Empowered by the Spirit: Living Generously in Faith
Summary
In our time together today, we sought the presence and power of God, yearning for a faith that is deeply rooted in His word. We acknowledged our desire to be a church that mirrors the early believers, who were so filled with the Spirit that they shared everything they had, ensuring no one was in need. This radical generosity and unity were the result of the Holy Spirit's transformative work in their lives. We prayed for that same Spirit to fall upon us, to bring about a noticeable change in our lifestyles, marked by the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
We reflected on the prophecy from Joel, which was fulfilled in the early church, and pondered what it means for us today, living in what could be considered the last days. Many of us confessed that we have only experienced glimpses of God's power and expressed a deep longing for more. We don't want to settle for routine gatherings or rely on our strategies and resources. Instead, we desire a genuine move of God, where His Spirit does what we could never accomplish on our own.
We were reminded that without faith, it is impossible to please God. He seeks those with blameless hearts, who are not trying to mix their own cleverness with His power. We cried out for the Holy Spirit to come, to fill us with faith, and to enable us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we will find mercy and grace in our time of need.
Key Takeaways:
- The early church's radical generosity and unity were a direct result of the Holy Spirit's work. When the Spirit fills us, our priorities shift from self-preservation to community care, ensuring no one is in need. This transformation is a testament to the Spirit's power in our lives. [01:06]
- The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control—should be evident in our lives as witnesses of Christ. These qualities are not just ideals but are attainable through the Spirit's empowerment. [02:18]
- The prophecy of Joel, fulfilled in the early church, challenges us to consider our place in God's timeline. If those were the last days, how much more urgent is our call to live Spirit-filled lives today? [03:08]
- Our gatherings should not be mere routines but opportunities for the Spirit to move powerfully among us. We must resist the temptation to rely on human strategies and instead seek a genuine encounter with God. [03:50]
- Faith is essential to please God. He desires hearts that are blameless and fully reliant on Him, not mixed with human cleverness. We are invited to approach His throne of grace with confidence, trusting in His mercy and grace. [04:33]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Prayer for Faith
[00:35] - Power of God's Kingdom
[01:06] - Radical Generosity
[01:22] - Spirit's Transformative Work
[01:52] - Evidence of the Spirit
[02:18] - Fruit of the Spirit
[02:49] - Fulfillment of Prophecy
[03:08] - Living in the Last Days
[03:27] - Longing for More
[03:50] - Beyond Routine Gatherings
[04:08] - Reliance on the Spirit
[04:33] - Faith and Blameless Hearts
[04:54] - Throne of Grace
[05:13] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 2:42-47 - The early church's radical generosity and unity.
2. Galatians 5:22-23 - The fruit of the Spirit.
3. Joel 2:28-29 - The prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring.
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Observation Questions:
1. What actions did the early believers take that demonstrated their radical generosity and unity? (Acts 2:42-47)
2. How does the sermon describe the impact of the Holy Spirit on the early church's lifestyle? [01:06]
3. What are the qualities listed as the fruit of the Spirit, and how are they described in the sermon? (Galatians 5:22-23) [02:18]
4. How does the sermon connect the prophecy from Joel to the early church and our current times? [02:49]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the early church's generosity was a direct result of the Holy Spirit's work? [01:06]
2. How does the sermon interpret the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in the context of the early church and today? [02:49]
3. What does the sermon imply about the urgency of living Spirit-filled lives in what could be considered the last days? [03:08]
4. How does the sermon challenge the idea of routine gatherings and emphasize the need for a genuine encounter with God? [03:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. How can you demonstrate radical generosity and unity within your community, similar to the early church? [01:06]
2. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your daily interactions? [02:18]
3. How can you actively seek a deeper experience of God's power in your life, moving beyond routine gatherings? [03:50]
4. In what ways can you ensure that your faith is not mixed with human cleverness but is fully reliant on God? [04:33]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to approach God's throne of grace with confidence. How can you do this in the coming week? [04:54]
6. How can you contribute to creating a church environment that relies on the Spirit's power rather than human strategies? [04:08]
7. Consider the prophecy of Joel and its implications for today. How does this shape your understanding of living in the last days? [02:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Radical Generosity as a Reflection of the Spirit's Work
The early church exemplified a community where radical generosity and unity were the norm, driven by the Holy Spirit's transformative power. This was not merely a human effort but a divine movement that shifted priorities from self-preservation to community care. When the Spirit fills believers, their lives become a testament to His power, ensuring that no one is in need. This kind of generosity is a reflection of a heart transformed by God, where personal resources are seen as tools for blessing others. [01:06]
Acts 4:32-33 (ESV): "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."
