become a Christian, you don’t have a relationship with a religious system, but a relationship with a person. We have to go back to the main character of the Bible!
You can’t help but be successful when you are with someone who is successful. How are you doing spiritually? How is your relationship with Jesus? It is the quality of your relationship, not the other things that matter. We can’t live out Kristos Kai Kosmo without the HS!
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Sorry if it sounds a little incoherent. It's just how he preaches, you know, fast forward rewind.
- suatwei
Labels: Holy Spirit, Saturday, Sermons
