In & through the church - there are no shortages of opportunities to serve, to lead, to teach, to disciple, to help, to encourage, to welcome, to build bridges, to pray, to play, to clean, to open our homes, to give, to sacrifice, to minister to our little ones and not so little ones, and many more…..there are no shortages….
Here’s reality as Jesus saw it.
Matt. 9:35-38 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Seems there’s always been more needs than laborers. Where do we start? We ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
All of us can do this.
Pray for laborers. What’s this? People who will work.
Every believer is a to be engaged in the “work of ministry.”
Where? Inside and Outside the Church - for as long as we are on the earth.
There are no limits to what Jesus wants to do In and Through His Church. The Church is not a was. Man’s Sin problem has not changed - the solution is the same. We need the same power that the early church had.
1. The Holy Spirits work:
Eph. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
to be operative, be at work, put forth power
to work for one, aid one
to effect
to display one's activity, show one's self operative
There is a work of the Holy Spirit IN the church. In US. Among US.
Acts 1:4-8
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
to come upon, overtake, one
of the Holy Spirit, descending and operating in one
There is a work of the Holy Spirit THROUGH the church.
Spirit Within, Spirit Upon
a. The 1st work is: He brings His life too us.
b. The 2nd work is: He pours His life through us.
1st: Born Again.
John 3:3-6 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The New Birth is a Real work of the Holy Spirit in Us - His indwelling. It is a real work that delivers us from the Kingdom of darkness and places in the Kingdom of the Son of His Love.
Titus 3:5-6
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Regeneration: New Birth
Renewing: to made completely new for the better
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Illustration: Dirty Cup - I’m a sinner
New Cup - I’m a new creation - the Holy Spirit’s creation in Me
2nd: As amazing as this is…there’s more. Jesus said be ‘filled/baptized with the Spirit.’
There is what Jesus said…be endued with power. Luke 24:49
There is what Paul wrote…be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit. Eph. 5:18
There is what Peter said….This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, It shall come to pass in the last days.Acts 2:17
There is what John wrote…If any man is thirst let him come to me and drink and out of his belly will flow….John 7:37-39
My New cup - Must be filled up - to overflowing. Continually.
God says through Joel that the Spirit will be poured out on all people regardless of gender, age, or social status ( Joel 2:28-32 ). His choice of the verb "pour out" in reference to the Spirit alludes to the healing rains God would send upon the land ( Joel 2:23 ). Amos, similarly, speaks of a famine for the word of God ( 8:11-12 ), and describes a restoration in terms of an abundant harvest ( 9:13-15 ).
It was on this day, .... that the Holy Spirit ... was poured out on 120 believers .... who were gathered in Jerusalem by the command of their King. (Jesus) (Acts 1:15)
Here is God’s answer for a ‘famine’ of the Spirit and the Word. Times of Refreshing. Times of Retooling, Times of His fulness, Times of Power.
It was on this day… that the Church was born. Pentecost promotes Jesus & His church.
Born in a Blaze of Glory... In A Blaze... of Fire.
We celebrate Christmas - when Jesus came the first time.
We celebrate the Resurrection - when Jesus got up.
We should look to the upper room. And talk about the Holy Spirit. These are times of God’s Spirit.
3rd. Post Pentecost…..
Acts 11:19-24 19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
The new birth is about Heaven invading us. Pentecost is about us invading the World.
Examples: It’s been a great privilege to serve the church. To see it not only in the context of the U.S. but to see the church in Mexico, South America, the Virgin Islands, Russia, China & Burundi. The Church is the Church wherever it is on the earth.
A few years back - I was on a group trip in Peru. In a mountain city. One day we went to the market to share the gospel…..Our group divided up into 2-3 groups and went to different corners of the market - The group I was in began to share the gospel with a few, a few became a small crowd, the small crowd quickly grew larger….We shared, presented the gospel, called people to come to Christ, prayed with them and then prayed for those who had physical needs.
We prayed in faith based on God’s word - Mark 16 - lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
We prayed….they suddenly this guy who had a locked knee/stiff leg began to jump up and down and got really excited about what had happened to him and THEN the Spirit of God just broke out in that plaza - other people were healed, others saved, tears, joy - it was awesome.
The hand of the Lord was present.
The Holy Spirit seems to be attracted to DOERS of the Word.
On another trip to Peru with a group of Teenagers….we presented the gospel through drama, skits, testimonies and then threw out the net. 100’s responded.
These moments are Holy. When God meets man. When His hand…..
The Hand of the Lord is for the church. Humble yourself, Believe, Ask, Obey, Expect.
D L Moody was once asked ... why he urged Christians ....to be filled constantly... with the Holy Spirit. "Well,"... he said, ......"I need a continual infilling ... because I leak!"
We all leak. We all need to be filled anew...to be filled consistently ..with the Holy Spirit.
It was an environment of Prayer - Praise & Worship that the early church was again filled.
Acts 4:23-31
Activate the Altars. Churches seek God. Believers seek God.
For what purpose…..to do Kingdom Work. And so it is with us…..
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