Reflection: Consider your current resources—time, money, skills. How can you use them this week to meet the needs of someone in your community?
Day 2: Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control—are not just ideals but attainable qualities through the Spirit's empowerment. These attributes should be evident in the lives of those who follow Christ, serving as a witness to His transformative power. As believers, the call is to allow the Spirit to cultivate these fruits within us, impacting how we interact with others and navigate life's challenges. [02:18]
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: Identify one fruit of the Spirit you struggle with. What practical steps can you take today to cultivate this fruit in your life?
Day 3: Urgency in Living Spirit-Filled Lives
The prophecy of Joel, fulfilled in the early church, challenges believers to consider their place in God's timeline. If those were the last days, the urgency to live Spirit-filled lives is even greater today. This calls for a deep reflection on how one is living and whether their life reflects the urgency and purpose of God's calling. The Spirit's presence should drive believers to live with intentionality and readiness for Christ's return. [03:08]
Joel 2:28-29 (ESV): "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
Reflection: What changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure you are living with the urgency and purpose of a Spirit-filled life?
Day 4: Beyond Routine Gatherings
Gatherings of believers should not be mere routines but opportunities for the Spirit to move powerfully. There is a temptation to rely on human strategies and resources, but the true power lies in seeking a genuine encounter with God. This requires a shift from routine to expectation, where each gathering is seen as a chance for God to work in ways beyond human capability. [03:50]
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV): "And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
Reflection: How can you prepare your heart and mind before attending a church gathering to be open to the Spirit's movement?
Day 5: Faith and Blameless Hearts
Faith is essential to please God, and He desires hearts that are blameless and fully reliant on Him. This means not mixing human cleverness with divine power but approaching God's throne of grace with confidence. Believers are invited to trust in His mercy and grace, knowing that He is faithful to meet them in their time of need. [04:33]
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you are relying on your own strength. How can you shift to trusting God fully in this area today?
Quotes
God give us faith in your word please Lord we're coming before your throne of grace and asking you to give us faith, help us to believe, we want our hearts blameless, we don't want to try to work by our own power to build a church, we just want to see your power, we believe that happened, we believe you could do anything now, not that it's going to be just like that, but God it's gonna be it's gonna be powerful if it's of you. [00:00:01]
please God help us see your kingdom, help us be that kind of church like they were, they experienced you and they didn't care about their stuff, they just started sharing all of their stuff to where no one's in need, and no one's holding on to anything, they just loved you because your spirit fell upon them, God help us become that kind of church. [00:00:52]
the word says that everyone was feeling a sense of awe at the Miracles that were happening, we believe God that if your spirit, holy spirit of God enters into a human being, there should be a radical difference in their lifestyle the fruit of the spirit the love joy peace patience kindness gentleness faithfulness self-control hour to be your Witnesses. [00:01:39]
you said in your word that this was the Fulfillment of Joel, that it was the last day so the old men would dream dreams the young men would see visions, is this your word, if those were the last days two thousand years ago what what in the world could we be in right now. [00:02:49]
God we confess right now Lord help us, there I, so many of us in this room are going God, I never experienced that power, I get a little tastes of it I'm I'm not okay I've got to have more, God we don't want to do this we don't want to just get together sing some songs hear a sermon go home try to get along maybe give a few bucks to the poor. [00:03:19]
God this is stupid we're just done like, like we want this we don't want to be like oh using our strategy our resources and and trying to combine we want to rely on you, well either your spirit falls on us and he just starts doing things that we could never have done my own power and everyone knows it or just forget it all. [00:03:53]
God give us Faith you say without faith it's impossible to please you, God you're looking for the person who just blameless it was the hardest blameless they're not trying to mix you with their own cleverness, I'm just saying Holy Spirit Come, please God, please God. [00:04:24]
you said we could come before your throne of grace to find Mercy and receive Grace in your time of need, oh God we need you right now. [00:04:58]
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