Expectant Waiting: Embracing the Holy Spirit's Power
Summary
The sermon delivered by the speaker centered on the theme of expectant waiting and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker began by drawing an analogy between the preparation for a festive meal and the spiritual preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of readiness and anticipation. They shared a humorous anecdote about a pastor friend's perspective on pies, which served as a light-hearted segue into the deeper message of the sermon.
The core of the sermon focused on the significance of obediently waiting upon God, as seen in the early believers in Acts 1 who were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. The speaker highlighted the virtues of dedication, determination, and devotion, using scriptural references to illustrate the strength and blessings that come from a steadfast reliance on God. They shared personal stories, including attending a prayer summit without expectations, which led to a profound spiritual encounter, and their own struggle with impatience, likening it to waiting for road construction in Indiana.
The speaker also discussed the necessity of the Holy Spirit's power in the lives of believers, which equips them with courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. They encouraged the congregation to actively seek and expect God's promises, emphasizing that God is capable of exceeding our expectations and doing the unimaginable. The speaker shared their desire to witness to people of various faiths, stressing the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and the transformative experience of speaking in tongues.
The sermon concluded with a powerful reminder of the day of Pentecost, where the disciples experienced a "suddenly" moment as the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The speaker called for a similar "suddenly" in the lives of the congregation, a moment of divine intervention that brings about change and renewal.
Key Takeaways:
- Expectant waiting is not a passive state but an active posture of readiness for God's promises. The speaker emphasized that like the disciples who waited for the Holy Spirit, we too must wait with anticipation, knowing that God is working even when we cannot see it. This waiting is a form of obedience and faith that prepares us for the transformative experiences God has in store. [35:15]
- Dedication, determination, and devotion are essential for spiritual strength and receiving God's blessings. The speaker illustrated this through scriptural examples, showing that consistent prayer and trust in God's timing allow us to soar like eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting. Our weakness becomes an opportunity for God's strength to be perfected in us. [37:37]
- The Holy Spirit empowers believers with gifts necessary to fulfill their mission and face life's challenges. The speaker pointed out that in a world craving power, the true power lies in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include courage, boldness, and authority. These gifts are not just for personal edification but for equipping us to be effective witnesses to others. [20:48]
- God's timing often includes "suddenly" moments that can transform our lives. The speaker shared that while we wait upon God, we should be prepared for these sudden encounters with the Holy Spirit that can change our circumstances, minds, hearts, and families. These moments remind us that God's presence can manifest in powerful and unexpected ways. [29:08]
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a key experience for believers, enabling them to step out of their comfort zones and into a deeper spiritual dimension. The speaker encouraged vocalizing prayers and praises as a way to invite the Holy Spirit's presence, leading to speaking in tongues and a greater empowerment for witnessing to others. This experience is both expected and desired, as it signifies a deeper communion with God. [32:06]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)
> "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.'"
2. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
> "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
3. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the disciples instructed to do in Acts 1:4-8, and what were they promised? ([05:34])
2. According to Isaiah 40:31, what are the benefits of waiting on the Lord?
3. In Joel 2:28-29, what does God promise to pour out on all flesh, and what are the resulting actions of the people?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized the importance of waiting for the Holy Spirit before the disciples began their mission? ([05:34])
2. How does the analogy of waiting for a festive meal relate to the concept of expectant waiting for the Holy Spirit? ([03:28])
3. What does it mean to wait with expectancy, and how can this posture impact our spiritual lives? ([04:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for something important. How did that experience shape your understanding of waiting on God? ([08:00])
2. The sermon mentioned the virtues of dedication, determination, and devotion. How can you cultivate these virtues in your daily walk with God? ([37:37])
3. The speaker shared personal stories about the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced a "suddenly" moment in your spiritual journey? If so, how did it change you? ([29:08])
4. How can you actively seek and expect God's promises in your life? What practical steps can you take to prepare yourself for the Holy Spirit's work? ([04:29])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit to witness to others. How can you step out of your comfort zone to share your faith this week? ([32:06])
6. The speaker mentioned the struggle with impatience. What are some practical ways you can practice patience in your spiritual life and daily routines? ([13:00])
7. How can you create an environment of expectant waiting in your small group or church community? What specific actions can you take to encourage others to seek the Holy Spirit? ([04:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Active Readiness for Divine Promises
Expectant waiting is an active, faith-filled posture, not a passive one. It involves preparing one's heart and mind for the fulfillment of God's promises, much like the disciples who awaited the Holy Spirit. This readiness is a form of obedience and faith that prepares us for the transformative experiences God has in store. !![35:15]!!
Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of expectant waiting in your daily spiritual practices?
Day 2: Embracing Spiritual Fortitude
Dedication, determination, and devotion are the bedrock of spiritual strength and the conduit for receiving God's blessings. Like the eagle that soars on the winds of adversity, believers are called to trust in God's timing, allowing their weaknesses to be transformed into strengths through steadfast faith. !![37:37]!!
Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise more dedication, determination, and devotion to experience God's strength?
Day 3: Empowerment Through the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit bestows upon believers the gifts necessary to navigate life's challenges and fulfill their divine mission. These gifts, including courage, boldness, and authority, are not for personal gain but to empower effective witness and service to others. !![20:48]!!
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."
Reflection: What gifts of the Holy Spirit can you seek to better serve God's purpose in your life and community?
Day 4: Anticipating God's 'Suddenly' Moments
God's timing often includes unexpected 'suddenly' moments that can transform our lives in an instant. While waiting upon God, one should be prepared for these divine interventions that can change circumstances, hearts, and minds in profound ways. !![29:08]!!
Acts 2:2 - "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting."
Reflection: Are you open to God's 'suddenly' moments, and how can you prepare your heart for when they occur?
Day 5: The Transformative Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a pivotal experience for believers, marking a step out of comfort zones and into a deeper spiritual dimension. This encounter, often accompanied by speaking in tongues, signifies a deeper communion with God and empowers believers for witnessing. !![32:06]!!
Acts 1:8 - "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 more actively seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit to deepen your relationship with God and enhance your witness to others?
Quotes
"Jesus was telling them you need to expect something powerful to happen... John baptized you with water... but in just a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit." [10:33] (Download)
"Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; and third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given." [11:08] (Download)
"The power that Believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. You need all of those to live in this world today, to handle what's in front of you today." [20:48] (Download)
"Even if it feels like nothing is happening, you keep waiting and keep praying. Even when you don't see it right away, you keep waiting and you keep praying, you keep believing that God will do it." [36:55] (Download)
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." [36:55] (Download)
"He gives me the words to speak, he gives me the wisdom to tell of what is going on, that then Luke tells us all what this was all the experience they had been expecting; everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit." [32:06] (Download)
"Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is you got to speak, you got to vocalize... you say, 'Father, I need to experience you because I need the power in my life to walk in this world.'" [33:26] (Download)
"Suddenly, when you're just waiting expectantly, that when you don't realize it, bam, it just hits you and you don't know what you're doing, you don't know what you're saying, but this River of living water just whoosh coming out of you." [29:41] (Download)
"I need a suddenly in my life like I never seen before. I need an act two experience of my life so I know that I know that I know that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon me." [30:18] (Download)
"They received what they had been waiting for, they received was the experience that would change them forever... it was while they were waiting in expectancy... the sound of the wind indicated to them that the presence of God was just about ready to manifest itself." [31:33] (Download)
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