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This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the "Recognizing and Responding to God's Gift of the Holy Spirit" series.
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:29 NIV)
Scripture Reading:
Acts 8:26-40 NIV [26] Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” [27] So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, [28] and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. [29] The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” [30] Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. [31] “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [33] In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” [34] The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” [35] Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. [36] As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [38] And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. [39] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. [40] Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Introduction
The title of this series of sermons is “Recognizing and Responding to the Gift of the Holy Spirit. We have said that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God given at the second of a person’s salvation and conversion. Also at that second, they become a member of God’s family. The Holy Spirit is a living gift that lives inside every believer and who gives every believer gifts that enable them to fulfill the function God has for him or her in the Body of Christ, the church.
The Holy Spirit leads us, the servants of Christ, in service. So, it is incumbent on us as those that have received this wonderful gift that leads and guides us to respond to that leading and guidance.
Let’s start by reading Jesus’ Great Commission.
Matthew 28:17-20 NIV [17] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Some people believe they are obeying the Great Commission when they attend worship services. Some believe they are obeying the Great Commission when they give a tithe of their income plus offerings or when they pray for missionaries.
All of these are but partial responses to the Great Commission of our Lord but Philip provides us with a dramatic demonstration of how we are to obey the Great Commission on a one-to-one basis in our personal lives.
So our text today is
Text:
Acts 8:29 NIV [29] The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Philip was sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence.
Many of us never respond to the Holy Spirit because we don't recognize that he is within us and that he is seeking to do the work of God in us, to us, and through us. He even gives us gifts and fruit that enable us to do that work.
1 Peter 4:10 NIV [10] Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Philip responded to the Holy Spirit because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:29-30 NIV [29] The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” [30] Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
The result of Philip being filled with the Holy Spirit was salvation of this eunuch.
Acts 8:35-36 NIV [35] Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. [36] As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [38] And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. [39] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
So what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Many Christians believe that being baptized by and being filled with the Holy Spirit are the same thing. They’re not.
I know that I have talked about this before but since we are talking about recognizing and responding to the gift of the Holy Spirit I feel it is important to talk about this again. Like Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:12 NIV [12] So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
The Holy Spirit has a purpose and specific work that He wants to do in our lives.
Before we became Christians, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and draws us to Christ. And once we believed in Christ, the Holy Spirit sealed us. From that point on the Holy Spirit leads us, empowers us, and fills
First let's talk about Baptism By The Holy Spirit
At the moment of conversion and salvation the believer in Jesus Christ is said to be baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. The baptism and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are related and happen at the same time.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the event where Jesus becomes our Lord and we are joined with other believers in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27 (NKJV)27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
When you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation you were indwelt by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is permanently in you.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT)16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
2 Timothy 1:14 (NLT)14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
When you are indwelt you are also sealed.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Filled With The Holy Spirit
While the baptism and indwelling of the Holy Spirit happen only once at conversion, the filling of the Spirit can happen multiple times after conversion. The idea of being filled by the Spirit is more about an ongoing sense of God's Spirit working in a person's life, not a one-time experience.
There is never any commandment in the Bible to be baptized by the Spirit, or to be sealed by the Spirit, or to be indwelt by the Spirit, or to be anointed by the Spirit, that happens at Salvation and conversion and God does that. However, there is an imperative command and mandate that we be filled by the Spirit. A command is something that you decide to obey or not obey.
Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To be filled is to be controlled completely by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s filling has nothing to do with our emotions. People often confuse the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit with being filled with or by Him. We talked about the gifts last week. We said that they are not like decorative ornaments to be worn or boxes of candy to be enjoyed. Rather, they enable believers to minister as the body of Christ and are intended to produce harmony and effectiveness in service.
When we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, it simply means the Spirit controls us. When we ask God to fill us with His Spirit, we are asking Him to control our lives. The word the apostle Paul used in Ephesians 5:18, which we just read, to describe the filling of the Holy Spirit also means “to permeate”, or spread throughout, penetrate, percolate through, extend throughout.
Let's read it again.
Ephesians 5:18 NKJV And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (emphasis mine).
In other words, the Holy Spirit wants to be part of every aspect of our lives. He wants to permeate our careers and our ministries. He wants to be a part of everything.
So let the Holy Spirit permeate every area of your life. Let the Holy Spirit fill you and control you. It isn’t about trying harder; it’s about realizing there is power available to help us live the Christian life.
Conclusion
Stay Filled with the Spirit
It’s not enough to be baptized in the Holy Spirit one time. You must stay filled with the Spirit.
We know that the Holy Spirit came and filled the 120 disciples on the day on Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
but that filling wasn't a one time thing.
When Peter and John were arrested for healing a bigger by using the name of Jesus and they were released the next day they went and told the other believers what happened.
Here's the prayer of those believers.
Acts 4:27-31 (NKJV) “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
If these people—who were witnesses of Christ’s ministry on earth, death, and resurrection—had to be filled with the Spirit over and over again, don’t you think that we need this constantly filling too? Because little dab just won't do.
When the enemy comes against us we have to remind ourselves that the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells on the inside of us. When the enemy comes to frustrate God’s purposes in our lives, we need to remember the Holy Spirit is in us and we need to ask Him to fill us again with his power.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit who comforts us and guides us into all truths. It is the Holy Spirit who reminds us of Your Words, Your commands and Your goodness and He empowers us to walk in love and in obedience. Thank You for sealing us with Your Spirit as an assurance that we are Your children and that You will never leave us or forsake us. It is Your Holy Spirit who fills us with the Father’s love that we may grow in wisdom and in knowledge of God’s love as well as to become love and be a blessing to the world. We are thankful and blessed that Your Spirit dwells inside us and our utmost desire is to always be in fellowship with You and experience Your wonderful presence God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sermon Audio
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