Getting to know the Holy Spirit: How did the disciples move in the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost? Part 2

How did the disciples move in the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost? Part 2.
Acts Chapters 13 - 28

Acts 13:

1.   Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch when they are called out by the Holy Spirit to do the work for which he has called them. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit they go to Cyprus – vs 1-4

2.   At Paphos they are opposed by a Jewish sorcerer and a false prophet called Bar-Jesus. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit curses the sorcerer and he is struck blind – vs 6-12

3.    As a result of this display of power, the proconsul of Cyprus became born-again – vs 12

4.    From Paphos Paul sails to Pamphylia and preaches the word boldly in many Jewish synagogues and the word of the Lord spread but they also come under persecution – vs 13-49

5.   And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit – vs 52

Acts 14:

1.  In Iconium Paul and Barnabas continue to minister powerfully in the Spirit and perform many signs and wonders – vs 1-7

2. Paul is stoned and left for dead. After the disciples gathered around him and prayed, he

    arose and carried on ministering – vs 19-20

3. In Derbe Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel and win a large number of disciples – vs      21

4. Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch preaching the gospel all the way – vs 21-28

Acts 16:

1. Paul and his companions revisit a number of towns they had visited before strengthening

    the Churches in the faith – vs 1-5

2. Paul and his companions were prevented from preaching in Asia by the Holy Spirit – also

    called the Spirit of Jesus in these verses – vs 6-8

3. Paul has a vision of a Man in Macedonia begging them to go to Macedonia. Paul left 

    immediately concluding that God had called them to preach the gospel – vs 9-10

4. In Philippi, Macedonia, a woman called Lydia originally from Thyatira responds to Paul’s

    gospel message and she and her household are baptized – vs 11-15

5. In Philippi, Paul delivers a slave girl from an evil spirit that could predict the future – vs 

   16-18

6. The owners of the slave girl incite the crowd against Paul and Silas and they are flogged,

     beaten and thrown into prison – vs 19-24

7. At about midnight whilst Paul and Silas were in prison singing hymns and praying, a

    violent earthquake shook the prison and all the prisoners’ chains fell off and the cell doors

    sprang open – vs 25-26

8. The jailer was about to commit suicide at this, but Paul stopped him by assuring him that

    nobody had escaped. He was so overwhelmed by this that he immediately got saved. 

    The jailer dresses their wounds and he and his household are then baptized. He is filled 

    with joy because he and his household had come to know God – vs 27-34

Acts 17:

1. Paul and his companions face persecution in Thessalonica and Berea for preaching the

    gospel. He leaves Silas and Timothy in Berea and heads for Athens – vs 1-15

2.  In Athens Paul boldly preaches the gospel to the Areopagus, a group of Greek philosophers and epicureans. Some of them even got saved! – vs 16-34

Acts 18:

1.  In Corinth Paul struggles to get the gospel message across to the Jews and eventually, after they became abusive, he decides to concentrate on preaching to the Gentiles only – vs 1-8

2.  One night the Lord speaks to Paul in a vision and tells him to persevere and keep preaching in Corinth and he will keep Paul safe. Paul is obedient and stays there for a year – vs 9-11

Acts 19:

1.  In Ephesus, Paul finds twelve disciples who weren’t water baptized. After they are water baptized and Paul lays hands on them and they are baptized in the Spirit and they speak in tongues and prophesy – vs 1-7

2.  Paul preaches the word of God in Tyrannus for 2 years so that all the Jews and Greeks that lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord – vs 10

3.  God did extraordinary miracles through Paul including healing the sick from handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him and then laid on the sick – vs 11-13

4.  The word of God spread widely throughout Asia because of Paul’s preaching and the many miracles, signs and wonders that God did through him – vs 23-41

Acts 20:

1.  Paul continually visited and encouraged the Church throughout Asia – vs 1-6

2.  Paul raises Eutychus from the dead in Troas – vs 7-12

3.  Paul, compelled by the Spirit, decides to return to Jerusalem, where, as the Holy Spirit warns him, he faces many trials and hardships. Paul resolutely goes in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading – vs 13-38

Acts 21:

1.  On the way back to Jerusalem, Paul stops in Caesarea where he receives a prophesy by the Holy Spirit through the prophet Agabus. Paul is told that the Jews in Jerusalem are going to have him imprisoned and handed over to the Gentiles – vs 10-11

2.  This prophesy comes to be – vs 27-40 and chapters 22-26

Acts 27 & 28 – Paul’s journey to Rome

1.  Paul warns the centurion assigned to guard him that their voyage would be disastrous with loss of ship and cargo. Centurion doesn’t listen – 27:10-11

