Power from Above (Acts 1:8 / 1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

 

Speaker:  Pastor Somkiat Kittipongse

 

 

The 3 main festivals of the Jews:

1.  The Passover- In Exodus, we learnt about how Israelites left Egypt and their celebration to commemorate that day. Falls around End March to Early April

2. Pentecost Day- Falls on May

3. The Tabernacles- Falls during September

 

Pentecost Day is 50 Days after the celebration of Easter Day, after Jesus Christ has Risen. 

God commands that the disciples go out and spread the gospel. But God says do not go yet, wait first. After 40 days when Jesus ascends to Heaven, and plus 10 days the Holy Spirit descends from Heaven and the disciples get baptised in the Holy Spirit. When the disciples were baptised by the Holy Spirit, they were speaking in foreign languages. The Jews were surprised and thought they were drunk! Peter explained that the Holy Spirit has descended upon them.

 

Before Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven, He informs the disciples to:

1. Follow the commandments of God (Matthew 28:19-0/ first 4 books of new testament)

2. Wait to receive the Holy Spirit. The 120 disciples went to wait on the top of the room

 

When the Holy Spirit Descended from Heaven:

2.1 Peter stood up to minister God`s word and 3000 people believed and repented.

2.2  Women and children also increased by 3000 people

2.3  How to teach these 3000 new disciples? Example if each disciple takes care of 25 People,  they need churches to start up to train the new disciples. The Church is started from Pentecost Day in Jerusalem.

 

Churches have to work as a team (1 Corinthians 12;27) 

1. Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it. All gifts are complementary to each other. Each part needs the power of Jesus, and should be linked to Jesus.

2. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, the gift of healing, those who speak in unknown languages.(1 Cor 12:28 )  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance to your faith, If it is serving, then serve, if it is teaching, then teach, if it is to encourage, then give encouragement, if it is giving, then give generously, if it is to lead, do it diligently, if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 

How does the Holy Spirit help us?

1. The Holy Spirit is compared to fire. Our Baptism with fire (Matthew 3:11) Fire is hot- associated with passion. Disciples feel the heat from the Holy Spirit. ( Luke 4:18) Bring the good news to the people. Should not let the fire die off.

2. God gives us wisdom and intelligence. Help us use the knowledge and skill to put it to full use. Example if God uses someone to teach, the teachings will reach the heart of the people and they will learn from it.

3. Fruits/ Results of the Holy Spirit is LOVE. (Romans 5;5, John 16:14) 

And he does not put us to shame, because God`s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. When we find it hard to love someone, think about Christ and His love and sacrifice for us, to fill us with the love. If God can sacrifice Jesus due to His Love us, we can also love others.                                   

 

To ask for the Holy Spirit is very easy ( Luke 11:13)

Just knock on the door and ask God for the Holy Spirit. It is easy because God wants to give to us. Problem is maybe we do not have the heart to help others, and so we did not ask God for the Holy Spirit. When we serve the Lord, we ask God for the Holy Spirit to fill up the oil in the lamp for us.