The Presence of Christ by His Spirit

Acts 1:4-8, 12-14, 2:23

Introduction

Christ ready depart > Risen >Gives this promise > On own > Task Before > Great Commission ...Go into all..make disciples.> identify Apostles > lonely Great Task

1. BELIEVE CHRIST'S PROMISE

What are you to believe? Read v 4-8

The Promise foretold v5 1:5 For John truly baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christ repeats John Baptist.

"He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit..."

WHY CAN WE BELIEVE?

Because of the authority of the one who makes the promise

Read verse v4

The Father John 14:16 'And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

The Son John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Holy Spirit " I indeed baptise you with water, but he will Baptise you with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1: 8 The Whole Trinity!

WHO DOES CHRIST MAKE THE PROMISE TO?

Disciples > Christians Peter who do you say .. Christ Breaths on them Regenerate Eph 1:13 Sealed by Spirit . Transition Here Not to seek 2nd experience of Holy Spirit > Rather continual Infillings, anointing not new Baptisms

WHY DOES CHRIST MAKE THE PROMISE?

Two Reasons

1st reason: We Want to speculate about the future read >

v 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Application: Lord are you going to > Estab Church . > v7 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.It's none of you business, may be evident future but now ..

2nd reason So we'll be witnesses >

v8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all, Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. POWER Look where they Christians , Yes As we look forward see Peter/ disciples transformed >before deny Christ I don't know Him

You possess Christ's Promise; you are Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore You won't Commit sexual immorality, why?

YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

NOR WILL YOU WANT TO GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BY UNWHOLESOME SPEECH

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

FINALLY YOU WILL NOT WANT TO QUENCH THE SPIRIT

Do not quench the Spirit" 1 Thess 5:19

Put out,extinquish,as a light or fire, to damp, hinder,repress.

2. PRAY TILL YOU RECEIVE CHRIST'S PROMISE.

2nd method God uses to revealed Christ's Powerful Presence is through being in united preserving Prayer, making our needs known.

Acts 1: 12-14 "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.

1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

What Luke records for us here is that the Church in Jerusalem discovered that Gospel work requires it's labors enjoy the gift of the Spirits infilling & this is sought by passionate, earnest, fervent prayer.

1. Why did they pray?

1. Because Christ had commanded them to Pray. wait. " I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I do hope. Ps 130:5 My soul waits for the Lord......v6 Apply

Just as Christ had commanded them to pray.so he commands you to pray Verses?

Why did they pray?

2. Because they where fearful

Task > Lonely > opposition Christ spoke Parable of the Persistent widow he said, "Then he spoke a Parable to them to this end, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

> Luke 18:1 Apply

Why are you to pray? Because you get fearful Too Verse?

Who did they pray for ?

The Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 "He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him".

Who are you to pray for ?

The Holy Spirit

Luke Verse?

Paul Prayed for the Holy Spirit, that the Ephesian's might be strengthened with might/power by the Spirit. Eph 3:14-19

How did they pray?

1. Continually

v14. Continued. Word means strong, to persist, obstinately in. So in Mark 3:9, "that a small ship should wait on him;" i.e., keep near at hand. The idea of steady persistence , steadfastly. Apply

How are you to pray?

Continually "Pray without ceasing..."

1. Thess 5

How did they pray?

2. With One Mind /Unified.

With one accord, agree, one mind Matthew 18:19. " If two of you agree on earth concerning anything......

How are you to pray? With one mind-unified

3. Prayer: Speak out> utter aloud> Towards God

4. Supplication expression of need

A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly. Matthew Henry

What happened when they prayed?

1. They where filled with the Holy Spirit

2: 1-4 one accord > v14 Luke 11:13

Although only one Pentecost = sound/wind/ fire Types O.T Pentecost+First fruits Ascension Christ " But if I depart I will send Him to you..... The Helper John 16

What happens when you pray? You are filled with the Holy Spirit - Zechariah

What happened when they prayed?

2. They where filled with Boldness

You will have a boldness to speak in an arresting & compelling manner

2: 14 Peter Stood, spoke forth. "This most solemn, earnest, yet sober speech" (Bengel).

Said; Heed my words: Hearken (Only here in New Testament.) give me your ears

What happens when you pray? You are filled with boldness.

3. PREACH CHRIST WHEN YOUR EMPOWERED BY CHRIST

John Piper recalls this story in His book "The Pleasures of God." I have a friend in the ministry who told me of a very powerful moment in preaching. He was speaking the Thursday night before Good Friday in a prison in Illinois. During the message on the death of Christ, he stopped and asked the inmates, "Who killed Jesus? One said, "The Jews." Another said, "The soldiers." Another said, "Pilot." Another said, "Judas." My friend said, "No, I don't think you're right." They said, "Who then?" He said, "His Father killed him." repeat loud "His Father killed him."

Christ Crucified leads to Conviction by the Holy Spirit & Conversion

v37 "They were pricked in the heart and said what must we do to be saved ":

Only used here in New Testament. Found in LXX GK O.T Genesis 34:7, of the grief of the sons of Jacob at the dishonor of Dinah. See, also, Psalms 109:16: "broken in heart."

Christ crucified leads to God's People being Edified Acts 42 -47

His Word yet God's Word importance of ordained means >.S want authorize what he hasn't said & he will what he has.

42. Continued steadfastly. See on ch. 1:14.

Doctrine (didach|~). Better, teaching.

Fellowship (koinwni>a|). Fromkoino>v, common.

BELIEVING CHRIST'S PROMISE, PRAYING HIS PROMISE, RECIEVING THAT PROMISE THEN PREACHING CHRIST - LEADS TO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST.

Notice who it is that adds to the Church.

Acts 2: 47 The Lord added to the Church

Warfield says of this verse " The chief narrative name for Jesus in Acts becomes the expression of respect; "the Lord" Christ's Church is authenticated by the felt presence of Christ .

'Lo I'am with you always' Matt 28:20

`Where two or three are gathered in my name , I'm in the midst.'