Scripture References: Acts 1:1-8; Acts 2:1-21, 38-39 (Main); John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 3:14-21; 2 Timothy 1:7
Intro: This sermon by guest speaker Tim Davis explores the church value "Surrendered to the Spirit," a vital aspect alongside obedience to the Word and devotion to mission. Acknowledging varied understanding, it emphasizes the Holy Spirit's crucial role, bringing necessary power and gifts for Christian life and witness, as introduced in Acts 1 & 2.
Key Points:
- The Father's Promise: The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5): Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, identifying Him as "the promise of the Father." This connects to God's eternal nature as a loving community (Father, Son, Spirit) desiring to share His life and blessing with us. The Spirit brings us into this divine fellowship.
- The Spirit's Purpose: Power for Witness (Acts 1:8): Jesus explicitly linked the Spirit's coming with receiving power. This power's primary purpose? To make disciples effective witnesses for Jesus, from their local context ("Jerusalem") to the whole world. The Spirit empowers God's mission through us.
- The Spirit's Ministry: He testifies about Jesus (John 15:26). He enables confession of Jesus as Lord (1 Cor 12:3). He brings God's empowering presence into believers' lives (cf. Gen 1:2 hovering over creation).
- Receiving the Spirit: An Encounter:
- Baptism/Filling: Jesus contrasts water baptism with Spirit baptism, suggesting a tangible, experiential "coming upon" or "filling" that empowers (Acts 1:5, 8). We should desire and expect real encounters with the Spirit's power. (Speaker's testimony).
- Pentecost Example (Acts 2): The promise fulfilled visibly and audibly (wind, fire, tongues). The immediate result was proclaiming "the mighty works of God." Peter confirmed this outpouring was for all flesh, including us ("all who are far off").
- Faith Required: God responds to faith ("May it be done according to your faith"). We receive by asking and believing.
- The Overflow: A genuine filling with the Spirit results in an irrepressible overflow – testifying about Jesus' goodness and mighty deeds (His life, death, resurrection, victory). It changes us from the inside out.
Conclusion: Being surrendered to the Spirit means actively waiting for, asking for, and receiving the promised Holy Spirit, whom the Father delights to give. He empowers us to be effective witnesses for Jesus by filling us with divine power and revealing Christ's glories, resulting in an unavoidable overflow of worship and testimony.
Call to Action: Cultivate thirst for God. Ask the Father for the Holy Spirit in faith. Expect to experience His empowering presence. Believe you receive when you ask. Give thanks continually. Allow the Spirit's work within to overflow into witness for Jesus. Repeat this cycle often. Embrace His power, which comes with love and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7).
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