Empowered by the Holy Spirit: A Call to All

The standard of the New Testament church is repentance, water baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. And I'm glad to tell you today that Disciples Church is a normal church. It's a normative New Testament church. [00:01:42] (18 seconds)

All of those are synonyms for the same experience of being filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit. And so as we begin this look at the Holy Spirit, I want you to notice, first of all, the priority that the Bible attaches to this experience. And not only the priority, but also the promise that each one of us can receive. [00:06:30] (25 seconds)

How many of you know that when Jesus says, listen carefully, you better be listening? carefully, right? So look at what he said. I am sending the promise of my father, the Holy Spirit upon you, but you are to remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed or fully equipped with power from on high. [00:08:13] (28 seconds)

He didn't say, you know, there's an optional experience if you, you don't have to have it, but if you want to have it, just stay here and I'll give you the Holy Spirit. He didn't say it like that. He said, he commanded them, don't leave Jerusalem without it. [00:09:26] (20 seconds)

The truth is God is still pouring out his Holy Spirit today, just like he did in the book of Acts. So today would be a good day to stop objecting and start praising. Praise God that he's still pouring out the Spirit. Praise God that he's still giving it even to American Gentiles, American heathens. He's still doing that today. [00:22:02] (24 seconds)

Each one of them received this promise of the Father that I love how Luke explained it, that clothed them. The Holy Spirit just clothed them and fully equipped them with power from heaven. And I'm here today as a living witness that God is still pouring out His Spirit upon people who believe. [00:23:06] (26 seconds)

You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That's a promise from God. And then he says, this promise is to you and to your children and to those far away. [00:24:47] (16 seconds)

You should want to be baptized in the holy spirit in order to be fully equipped with power fully equipped with power there's something about the gift of the holy spirit that changes everything [00:26:53] (15 seconds)

What we are living in today is a continuation of what they experienced then it's a continuation of what the Apostle it you know the the whole title of the book of Acts is the acts of the Apostles but they didn't ask me but if they had I would have told them I think it should better better be the acts of the Holy Spirit through the church because that's what the book of Acts is it's a record of the early church and the experiences the miracles the signs the wonders that they experienced and we can experience them even today there's there is no end to the book of Acts you're living in the book of Acts amen because you've been fully equipped with power miracles and healings and signs and wonders and prophetic words [00:29:44] (50 seconds)

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? It's that simple. You ask and then you receive. [00:37:52] (20 seconds)