So where’s the beef, the power?
- Revelation 3:8– “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”
It looks like something
- Transformation looks like something– Luke 3:7-8a – When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe,
- But not done in human power – Galatians 3:5-I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
- We need the Holy Spirit – comforter and helper and advocate –John 16
So how do we get the Holy Spirit?
- Acts 19:1-6 – And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this,they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- Ask –Luke 11:13– So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
- Receive – Acts 19:2– “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
- Got to receive a gift
Requires hunger
- Matthew 5:6 –Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,For they shall be filled.
- Galatians 3:2– Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.
- Can’t be done in the flesh as Simon the sorcerer did – Acts 8:18– When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.