Empowered by the Spirit: Living Out God's Love
Summary
In my sermon today, I began by welcoming everyone to Collective Church, especially our visitors, and encouraged them to connect with us through a digital Connect card. I highlighted the importance of community and the support we offer through prayer, as well as our commitment to charity, evidenced by our donations to three partner organizations.
I then transitioned into the heart of my message, titled "Poured Out," which is part of our series "So Now What?" This series follows the life of Jesus, His crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission He gave to His disciples. Today, I focused on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the New Testament church, as described in Acts 2.
I delved into Romans 5:5-8, where Paul speaks about God's love being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This love is not just a trickle but a generous overflow that empowers us to live out the gospel. I emphasized the importance of being filled with the Spirit continuously, drawing from the well of life that Jesus offers, which leads to an overflowing life that impacts those around us.
I recounted the events of Pentecost, where the disciples, after waiting obediently in the upper room, received the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to speak in different languages. This supernatural event drew a crowd and allowed Peter to boldly preach the gospel, resulting in 3,000 people coming to faith. This moment marked the birth of the church, emphasizing that the same Spirit that birthed the church is meant to sustain it.
I shared personal anecdotes about my relationship with my wife, Ashley, and how we communicated our love through notes, drawing a parallel to how the Holy Spirit is God's means of expressing His love to us. Just as Jesus left the earth, He promised the Holy Spirit would come to continue His work, empowering us to be His witnesses.
I addressed the skepticism and discomfort some may feel towards the Holy Spirit due to past experiences or teachings that downplay its role. I reassured that the Holy Spirit is not about weirdness but about God's power and presence in our lives, enabling us to live out the fruit of the Spirit and be effective witnesses.
I concluded by inviting those who do not know Jesus or have strayed from Him to accept Him into their lives, assuring them of the Holy Spirit's role in guiding and empowering them as part of God's family.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Holy Spirit is God's chosen means to express His love to humanity, much like love notes between lovers. It is through the Spirit that we experience the fullness of God's love and are empowered to live out the gospel. ([11:11])
2. Waiting on the Lord is not passive but an active posture of obedience, prayer, and unity. In our waiting seasons, we must seek God and trust that He is setting us up for a breakthrough. The disciples' waiting for the Holy Spirit was crucial for the birth of the church. ([14:04])
3. The Holy Spirit is essential for being effective witnesses for Christ. Without the Spirit, we lack the boldness and power necessary to advance the kingdom of God. The Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost was not just for speaking in tongues but for empowering the church to fulfill the Great Commission. ([18:22])
4. The Holy Spirit is not about sensationalism or emotionalism but about a genuine encounter with God that transforms us. It is vital for the church to focus on, trust, and rely on the Holy Spirit to see the miracles and expansion witnessed in the New Testament church. ([20:38])
5. The evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is not limited to speaking in tongues but is primarily seen in the fruit of the Spirit. True spiritual overflow results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ([31:20])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Poured Out"
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 5:5-8 - "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
2. Acts 2:1-6 - "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."
3. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 5:5 say about how God's love is poured into our hearts? How does this relate to the Holy Spirit? ([03:06])
2. Describe the events that took place on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-6. What was the immediate result of the Holy Spirit's outpouring? ([16:55])
3. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit? How are these traits evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer's life? ([31:20])
4. How did the disciples prepare for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2? What actions did they take while waiting? ([14:04])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In Romans 5:5-8, Paul speaks of God's love being poured out through the Holy Spirit. How does this generous outpouring empower believers to live out the gospel? ([11:11])
2. The sermon mentioned that waiting on the Lord is an active posture of obedience, prayer, and unity. How does this concept of waiting apply to the disciples' experience in Acts 2? ([14:04])
3. The Holy Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost enabled the disciples to speak in different languages. What was the significance of this event for the early church and its mission? ([18:22])
4. The sermon emphasized that the Holy Spirit is not about sensationalism but about genuine transformation. How can believers discern the true work of the Holy Spirit in their lives? ([20:38])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's love poured into your heart. How did this experience impact your faith and actions? How can you seek more of the Holy Spirit's presence in your daily life? ([11:11])
2. Are you currently in a season of waiting for God's direction or breakthrough? How can you actively engage in prayer, obedience, and unity during this time? ([14:04])
3. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be effective witnesses for Christ. Identify one area in your life where you need more boldness to share your faith. What steps can you take to rely on the Holy Spirit for this boldness? ([18:22])
4. The evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is seen in the fruit of the Spirit. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action can you take to cultivate this trait in your interactions with others? ([31:20])
5. Have you ever felt skeptical or uncomfortable about the Holy Spirit due to past experiences or teachings? How can you overcome these feelings and open yourself to the genuine work of the Holy Spirit? ([20:38])
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit continuously. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are regularly seeking and being filled with the Holy Spirit? ([41:44])
7. Think of someone in your life who may not know Jesus. How can you be a witness to them through the power of the Holy Spirit this week? What specific actions or conversations can you initiate? ([18:22])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Spirit's Love
God's love is not a mere trickle but a generous outpouring into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This divine love is akin to the intimate exchange of love notes, a personal and profound communication of affection and commitment. The Holy Spirit is the conduit through which believers experience the fullness of God's love, enabling them to live out the gospel with passion and purpose. This love is transformative, empowering individuals to extend grace and kindness in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. It is through the Spirit that one can truly grasp the depth of God's love and be motivated to share it with others, creating ripples of love that extend far beyond their immediate reach.
