Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 12:3-11-Empowered By The Holy Spirit
Today is a day to celebrate the birth of the church, because today is when God sent the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church in order to empower us to live the Gospel!
I would encourage you to think of the Bible like a dramatic play, separated into 5 different acts. Act 1 is Creation, Act 2 is Israel in the Old Testament, Act 3 is Jesus Christ in the four gospels, Act 4 is the church in Acts and the Epistles, and Act 5 is Revelation and the end of the world.
We know how the story begins, and we know how it ends. Yet, Act 4 is not quite complete. If you look at the book of Acts, there are only 28 chapters, and it is as if the actors on the stage look at us who are watching in the audience and say “Ok, it is your turn now, come on up and act the next part of God’s play”.
We are not simply to be passive spectators as Christians. Instead we are to be active participants in God’s redemption story, for we are to be the Body of Christ, continuing His work in the world. We are to be God’s kingdom ambassadors. Remember it is the same church in the book of Acts that we are a part of here at Conemaugh, and just as they did great deeds for the Kingdom, so can we, for it is the same Holy Spirit then that empowers us now!
Do not fret, for God does not leave us alone on the stage to act without guidance. He is the director who actively gets involved with us. The proof of His presence is the Holy Spirit that He gave to the church.
Who is the Holy Spirit? He is just as much God as the Father and the Son. It is one Being in three Persons. (This is a mystery and difficult to explain, but it is biblical) Think of it like love. Love is one thing, but there is the giver of the love, the receiver of the love, and the love between the two.
In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples, saying, “I am going to die on a cross to purchase your freedom but I am sending someone exactly like me to come to you and dwell in your hearts, so that it will be like I never left”
What does the Holy Spirit do? The Holy Spirit has many functions in the life of us believers.
- He is an Mentor-One who comes alongside us to help us stand even when we don’t think you can take another step
- He is a Lawyer-Yes, a lawyer, meaning He makes appeal and advocates for us.
- He is a Counselor-He gives guidance and comfort to us on our faith journey with God.
- He is a Proclaimer-working through us to show the world who Jesus is and what the Gospel is really all about.
The Holy Spirit is God’s power given to each of us who have made a true commitment to Jesus Christ as our Master and King, but this is not “power” like the world understands it
Instead, this Holy Spirit power is the power to be like Jesus. It is the power to love, forgive, serve, and witness.
God has given each of us gifts. Look at what Paul wrote to the Corinthians. God had given them gifts so that they could go about the work He had called them to do.
He has also given us here at Conemaugh Church of the Brethren gifts and a special purpose for this time as a church. We have a mission, and we must seek the Lord as to what that mission looks like and how He wants us to go about using our gifts to do it.
Not sure what your gift is? Place your trust in Christ, and then just ask dear friend, for our loving Savior wants us to use the gifts He gave us.
The book of Acts ends after 28 chapters, that is because the Holy Spirit wants us to be about the same work they were. We are to be the church of “Acts 29”. Through this, we will grow in number and in depth of the truth.