Wonder of the Gift of the Spirit

Fri, 27 Dec 1996

Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 340 


     Shalom!  Rowland Croucher

     Director, John Mark Ministries - resources for pastors/leaders.
       (Bookroom, library, and worldwide F.W.Boreham Trading Post)
                 Home Page: http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm
          ------------------------------------------------------------ 

          SERMON SUGGESTION FOR SUNDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29

          Title:        The Wonder of the Gift of the Spirit
          Text:         "This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all
          are witnesses.  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of
          God, and having received from the Father the promise of the
          Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear"
          (Acts 2:32-33).

          Scripture Reading:    John 16:7, 12-14

          Introduction:         Our text declares that the Holy Spirit
          is the gift of the Father to his Son and that in turn the Holy
          Spirit is the gift of the risen Christ to his disciples.  In
          order for us to properly appreciate the gift of the Spirit to
          the church on the Day of Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit
          to each disciple in the moment of conversion, we need to have
          a better understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in the
          Old Testament and in the life and ministry of our precious
          Lord.

          I. Some illustrations of the activity of the Holy Spirit in
          the Old Testament.
                A. Joseph was equipped by the Holy Spirit to be the 
          prime minister of Egypt (Gen. 41:16, 33, 37-41).
                B. God gave the Spirit to the seventy elders who were 
          to assist Moses as judges (Num. 11:16, 17, 25).
                C. The Spirit equipped Joshua to be the successor of 
          Moses (Num. 27:18-19).
                D. The judges were empowered to deliver Israel from 
          their enemies by the power of the Holy Spirit.
                        1. The Spirit came upon Othniel (Judg. 3:10). 2.
                        The Spirit came upon Gideon (Judg. 6:34). 3. The
                        Spirit came upon Jephthah (Judg. 
          11:29).
                E.  The Holy Spirit came upon the kings of Israel.
                        1. The Spirit came upon Saul (1 Sam. 11:6) and 
          later departed (1 Sam. 16:14).
                        2. The Spirit came upon David (1 Sam. 16:13), 
          and David later feared the loss of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 
          51:10-12).
                F.  The Holy Spirit moved among the prophets and 
          inspired them to be God's spokesmen.

          II. The Holy Spirit and Our Lord.
                A.  The Holy spirit effected the miraculous conception 
          of our Messiah (Matt. 1:18, 20).
                B.  The Holy Spirit made it possible for Simeon to 
          recognize the Messiah as an infant (Luke 2:25-27).
                C.  The Holy Spirit descended as a dove at the baptism 
          of Jesus, and Jesus was thus identified as the Promised One
          (Luke 3:22).
                D.  Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 
          to be tempted by Satan (Luke 4:1).
                E.  After his victory over Satan's temptations, Christ 
          returned in the power of the Spirit to begin his ministry
          (Luke 4:14).
                F.  The Holy Spirit equipped Christ for his redemptive 
          ministry (Luke 4:18).
                G.  Christ performed his miracles in the power of the 
          Spirit (Matt. 12:28).

          Conclusion:   When we look at the role of the Holy Spirit in
          the life of Old Testament spiritual leaders, we cannot help
          but be impressed.  To recognize the role that the Holy Spirit
          played in the life of our Lord is to be overwhelmed with the
          significance of the promise of our Lord to send this gift of
          the Spirit upon his disciples (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).  As this
          Christmas season concludes, let us beware lest we worship a
          Christ child of long ago and miss the tremendous significance
          of the indwelling Christ who comes to us as the Holy Spirit in
          the moment of conversion to do God's work in our lives that we
          might be a blessing to others.  We need to recognize and
          respond to his presence in us moment by moment.

          Taken from THE ZONDERVAN 1996 PASTOR'S ANNUAL: AN IDEA AND
          RESOURCE BOOK by T.T.  Crabtree.  THE ZONDERVAN 1997 PASTOR'S
          ANNUAL is now available ($15.99 / ISBN 0-310-20963-3 / 448 pp.
           / 1996 / Zondervan)  It includes: * A planned preaching
          program for a year  * Morning and Evening Service ideas  *
          Complete sermon outlines  * Applicable Illustrations  *
          Appropriate hymn selections  * Bible studies for Midweek
          Services  * Messages for special occasion   * Sentence
          Sermonettes  * and more. 

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