2.  Shortly after leaving Crete they run into a violent storm of hurricane strength just as Paul predicted, the cargo is lost, and the ship is wrecked – 27:13-44

3.   An angel of God visits Paul one night and tells him the ship will run aground on an island but his life and the lives of all who sail with him will be saved – 27:23-26

4.  Paul witnesses to the soldiers and the ship’s crew by encouraging them to eat and by giving thanks to God for the meal in the middle of the storm – 27:4-38

5.  The ship runs aground, the centurion saves Paul’s life from the soldiers and everybody reaches shore safely on Malta – 27:42-44

6.  Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake but suffers no ill effects, this is a powerful witness to the islanders - 28:1-6

7.   Paul is shown favour by the chief official of the island and is invited to stay at his house. Paul prays for the official’s sick father and he is healed. After this the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and they were healed – 28:7-10

8.  After 3 months on Malta Paul finally sets sail for Rome – 28:11-14

9.  Paul lived under house-arrest in Rome and was allowed to preach the gospel without hindrance – 28:17-31

And now Church let's take hold of these scriptures addressed to the Church from Paul himself:

1 Cor 4:15-16 

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

1 Cor 11:1 

Follow (imitate) my example, as I follow (imitate) the example of Christ.

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: After Pentecost - How did the disciples move in the power of the Holy Spirit? Part 1.

How did the disciples move in the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost? 
Acts Chapters 3 - 12

Acts 3:

1. Peter heals a lame beggar – vs 1-10

2. Peter boldly speaks to the Jewish crowd about Jesus, whom they killed, being the Messiah the Old testament prophets spoke about – vs 11-26.

Acts 4:

1. The apostles continue to preach Jesus boldly and the number of believers increases to    about 5000 – vs 1-4

2.  Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks boldly to the religious leaders of Jerusalem – vs 8-21

3.  The believers get together and pray and one of their prayers is that the Lord would give them boldness to speak the Word and for the Lord to stretch out his hand to heal and perform signs and wonders – vs 23-30

This prayer was answered immediately:

Acts 4:31 (NIV)

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

4. The believers come together in unity, sharing all their possessions and nobody went       without and the apostles continued to testify of the resurrection of Jesus with great power – vs 32-37

Acts 5:

1.   Ananias and Sapphira die suddenly after lying to God – vs 1-11

2.   Fear of God seized the whole church – vs 11

3.   Many healings, miracles, signs and wonders are performed by the apostles – vs 12-16

4.  The apostles are persecuted by the high priest and Sadducees, arrested and thrown in prison but are miraculously released by an angel of the Lord – vs 17-41

Acts 6 & 7

1.   God uses Spirit filled people to spread the Word and reach the lost – 6:3-7

2.   The Holy Spirit empowers Stephen to perform great signs and wonders and to face     persecution and death without flinching – 6:8-15; 7:all

Acts 8

1.   Philip in the power of the Holy Spirit performs many signs and wonders, healings and demonic deliverance – vs 4-8

2.  The laying on of hands facilitates the impartation of the Holy Spirit to others who desire to be Spirit filled – vs 9-25

3. An angel of the Lord instructs Philip to leave Jerusalem and go to Gaza where he witnesses to an Ethiopian eunuch and baptizes him. The eunuch then carries on his journey taking the gospel with him – vs 26-39

4. The Holy Spirit supernaturally transports Philip to another town after baptizing the eunuch and there he starts preaching the gospel in Caesarea – vs 39-40

Acts 9:
1. Saul’s miraculous conversion from Christian persecutor-in-chief to Gospel preacher-in-chief, instigated by the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit – vs 1-30

2. The Holy Spirit encourages the Church – vs 31

3. Peter travels around the country visiting the Church and heals a paralytic called Aeneas and prays over a dead woman, Dorcas, and sees her life restored – vs 32-42

Acts 10:
1. Cornelius, a Gentile and a Roman centurion, has a vision of an angel of God who tells him to send for Peter. Cornelius obeyed immediately and sent three men to fetch Peter – vs 1-8

Some important facts to remember about Cornelius:

· He was devout and God-fearing

· He prayed regularly

· He gave generously

· He recognized that God was speaking to him

· God answered his prayers

2. Peter’s vision – vs 9-23

Some important facts about Peter’s vision:

· The vision was God’s way of preparing him to mix with Gentiles who were considered by    Jews to be unclean. Confirmed in vs 28-29

· Peter heard the Holy Spirit telling him to go with the three men that Cornelius had sent to fetch him

· Peter is obedient and goes with the three men

3. Peter at the house of Cornelius – vs 23-48

· Cornelius tells Peter that he and his household were there so that they could hear everything that the Lord commands Peter to tell them – vs 30-33

· Peter speaks and tells them all about Jesus and the gospel of salvation – 34-43

· The Holy Spirit came upon all those that were listening to Peter and they started speaking in tongues. The Jews were astonished that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles – vs 44-46

· All the Gentiles were then water baptized – vs 47-48

Acts 12:
1. Peter miraculously released from prison by an angel – vs 1-19

2. Herod struck down by an angel of the Lord and died – vs 21-23

3. The word of God continued to spread and flourish – vs 24

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

After the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Pentecost is probably the most significant event in Christian history. The first ever mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised them.

