Empowered by the Holy Spirit: Living in Unity and Faith

Today’s gathering was a call to remember the power and necessity of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of the church. We began by acknowledging the importance of authentic praise—praise that comes from our own story, our own journey, and our own testimony. We lifted up those among us who are sick, grieving, or in need, affirming that there is no distance in prayer and that God is able, even when circumstances seem impossible. We declared together that biblical faith does not deny reality, but looks at it squarely and still proclaims the promises of God. Our affirmation was that, no matter what we face, God is still in control and is working all things together for our good.

We reflected on the faithfulness of God through the stories of those who have served faithfully, and we honored the legacy of those who have gone before us. We were reminded that our giving—whether in person or from afar—is an act of worship and trust, and that God honors cheerful, sacrificial giving.

The heart of our time centered on the need for a “drunk church”—not in the sense of physical intoxication, but in the sense of being so filled with the Holy Spirit that we are transformed from disappointment, confusion, weakness, fear, and lifelessness into a people of hope, boldness, unity, and power. We looked at the early church, which was left in shaky hands—disciples who were flawed, confused, and afraid. Yet, because they dared to believe Christ’s promises, they gathered together in expectation, and the Holy Spirit met them in their weakness.

We explored how the Spirit comes when the church is assembled in unity and expectation. The Spirit cannot be programmed or manipulated; our role is to prepare our hearts and create a setting where He is welcome. When the Spirit came at Pentecost, the church was transformed. Their disappointment turned to joy, their confusion to clarity, their weakness to strength, and their fear to courage. The Spirit gave them new life and empowered them to speak in ways that reached every nation present.

We were challenged to seek this fullness daily, to remember that God’s timing is perfect, and to trust that He is raising up a company of believers—even in a time when the church is under attack. The call is to be a people who are not just filled once, but who live in the ongoing reality of Pentecost, empowered to be witnesses in our homes, our cities, our nation, and to the ends of the earth.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Authentic faith does not deny the reality of our struggles, but faces them with the confidence that God’s promises are true. Biblical faith looks at the mountain and still declares what God has said, refusing to wait for circumstances to change before speaking life and hope. This is the kind of faith that moves mountains and invites God’s intervention. [22:11]
• 2. The Holy Spirit is not a one-time experience but a daily necessity. Just as the early church needed to be filled to move from fear and confusion to boldness and clarity, we too must continually seek to be filled and refilled. God will not pour new wine into old vessels; we must allow Him to prepare us, strip away what hinders, and make us ready for His power. [60:42]
• 3. Unity in the body of Christ is essential for the Spirit’s power to be fully manifest. When we come together in one place and one accord, even in our weakness, there is a strength that cannot be broken. The communion of saints is more powerful than any individual, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against a united, Spirit-filled church. [76:01]
• 4. The Spirit’s coming brings transformation—turning disappointment into joy, confusion into clarity, weakness into strength, and fear into courage. The evidence of the Spirit’s work is not just in supernatural signs, but in the changed lives and bold witness of God’s people. God’s timing is perfect, and His promises are always fulfilled right on time, even when we feel like we are waiting in the dark. [80:11]
• 5. God chooses and uses those who are prepared and willing, not necessarily those who seem most qualified by human standards. The early church was entrusted to flawed, ordinary people, but when they were filled with the Spirit, they became bold witnesses who changed the world. God is still raising up a company of believers—seasoned, prepared, and empowered—to lead His church in truth and righteousness. [92:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:11] - The Power of Prayer and Agreement
• [29:20] - Trusting God Through Every Season
• [38:00] - Giving as Worship
• [42:07] - Childlike Faith and Songs in the Night
• [56:17] - God Gives Songs in the Night
• [58:30] - Living Pentecost Every Day
• [60:42] - Preparing for the Holy Spirit’s Power
• [63:08] - The Need for a Drunk Church
• [64:36] - The Flawed but Chosen Disciples
• [69:01] - Hope Against Hope
• [74:36] - The Power of Assembling Together
• [76:01] - Unity and the Communion of Saints
• [80:11] - Transformation by the Spirit
• [85:15] - God’s Perfect Timing and Purpose
• [92:21] - God Uses the Prepared and Seasoned
• [98:26] - Peter’s Boldness and the Birth of the Church
• [109:19] - The Fruit of a Spirit-Filled Church
• [110:34] - Living in the Reality of Pentecost

Bible Reading

Acts 1:8 (ESV) — > "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 2:1-4, 6-8 (ESV) — > "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance... And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?'"

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 1:8, what did Jesus say would happen when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples? What was the purpose of this power?
2. In Acts 2:1-4, what were the disciples doing when the Holy Spirit came? What details are given about their unity and setting? ([01:14:36])
3. What were the immediate effects on the disciples and the crowd when the Holy Spirit filled the church at Pentecost? ([01:20:11])
4. In the sermon, what were some of the weaknesses and struggles of the early church before the Holy Spirit came? ([01:06:03])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “Biblical faith never denies the reality of the situation and circumstance that you may be presently in, but in spite of it, don’t ignore it, it don’t act like it don’t exist, none of that, it looks right at it, and declares, thus said the Lord…” How does this understanding of faith challenge or encourage the way believers face difficult situations? ([22:11])
2. The preacher described the early church as “disappointed, confused, weak, frightened, and lifeless” before Pentecost. Why do you think God chose to use such a group to launch His church? ([01:06:03])
3. The sermon emphasized that the Holy Spirit cannot be programmed or manipulated, but comes when the church is assembled in unity and expectation. What does this mean for how we approach worship and prayer as a church? ([01:16:01])
4. The preacher said, “God will not pour new wine into old vessels; we must allow Him to prepare us, strip away what hinders, and make us ready for His power.” What are some things that might need to be “stripped away” in our lives or church to make room for the Spirit? ([01:00:42])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about authentic praise that comes from your own story and testimony. When was the last time you shared your personal story of God’s faithfulness with someone? What holds you back from sharing more often? ([22:11])
2. The preacher said, “There is no distance in prayer and that God is able, even when circumstances seem impossible.” Is there a situation in your life or someone you know that feels impossible right now? How can the group pray in agreement for that need this week? ([22:11])
3. The early church gathered together in unity and expectation, even when they were weak and afraid. What are some practical ways our group can build deeper unity and expectation for God to move among us? ([01:16:01])
4. The sermon challenged us to seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit daily, not just as a one-time experience. What does it look like for you to “stay full” of the Spirit in your everyday life? Are there habits or routines you want to start or change? ([01:00:42])
5. The preacher said, “God chooses and uses those who are prepared and willing, not necessarily those who seem most qualified by human standards.” Is there an area where you feel unqualified, but sense God might be calling you to step out in faith? What would it look like to say yes? ([01:32:21])
6. The Spirit’s coming brought transformation—turning disappointment into joy, confusion into clarity, weakness into strength, and fear into courage. Which of these transformations do you most need in your life right now? How can the group support you in seeking this change? ([01:20:11])
7. The sermon said, “The communion of saints is more powerful than any individual, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against a united, Spirit-filled church.” How can we as a group or church better support each other and stand together, especially when facing challenges? ([01:16:01])