Back to Basics - Part 3: "Moving in the Power of the Holy Spirit"
BACK TO THE BASICS - Part 3: “Moving in the Power of the Holy Spirit”
Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Pastor Boniface Mgonja
Key Verses: Acts 1:4-5,8
Acts 1:4-5 Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have
heard me speak about. For John baptized you with water, but in a few days you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Key Points:
1. The Holy Spirit is POWER
The Story of Peter (Before and after receiving the POWER)
Before: Peter Denies Jesus
Mark 14:66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who
worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the
fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of
Nazareth.”
68 But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he
went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others,
“This man is definitely one of them!” 70 But Peter denied it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must
be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking
about!” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows
twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down
and wept.
After the POWER: Peter Speaks Out Confidently
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to
the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem!
Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are
assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing
powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God
knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus
was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and
killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back
to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom
you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Peter’s words pierced their
hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should
we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God,
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have
been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long
time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked
generation!”
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church
that day—about 3,000 in all.
Power in Ministry
o Confidence and courage even in times of opposition (recall Peter in Acts 2,
and Stephen in Acts 7)
Acts 7: 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were
furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy
Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at
the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of
Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all
rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone
him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man
named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep
o Reveals or Discerning what is good and bad for the church
(Story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10))
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a
piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the
money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that
you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money
you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And
after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of
doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all
who heard what had happened.
6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him
out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had
happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for
the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the
Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men
came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her
husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these
events.
(Story of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2))
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart
for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2. As a Comforter (John 14:18, 27)
John 14:26
But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he
will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have
said to you.
Jesus says the Holy Spirit will comfort us when we're hurting. “I will not leave you as
orphans,” Jesus says (14:18), promising that the Spirit will bring us peace (14:27).
3. As a Counsellor (John 16:8)
A “Counselor” who guide us in our everyday lives.
o One way he guides us is by convicting us of sin (16:8).
o The Spirit works through our conscience to make us aware of sin in our lives.
Holy Spirit is our teacher, helper and guide.
o John 14:26 “But the Helper, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I have said to you.”
o John 16:13 “… He will guide you into all truth.”
All knowledge and wisdom come direct from the wonderful counselor, Holy Spirit
o As Christians, let’s walk in his guidance, teaching and counsel.
4. Holy Spirit for our daily walk with Jesus
Keep in step with the Spirit (Fruit of the Spirit)–Gal 5:16
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing
the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the
law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you,
as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become
conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
5. Holy Spirit is The Seal, The Deposit and The Guarantee of our inheritance.
Ephesians 1: 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of
his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of
his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is
the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
his glory.