The twelve Apostles (including Matthias the replacement for Judas Iscariot) were all praying together in the upper room when their baptism with the Holy Spirit came.

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

This was the beginning of life in the Spirit for the twelve Apostles and other disciples of Jesus, and what a dramatic entry into their midst – a mighty wind and tongues of fire!

The spiritual significance of wind and fire:

Wind:

The Greek word for wind used in Acts 2:2 is ‘pnoē (pno-ay)’ and can also be translated as ‘breath’ referring to the breath of God. This is similar in application and meaning to the Hebrew word ‘ruwach (roo-akh)’ in the Old Testament when God breathed life into Adam. In view of this I think it safe for us to say that at Pentecost, God breathed new life into the apostles and others with the power of the Holy Spirit, a real baptism of fire!

Fire:

Now fire in its Divine sense has three spiritually symbolic representations.

1.     God’s presence

• Moses and the burning bush – Exodus 3:2
• God comes to Moses in fire on Mt Sinai – Exodus 19:18
• God leads the Israelites in the desert by a pillar of fire at night – Exodus 3:21,    Numbers 14:14
• Ezekiel has a vision of God in fire – Ezekiel 1:27
• God appears as lightning in a storm – Psalm 18:14, 29:7, 144:6
• Fire from heaven destroys the sacrifice when Elijah challenges the       prophets of      Baal – 1 Kings 18:38 

2.     God’s Punishment

• Fire from heaven destroys Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19:24, the disobedient priests – Leviticus 10:1-2
• God’s anger is described as burning like fire – Hosea 8:15, Nahum 1:6; Lamentations 2:4
• God’s future and final judgment is often depicted as fire - 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 8:7-8, 9:17–18, 18:8
• Hell is described as consisting of fire - Matthew 5:22; 13:42; 18:8–9; Revelation 20:10, 14–15 

3.     God’s Purification

• God’s future and final judgment is often depicted as fire - 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 8:7-8, 9:17–18, 18:8

Baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire

In Matthew 11 John the Baptist is telling the crowds that have come out from Jerusalem and the surrounding towns that he can baptize them in water for repentance of sins but the one who will come after him (Jesus) is the only one who has the authority to baptize them with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.

Matthew 3:11-12 (NLT)

¹¹ “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

So now we ask ourselves this question, “What do these depictions of wind and fire in the scriptures reveal to us about the move of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost?”

Simply this:

The wind indicates the presence of God – the breath of God breathing new life into the apostles.

The fire indicates the presence of God as well as a spiritual purification and an infilling of power taking place within the apostles.

It also indicates a renewal has taken place – God is doing something new!

So today when we receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, we are assured of our new life in Christ Jesus in the same way that the disciples were on the day of Pentecost.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

How do we know baptism with the Holy Spirit is for us today and wasn’t just for the disciples in those days?

Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Verse 39 above makes it abundantly clear that the promise is for all believers at all times!

Now at Pentecost with all this commotion going on around the disciples it was inevitable that it would attract some kind of attention, especially as there were many visitors in Jerusalem as it was the time of Shavuot – The Harvest Festival.

A large crowd thus gathered around the disciples and because the disciples were speaking in tongues, which many of the foreign visitors could understand as their own language, they were thought to be drunk!

But Peter stood up to address the crowd to explain to them what was happening and to tell them about Jesus.

Look what happened when he had finished talking!

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Ok, so let’s examine a little more closely the things that happened right after Pentecost and right after the disciples are filled with and are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:

1.  They began to speak in tongues (actual known different languages of the world on this occasion) – vs 4

2.   Peter boldly addresses the crowd and speaks with wisdom quoting the Word – vs 14

3.   A Holy Spirit inspired conviction came upon the crowd – vs 37

4.   About 3000 people got saved – vs 41

5.   “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking  of bread, and in prayers” – vs 42

6.  The fear of God came upon the people and the apostles performed many signs and wonders – vs 43

7.  The first Christian family was formed, caring for one another – vs 44-46

8.  Continual praise was given to God and the Holy Spirit added new believers to their numbers every day – vs 47

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: The lead up to Pentecost

The next few weeks we will be looking at the influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Lord’s disciples – the ‘twelve’ and other close followers of Jesus in the Book of Acts.

