EMPOWERED TO BE EFFECTIVE

Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; Lev. 9:23-24; II Chron. 7:1; I Cor. 3:16, 6:19

The Bible teaches us that it is the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in us as individuals and as a Church that will impact our world, not our own power and presence.

I. NEED OF POWER

A. Task

Acts 1:8 But you will 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. (NIV)

B. Transformation

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)

1. Why the symbol of fire when the believers received the Holy Spirit?

a. It is the symbol of transformation!

b. Fire changes whatever it touches.

2. It took the fire of God's Spirit to unite the believers into a powerful group of people called the

Church.

3. It has never been programs that have dramatically transformed people's lives, it takes God's

Spirit to do that.

4. Society won't be transformed until the Church is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

II. NEED OF PRESENCE

A. Tabernacle

Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (NIV)

Leviticus 9:23-24 Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (NIV)

B. Temple

2 Chronicles 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (NIV)

III. NEED OF APPROPRIATE POWER AND PRESENCE

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

REPENTANCE

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (NIV)

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

RENOUNCE EVIL POWER

Acts 19:18-19 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. (NIV)

THIRST AFTER GOD

John 7:37-38 If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water”.

ASK IN FAITH

Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

John 16:24 Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Acts 2:17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (NIV)

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." (NIV)

DRINK

John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (NIV)

RECEIVE

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.

YIELD TO GOD