5 His Last Gift

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. - Acts 1:1-2

To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. - Acts 1:3

4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” - Acts 1:4-5

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; - Acts 1:6-7

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. - Acts 1:9-10

Jesus had given His Apostles many precious gifts: God’s word Proof of His divinity The cross The resurrection

ONE LAST GIFT The Holy Spirit Himself

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. - Psalms 51:11-13

- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; - Isaiah 61:1

“It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. - Joel 2:28

“I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” - Mark 1:8

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament The Holy Spirit was sent for two reasons: To Empower To Indwell

EMPOWERMENT The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; - Isaiah 61:1

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. - II Peter 1:20-21

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. - Matthew 12:28

Why Empowerment? To remember accurately – John 14:26 To preach with power – John 16:7-8 To perform miracles – Mark 16:20

Confirm Apostles’ truthfulness Why Given? Confirm Apostles’ truthfulness

Help the early church organize and function properly Why Given? Confirm Apostles truthfulness Help the early church organize and function properly

8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. - I Corinthians 13:8-10

Not all were empowered but all received the indwelling

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, - Acts 8:18

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:11

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. - Hebrews 11:3

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? - I Corinthians 3:16

Indwelling { All Christians Not the same as empowering

“How do I know I have the Holy Spirit within me?” Prayer

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; - Romans 8:26

“How do I know I have the Holy Spirit within me?” Prayer Desire for Righteousness

12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. - Romans 8:12-14

“How do I know I have the Holy Spirit within me?” Prayer Desire for Righteousness Intimacy with God

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, - Ephesians 3:14-16

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:17-19

“How do I know I have the Holy Spirit within me?” Prayer Desire for Righteousness Intimacy with God Service in the Kingdom

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - I Corinthians 12:4-7

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, - I Corinthians 12:8-9

10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. - I Corinthians 12:10-11

The Holy Spirit gives the believer the strength to sweep and serve and give for something he cannot see now but will see in the future.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:35

Jesus still offers the Spirit because we need: Help in prayer Help in doing what is right Help in knowing God Help in serving a God we cannot see

Jesus’ Passion and Glory seen in: His final meal His final words His resurrection His final command His final gift to those who believe