"But God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:5 ESV
Reflection: How can you open your heart today to experience more of God's love through the Holy Spirit? [11:11]
Day 2: Active Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is a dynamic state of readiness, where one actively seeks God's presence and guidance while trusting in His perfect timing. It is during these periods of anticipation that faith is both tested and strengthened. The early disciples exemplified this as they waited in unity and prayer for the Holy Spirit, which was pivotal for the birth of the church. Similarly, believers today are called to wait with expectancy, knowing that God is at work preparing them for the breakthroughs and blessings that lie ahead. This active waiting is a time to deepen one's relationship with God, to align one's desires with His will, and to prepare oneself to receive His promises.
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." - Acts 2:42 ESV
Reflection: In what area of your life is God asking you to wait actively, and how can you engage in this season with prayer and expectancy? [14:04]
Day 3: Empowered to Witness
The Holy Spirit is the source of boldness and power necessary for effective witness. The Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost was not solely for the miraculous sign of speaking in tongues but to empower the church to fulfill the Great Commission. Believers are called to rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome fear and to step out in faith to share the message of Christ. The same Spirit that enabled the disciples to preach boldly and witness thousands coming to faith is available to all believers, equipping them to make a transformative impact in their communities and beyond.
"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 1:8 ESV
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to rely on the Holy Spirit's power in sharing your faith with someone? [18:22]
Day 4: Genuine Encounters with God
The Holy Spirit invites believers into genuine encounters with God that go beyond emotional experiences to bring about true transformation. The Spirit's work is not to be sensationalized but to be recognized as the very presence and power of God in one's life. Through the Holy Spirit, individuals are changed from the inside out, displaying the character of Christ in their daily lives. The church must prioritize its dependence on the Holy Spirit to witness the miracles and growth that characterized the early church, ensuring that its mission and ministry are rooted in divine power rather than human effort.
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit to experience genuine transformation in your life? [20:38]
Day 5: Fruits of the Spirit as Evidence
The evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer's life is most clearly seen in the fruit of the Spirit. While speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts may be manifestations of the Spirit, it is the development of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that truly demonstrates a life led by the Spirit. These attributes reflect the character of Jesus and are the hallmarks of a life that is overflowing with the Spirit's influence. As believers cultivate these qualities, they become more like Christ and have a greater impact on the world around them.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you need to ask God to help you grow in today, and what practical steps can you take to cultivate it? [31:20]
Quotes
1. "You have to understand that the Holy Spirit is that very thing, the very means that God uses to continue to relay and express His love to humanity... Jesus would eventually go to be and sit at the right hand of the Father, leaving them without Jesus, but God... let me get my tongue correct here... but God would get ready to open up heaven and he would get ready to pour out his Holy Spirit as a means to continue to display and establish His love." [11:11]
2. "The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was predicated upon their waiting... In a season of waiting, they sought the Lord. In a moment of waiting, they chose to walk in obedience... because they knew that if they obeyed Jesus in the season or the moment of waiting, that Jesus would give them the breakthrough and it would come on the other side." [14:04]
3. "The church started because the Holy Spirit fell, gave them boldness to be effective witness. Peter gets out, he preaches the gospel... The supernatural doesn't weird you out. The supernatural is for the unbeliever to get their attention, to push them to Christ. And the church was birthed that moment after the Spirit fell." [18:22]
4. "The difference between the New Testament church and the church of today is that they talked about the Holy Spirit, they focused on the Holy Spirit, they trusted the Holy Spirit, they relied on the Holy Spirit so they saw the miracles in the Holy Spirit... Today's churches without the Holy Spirit are nothing but country clubs." [20:38]
5. "The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses. The Holy Spirit enables us to live with the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspires visions. The Holy Spirit gives you dreams. The Holy Spirit gives us prophecy... I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters, they will prophesy. Your old men, they're going to dream dreams. Your young men will see visions." [23:26]
6. "The ultimate evidence of the Spirit working in our lives is you having the fruit of the Spirit... The true mark of you being filled with the Spirit is are you caring and living out the fruit of the Spirit? But the fruit of the Spirit is love. It's joy. It's peace. It's forbearance. It's kindness. It's goodness. It's faithfulness. It's gentleness and self-control against such things there is no law." [31:20]
7. "How am I filled with the spirit? Ask the Lord to fill you with the spirit. Be in God's word and it's the filling station. Worship the Lord. Be in the place of community. Do things that fill your soul with the things of God instead of filling your mind with the stupidities of our scroll, of our reels, of all of that." [33:58]
8. "God still continues to pour out his Spirit in us so that we can be poured out. Even the Apostle Paul, right before his death, he said, even up until death, my life is being poured out as a drink offering... Unto death, Alberto poured out his life for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unto, what are you pouring yourself into? What are you allowing to be poured into you?" [35:29]
9. "I am sorry, but I believe that the Holy Spirit is wanting to pour himself out afresh on our lives, and in our churches, because at the end of the day, if we have no power, we have no influence over this world. What is going to distinguish us? What's going to be the drawing there to Jesus Christ?" [36:59]
10. "The Holy Spirit is your seal marking you with salvation, marking you with this fact that you've been adopted into the family of God. The Holy Spirit is going to be your guide. You're going to be an effective witness. All of us are called to be effective witnesses, not just Pastor Alberto, not just Pastor Kyle." [35:29]
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