Empowered by the Spirit: Living a Transformed Life
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the transformative power of the Holy Spirit as seen in the early church, as described in the book of Acts. The early believers, despite their lack of resources and influence, turned the world upside down through their unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This serves as a reminder that the church's true mission extends beyond the walls of a building; it is about living out our faith in the world every day. The church is not just a gathering but a sending, a call to action in our communities and beyond.
We explored the story of Ananias and Sapphira, a sobering account of deceit and the consequences of sin within the church. Their story contrasts sharply with that of Barnabas, a man whose life exemplified generosity and encouragement. Barnabas laid down his wealth to lift others up, embodying a heart transformed by the gospel. In contrast, Ananias and Sapphira's love for money and the praise of people led them to lie to the Holy Spirit, resulting in their untimely deaths. This narrative serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin, especially when we are close to the activity of God.
The message challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we like Barnabas, with a loose grip on material possessions and a tight grip on people, or are we like Ananias and Sapphira, holding tightly to our wealth and reputation? The call is to repent, to turn away from the idols of money and approval, and to embrace the fullness of life that comes from being filled with the Spirit. God's grace is greater than our sin, and when we confess and turn to Him, we find forgiveness and the power to live transformed lives.
Key Takeaways:
- The early church's impact was not due to their resources but their devotion to Jesus and the Holy Spirit's empowerment. This reminds us that our mission is to live out our faith daily, beyond just gathering for worship. [12:46]
- Barnabas exemplifies a gospel-transformed heart, characterized by generosity and encouragement. His life challenges us to loosen our grip on material possessions and tighten our grip on people. [24:58]
- Ananias and Sapphira's story warns us of the dangers of loving money and seeking the praise of people. Their deceit highlights the seriousness of sin, especially when close to God's work. [28:44]
- True submission never means following someone into sin. We are each accountable to God for our actions and must prioritize obedience to Him over human approval. [31:50]
- God's grace is greater than our sin. When we confess and repent, we find forgiveness and the power to live transformed lives, participating in God's movement to change the world. [57:53]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to the Early Church
[03:15] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[06:45] - The Church's Mission Beyond Gathering
[10:20] - Barnabas: A Model of Generosity
[15:00] - Ananias and Sapphira's Deceit
[20:30] - The Seriousness of Sin
[25:10] - Submission and Accountability
[30:00] - The Call to Repentance
[35:45] - God's Grace and Forgiveness
[40:20] - Living a Transformed Life
[45:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
[50:30] - The Lord's Prayer
[55:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 4:34-37
- Acts 5:1-11
- Philippians 2:6-8
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the two main "weapons" that the early church used to turn the world upside down, according to the sermon? [03:15]
2. How did Barnabas demonstrate a gospel-transformed heart, and what specific actions did he take that exemplified this transformation? [24:58]
3. What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, and how did it contrast with the actions of Barnabas? [28:44]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the seriousness of sin when one is close to the activity of God? [42:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Ananias and Sapphira serve as a warning about the love of money and the praise of people? What deeper issues does this story reveal about the human heart? [31:50]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the early church's impact was not due to their resources but their devotion to Jesus and the Holy Spirit's empowerment? How can this perspective change the way we view our own church's mission? [06:45]
3. The sermon mentions that submission never means following someone into sin. How can this principle be applied in relationships where there is a power dynamic, such as marriage or leadership roles? [31:50]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between God's grace and our sin? How does this understanding affect our view of repentance and forgiveness? [57:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be holding tightly to material possessions or seeking the approval of others? How can you begin to loosen your grip on these things and tighten your grip on people, as Barnabas did? [24:58]
2. The sermon challenges us to live out our faith beyond just gathering for worship. What is one specific way you can live out your faith in your community this week? [06:45]
3. Consider the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Are there any "smoke signals" in your life that might indicate a deeper issue of the heart? How can you address these issues before they become more serious? [42:10]
4. How can you ensure that your submission in relationships does not lead you into sin? What steps can you take to prioritize obedience to God over human approval? [31:50]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance and the power of God's grace. Is there a specific sin or area of your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness and grace? How can you take a step towards repentance this week? [57:53]
6. Reflect on the idea that God's grace is greater than our sin. How does this truth impact your understanding of God's love and your own identity as a believer? [57:53]
7. The sermon suggests that fear of the Lord is part of worship. How can you cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord in your daily life, balancing it with the understanding of His love and grace? [42:10]
Devotional
Day 1: Devotion and Empowerment Beyond Resources
The early church's profound impact on the world was not due to their material resources or societal influence but rather their unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This serves as a powerful reminder that the mission of the church extends far beyond the confines of a building or a weekly gathering. It is about living out our faith in the world every day, being a light in our communities, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us in transformative ways. The early believers, despite their limitations, turned the world upside down because they were fully committed to their faith and relied on the Holy Spirit's power. This challenges us to examine our own lives and consider how we can live out our faith daily, beyond just attending church services. [12:46]
Acts 4:31 (ESV): "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you rely on the Holy Spirit's empowerment to live out your faith in your community this week?