Mark 16:20 (NLT)

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

The lead up to Pentecost

In Acts 1 we are told that Jesus appeared to the disciples on a number of occasions after his resurrection to encourage them. On one of these occasions whilst dining with them, he tells them not to leave Jerusalem until they have received the Father’s gift of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)

³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Just before the ascension of Jesus into heaven, he left the disciples with the instruction to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the promise of the Father which was the infilling of the Holy Spirit – power from on high.

Luke 24:49 (NLT)

 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

And in John 16:12-15, again just before his ascension, Jesus tells the disciples that he has lots to tell them, but they won’t be able to bear it all right then, but when the Holy Spirit comes, as in Luke 24:49 above, he will guide them in all truth, step-by step throughout their lives.

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

So now we have the scene set, the lead up to Pentecost, where the disciples are waiting in Jerusalem to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and where they will receive power from on high to enable them to step out and fulfil their God-given purpose in Christ Jesus.

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In the meantime, let’s have a look at what they were doing whilst they were waiting. They weren’t just hanging around, they were actively engaged in putting into place some very important spiritual principles.

1.     They were waiting in Jerusalem just as the Lord told them to. Being obedient to the Word – Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

2.     They were praying together continually – Acts 1:14. 

3.     They chose another apostle to replace Judas in obedience to the Word – Acts 1:20; Ps 109:8.

What can we learn from this to apply to our lives today?

Cultivate a daily lifestyle where prayer and obedience to the Word plays a BIG part – in fact the BIGGEST part and wait patiently for the Lord!

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: Who is it that baptises the born again believer with the Holy Spirit?

When we go through water baptism we are usually baptized by a pastor or an elder or another in authority at our local fellowship, but who is it that baptizes us with the Holy Spirit?

It is Jesus, our High Priest, who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. Let’s have a look at the scriptures that confirm this.

Matthew 3:11 (NLT)

 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m notworthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

In the above verse it is John the Baptist talking to the Jews and the person he is referring to as the one that will come after him is Jesus. The verse below also confirms that it is Jesus who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:33 (NLT)

Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

In the below verses we see that Paul imparts the Baptism with the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus when he lays hands on some disciples in Ephesus 

Acts 19:1-7 (NLT)

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: What did life in the Spirit look like for Jesus?

What did living life in the Spirit look like for Jesus – his daily life?

Knowledge of the Word!  Prayer!  Fasting! All self-sacrificial and obedient to the Word of God itself, and of course to the Father!

Jesus had a well-developed lifestyle of prayer when he began his ministry, and this continued all through his ministry on earth. There are at least twenty-seven verses in the New Testament that tell of Jesus praying.

Matthew 14:23 (KJV)

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Luke 5:16 (KJV)

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.

This is what the lifestyle of Jesus looked like - life in the Spirit Rom 8 - and we need to be imitators of Christ!

Eph 5:1 
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 

John 14:12 
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Miracles, signs and wonders – Gifts of the Spirit

1.     Changing water into wine – Jn 2:1-11

2.     Healings:

The official’s son – Jn 4:46-47

Peter’ mother-in-law – Mk 1:30-31

The Leper – Mk 1:40-45

The Centurion’s servant – Mt 8:5-13

The paralytic – Mt 9:1-8

The woman with an issue of blood – Lk 8:43-48

The two blind men – Mt 9:27-31

The man at the pool – Jn 5:1-9

The deaf and mute man – Mk 7:31-37

The blind man in Bethsaida – Mk 8:22-26

The man born blind – Jn 9:1-12 

The man with abnormal body swelling – Lk 14:1-4

The 10 lepers – Lk 17:11-19

Two blind men at the roadside – Mt 20:30-34

The ear of the high priest’s servant – Lk 22:50-51

3.     The great catch of fish – Lk 5:1-11

The 2^nd great catch of fish – Jn 21:5-7

4.     Casting out demons:

The man in the synagogue – Mk 1:23-28

The two demoniacs – Mt 8:28-34

The man who could not speak – Mt 9:32-33

The man who was demon possessed and blind – Mt 12:22

The Canaanite woman’s daughter – Mt 15:22-28

The boy plagued by a demon – Mt 7:14-21

The woman crippled by a spirit for 18 years – Lk 13:10-17

5.     Resurrection:

The widow’s son – Lk 7:11-18

The synagogue leader’s daughter – Mt 9:18-26

Lazarus – Mt 11:38-44

Jesus rose from the dead – Lk 24-5-6

6.     Calming the storm – Mt 8:23-27

7.     Feeding the five thousand – Mt 14:15-21

8.     Feeding the four thousand – Mt 15:32-39

9.     The fig tree withers – Mt 21:18-22

May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120