Empowered by the Spirit: The True Church's Mission
Summary
In reflecting on the essence of the Christian Church, it is crucial to understand that the Kingdom of God is not merely about words but about power. This power was vividly demonstrated on the day of Pentecost, a pivotal event that transformed a small group of ordinary people into a force that turned the world upside down. The Church, as the body of Christ, is meant to embody this power, not just in its collective form but also within each individual member. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, emphasizes that the Church is not a human institution governed by eloquence or appearance but a divine entity characterized by the power of God.
The early Church, despite its lack of worldly influence or resources, was marked by a profound spiritual power that enabled it to spread the gospel with authority and conviction. This power is not about intellectual prowess or philosophical debate but about the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. The Church today must examine itself against this standard. Are we merely engaging in discussions and dialogues, or are we demonstrating the power of God in our lives and communities?
The power of the Holy Spirit is essential for true Christian living. It convicts us of sin, transforms our lives, and empowers us to live in accordance with God's will. This power is not something that can be manufactured through human effort or organization; it is a gift from God that comes through prayer and a deep reliance on Him. The Church must return to this foundational truth and seek a fresh outpouring of the Spirit to experience true revival.
Key Takeaways:
- The Kingdom of God is characterized by power, not just words. This power was evident on the day of Pentecost and is essential for the Church to fulfill its mission. The Church must not rely on human wisdom or eloquence but on the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and communities. [03:59]
- The early Church's impact was not due to its resources or influence but because of the power of the Holy Spirit. This same power is available to us today, and we must seek it earnestly to see true transformation in our lives and the world around us. [10:09]
- True Christian living involves a deep conviction of sin and a transformation of life. The Holy Spirit convicts us, changes us, and empowers us to live according to God's will. Without this power, our faith is merely intellectual and lacks the vitality of true spiritual life. [27:22]
- The Church must not mistake activity and words for true spiritual power. We must seek the Holy Spirit's power through prayer and reliance on God, rather than through human efforts or organizational strategies. [33:36]
- Revival comes through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, not through human planning or organization. We must pray earnestly for a fresh move of the Spirit in our lives and churches, believing that God can bring about transformation at any moment. [45:03]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 4:20
[01:01] - The Significance of Pentecost
[02:08] - The Early Church's Power
[03:40] - The Promise of Power
[04:29] - Testing the Church's Condition
[05:55] - Divisions and Moral Failures in Corinth
[07:20] - Misplaced Focus on Human Attributes
[08:36] - The Church as a Divine Institution
[10:09] - The Church's Current State
[12:13] - The Kingdom of God in Power
[14:17] - The Danger of Words Without Power
[19:28] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[27:22] - Conviction and Transformation
[33:36] - The True Gospel Changes Lives
[45:03] - Seeking Revival Through the Spirit
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 4:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul emphasize about the Kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 4:20, and how does this contrast with the behavior of the Corinthians? [08:36]
2. How did the early Church, as described in the sermon, demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit despite lacking worldly resources? [02:22]
3. What were some of the issues and divisions present in the Corinthian church that Paul addressed in his letter? [05:12]
4. According to the sermon, what was the reaction of the people on the day of Pentecost when they witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit? [19:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that the Church today can measure its effectiveness in demonstrating the power of God? [10:09]
2. In what ways does the sermon describe the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life? [27:22]
3. How does the sermon challenge the Church's reliance on human wisdom and eloquence instead of the power of the Holy Spirit? [09:08]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between prayer and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit? [45:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal experience of the Holy Spirit's power. Can you identify a moment when you felt transformed or empowered by the Spirit? How did it change you? [27:22]
2. The sermon emphasizes the need for prayer to experience a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine to seek this power? [45:03]
3. Consider the current state of your church community. In what ways can you contribute to fostering an environment that prioritizes the power of the Holy Spirit over human efforts? [10:09]
4. The sermon warns against mistaking activity and words for true spiritual power. How can you ensure that your involvement in church activities is driven by the Spirit rather than just busyness? [14:17]
5. Think about a specific area in your life where you struggle to live according to God's will. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome this challenge? [36:10]
6. The sermon highlights the importance of conviction of sin as a work of the Holy Spirit. How can you remain open to the Spirit's conviction in your life, and what steps can you take to respond to it? [27:22]
7. Revival is described as a result of the Holy Spirit's outpouring. What practical steps can you take to pray for and encourage revival in your church and community? [45:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom of God is Power, Not Words
The Kingdom of God is not just a matter of eloquent speech or persuasive words; it is fundamentally about the power of God at work in the world. This power was most vividly demonstrated on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the early believers, transforming them from a small, fearful group into a bold, world-changing force. The Church today is called to embody this same power, relying not on human wisdom or eloquence but on the transformative work of the Holy Spirit to fulfill its mission. This power is essential for the Church to impact lives and communities effectively. [03:59]
1 Corinthians 4:20 (ESV): "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying more on your own words and wisdom rather than seeking the power of the Holy Spirit? How can you begin to shift this reliance today?