Day 2: Generosity and Encouragement as a Gospel-Transformed Heart
Barnabas is a remarkable example of a life transformed by the gospel, characterized by generosity and encouragement. He laid down his wealth to lift others up, demonstrating a heart that was not bound by material possessions but was instead focused on people and their well-being. This stands in stark contrast to the story of Ananias and Sapphira, whose love for money and the praise of people led them to deceit. Barnabas challenges us to loosen our grip on material possessions and tighten our grip on people, embodying a heart that is truly transformed by the gospel. His life encourages us to be generous and to encourage others, reflecting the love and grace of God in our actions. [24:58]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Who in your life can you encourage or support this week, and how can you do so in a way that reflects the generosity of Barnabas?
Day 3: The Seriousness of Sin and the Dangers of Deceit
The story of Ananias and Sapphira serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin, especially when we are close to the activity of God. Their deceit, driven by a love for money and the praise of people, resulted in their untimely deaths. This narrative highlights the dangers of loving money and seeking human approval over God's approval. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and consider whether we are holding tightly to our wealth and reputation, like Ananias and Sapphira, or whether we are living with integrity and honesty before God. The story warns us of the consequences of deceit and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God. [28:44]
Proverbs 11:3 (ESV): "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to seek approval from others over God? How can you realign your priorities to focus on God's approval?
Day 4: Accountability and Obedience Over Human Approval
True submission never means following someone into sin. Each of us is accountable to God for our actions, and we must prioritize obedience to Him over seeking human approval. This is a crucial lesson from the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were more concerned with their reputation than with being obedient to God. We are called to live lives of integrity, where our actions align with our faith and where we are accountable to God for our choices. This means being willing to stand firm in our convictions, even when it is difficult or when it goes against the expectations of others. Our ultimate accountability is to God, and our obedience to Him should be our highest priority. [31:50]
Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Reflection: Is there a situation in your life where you need to prioritize obedience to God over seeking approval from others? What steps can you take to make this change today?
Day 5: Grace, Repentance, and Living a Transformed Life
God's grace is greater than our sin, and when we confess and repent, we find forgiveness and the power to live transformed lives. This is a central message of the gospel and a powerful reminder of the hope we have in Christ. No matter how far we have strayed or how deeply we have sinned, God's grace is sufficient to cover our sins and to empower us to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Repentance is not just about turning away from sin but also about turning towards God and embracing the fullness of life that comes from being filled with the Spirit. As we confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness, we are invited to participate in His movement to change the world, living lives that reflect His love and grace. [57:53]
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness and embrace His grace? How can you take a step towards repentance and transformation today?
Quotes
The church is about the other six days. That's what it means. I mean, you can use the analogy like churches, I mean, we gather for worship. It's like a football game. We come for the huddle. God gives us His place through His words, and then we go, and we go and play. [00:23:28] (15 seconds)
The gospel had loosened its grip on their stuff and had tightened their grip on each other. It had loosened their grip on their stuff, but it tightened their grip on each other. And that's what happens when you get invaded by the Holy Spirit. When the gospel comes into your heart, your hold on stuff loosens, but your hold on others tightens. [00:24:58] (19 seconds)
Barnabas, if you haven't caught this, he's one of the coolest figures that doesn't get probably talked about enough in the New Testament. And in fact, he has six different appearances in Acts. And what we see here is one of them. He's the lead giver. He takes the lead in giving. [00:27:00] (16 seconds)
Submission never means following your husband into sin. Submission does mean that you might follow your husband into a mistake, all right, but not sin. He might say, hey, I got this job in another place. I think we ought to move and go to this place. And that might be a mistake. [00:31:56] (15 seconds)
The symptoms go deeper than just lying let me tell you I think the deeper problems is number one they love money and the praise of people they loved money and the praise of people they wanted to praise the people but they want to give away all their money so what they did is they told a lie. [00:34:06] (16 seconds)
Fear was part of the worship and that's a little unusual idea for our culture today to think we should fear the lord but notice how much it permeate this passage verse five great fear came upon all who heard this verse 11 great fear came upon the whole church and all heard these things. [00:49:26] (17 seconds)
The irony of all this is if you own your sin, he'll release you from it. If you hide it, you'll be held accountable. If you own your sin, he'll release you, but you hide it, you'll be held accountable. And eight, the beauty of the gospel is this, that you're fully known and loved. [00:56:32] (17 seconds)
This passage reminds us that we're all in this broken place. We're all in this place that we are sinful and wretched and we're liars and we're deceivers and we've got jealousy in our heart. And we're just this broken, weak mess. But God is greater. And when we come to Him and we repent and we turn to Him, God will fill us. [00:58:33] (18 seconds)
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