craigmanderson

Preaching message for Plenty Valley Church Sunday 21st April 2013

Ps John Matthews.

You’re are full of it – The Holy Spirit

REVISION:

Week 1  INTRODUCING THE HOLY SPIRIT

Why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit – To be a witness

Pastor Craig talked about The person of the Holy Spirit

Week 2  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE BORN AGAIN

Pastor Craig talked about what happens when we are born again, how we become  a new person, Regeneration takes place our spirits are made anew. What happens when we are born again is a new life beginning, later we need to receive the POWER of the Holy Spirit for witness. There is two steps.

Week 3  (today) Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, Living with the power.

My baptism story

I was 16 and going to a church youth group, I had asked Jesus into my life about six month earlier. We call that being born again. The leader at the time was talking about being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues;

That got me really interested, I had heard other people talking in tongues (a languish that was not their natural one),  I had wondered what that was about. The leader talked about having a languish that talked straight to God.

I said to myself I want that, after the leader had finished talking he invited anyone who wanted the be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues to come and get prayed for, The Bible says how they laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit (Act 8:17)

So I got prayed for, as he was praying for me I tried so hard to speak in tongues

For I believe I was filled with the Holy Spirit, but I did not speak in tongues.

I walked away a bit disappointed, it did not however stop me from having a relationship with God. It was about two week later when I was praying in my bed room just telling Jesus how much I loved him, music turned up getting lost in His presents,  that a different sound came out of my mouth, it surprised me that I stopped. I realised that I had tried so hard to make tongues work, I wasn’t until I let go of trying that I made room for the Holy Spirit to do His work in me.

Living in the power of the Holy Spirit

 Act 1:8  But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit come on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Power means strength,

For what you may ask?  I believe there are two reasons.

1.   To live our life to the fullest

(a) When life throws curve ball at you.

i.      Strength

ii.      Might

iii.     Power

iv.      Over comer

My story of the Holy Spirit pouring himself over me in a time of need.

Sitting in my office feeling very overwhelmed with life, needing the power of the Holy Spirit to bring a peace , strength and to revitalize me.

 HOLY SPIRIT

• Wisdom and understanding, Gift of God, Spirit of life, Speaks, Guides
• Teacher, Helps in our weakness, Comforter

2.    To be a great witness to the world

Does the world know there is something different about you

i.      A peace

ii.      A strength

iii.      Knowing who you are

(a) Jesus living in us, forgiven set free

We have been talking about how you are full of it  –  The HOLY SPIRIT.

Having the power of the Holy Spirit and not utilizing it is like having Bill Gates as your father, having all that he has at your disposal and you living as a pauper on the street without a place to stay .

God has created us for this purpose to tell the world about Jesus, We cannot effectively do that without the help of Holy Spirit.

To get our head in the game, our thinking right (Pressure of the word)

Power to share the good news, Wisdom, Guidance

Look at this verse with me… Act 1:8  But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

You are the answer to this world; let’s step into the fullness of God using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to help this hurting world

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How would you describe living a supernatural life with the Holy Spirit living inside you?

2. What are some of the ways the Holy Spirit can assist you as a Christian believer.

3. When you feel overwhelmed, how can you relate to the Holy Spirit in your moment of need?

4. Explain how you can be the answer in this world to people all around us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Read Acts 1:8 all together –  what is God saying to you in this verse?