Day 2: The Early Church's Power is Available Today
The early Church, despite lacking worldly influence or resources, was marked by a profound spiritual power that enabled it to spread the gospel with authority and conviction. This power was not about intellectual prowess or philosophical debate but about the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. The same power that fueled the early Church is available to believers today. It is crucial for modern Christians to seek this power earnestly, recognizing that true transformation in our lives and the world around us comes from the Holy Spirit, not from human efforts or resources. [10:09]
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."
Reflection: How can you actively seek the power of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? What steps can you take to ensure you are open to His transformative work?
Day 3: True Christian Living Requires the Holy Spirit's Power
True Christian living involves a deep conviction of sin and a transformation of life. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this process, convicting us of sin, changing us, and empowering us to live according to God's will. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, our faith can become merely intellectual, lacking the vitality of true spiritual life. It is essential for believers to rely on the Holy Spirit to experience genuine transformation and to live out their faith authentically. [27:22]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: In what ways do you need the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and life today? How can you invite Him to do this work in you?
Day 4: Spiritual Power Over Activity and Words
The Church must not mistake activity and words for true spiritual power. While discussions and dialogues have their place, they cannot replace the power of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives and communities. Believers are called to seek the Holy Spirit's power through prayer and reliance on God, rather than through human efforts or organizational strategies. This reliance on the Spirit is what brings about true change and revival. [33:36]
Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life or church where you are relying more on human efforts than on the Holy Spirit? How can you shift your focus to depend more on His power?
Day 5: Revival Through the Spirit, Not Human Planning
Revival comes through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, not through human planning or organization. Believers are encouraged to pray earnestly for a fresh move of the Spirit in their lives and churches, trusting that God can bring about transformation at any moment. This reliance on the Spirit is essential for experiencing true revival and seeing God's Kingdom advance in powerful ways. [45:03]
Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): "O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."
Reflection: How can you begin to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and community? What specific areas do you desire to see revival and transformation?
Quotes
The early Church, despite its lack of worldly influence or resources, was marked by a profound spiritual power that enabled it to spread the gospel with authority and conviction. This power is not about intellectual prowess or philosophical debate but about the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. [00:02:24]
The great characteristic of the Christian church is clearly this element of power, and therefore this becomes something by which we contest ourselves as individuals, as individual members of the church. It is something by which we can test the whole condition of the Christian church at this present moment. [00:04:29]
The Apostle had been there and had preached the gospel; numbers had been converted, and he had founded a church and established a church there. But he'd had to go elsewhere preaching, and certain troubles had arisen in the church, and it's because of these troubles that the Apostle writes to them. [00:05:55]
The church is not a human institution. She's not like a parliament where men's appearance and speech may count and do count, though even ridiculously wrong even there. But the church is not a human institution. He says you got to realize that the church is the realm of the kingdom of God. [00:09:08]
The Christian church is producing more works today than she's ever done. She's holding more conferences and congresses than she's ever done. She's speaking more than she's ever done. There's no lack of words amongst us. Indeed, there have never been so many words. But what are these words about? [00:12:13]
The greatest danger confronting the church today surely is to mistake bustle for business and mere words and talk for power and strength. There's no shortage of words. Indeed, everything seems to have become a forum for discussion. The great word at the moment is the word dialogue. [00:14:17]
The terrible thing is, you see, that it's possible for us even to talk about the Holy Spirit and to know nothing about this power that he gives. And there's a great deal of that happening in the church. The church talks about the Holy Spirit but not in terms of power. [00:19:28]
The kingdom of God is not in word but in power. And if he doesn't enable us to live a new life, we haven't got it, however much we may be able to talk about it. We haven't got it. There are people, says Paul in writing to Timothy, who have a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof. [00:33:36]
The power of the spirit enables me not only to have an intellectual comprehension of the truth but to live it, to practice it, to be filled with a power that makes me strong when I was formerly weak. He breaks the power of canceled sin. He sets the prisoner free. [00:36:40]
The kingdom of God is not in word but in power. Do you know this power? Do you know conviction of sin? Do you know that you are hopeless and damned as you are by nature in the sight of God? Are you relying upon your own works? If you are, you know nothing about the power of the spirit. [00:38:01]
Pray that you may be filled with the spirit. Pray for yourselves the prayer that the Apostle Paul offered for the church at Ephesus in the third chapter, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. That's it individually. What is it collectively and for the church at large? [00:44:03]
Christian people, I have preached in vain this morning unless you go home determined to pray without ceasing for a great outpouring of the spirit of God. You need not wait till 1964. He can come at any moment. Did you pray that he'd come this morning before you came to this service? [00:45:03]
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