I Believe in the Holy Spirit
The Essentials: Why Truth Matters • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewKey Question: How do I know I have the Holy Spirit? 1. Confrontation: Spectacle vs. Spirit (vv. 9-13) 2. Confusion: Gained vs. Given (vv. 14-19) 3. Correction: Religiosity vs. Repentance (vv. 20-24) Big Idea: The Holy Spirit comes as the gift of God, who changes hearts.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
“I believe in the Holy Spirit”
We’re working through the Apostles’ Creed and we’ve talked about the Father, we’ve looked at the truth of Christ, the Son.
But what about the third person of the Trinity? The Holy Spirit.
Let’s be honest - we either fall to one of two extremes.
Michael Bird explains the issue:
I say with no exaggeration that I have met Christians who seem to think of the Holy Spirit as something like Jesus’s vapor trail, or a mysterious and impersonal “force” that conveys God’s presence, or even a kind of heavenly buzz that falls on people when some funky psychedelic worship music is played. The way some people describe the Holy Spirit could just as well describe magnetism, mood rings, or Motown records from the 1960s. Then there are other churches that are positively petrified of anything to do with the Holy Spirit lest they themselves get too enthusiastic in their faith that they might start dancing in the aisles
Christians today are either off in “crazy land” concerning the Holy Spirit or completely afraid they will be in crazy land if they even acknowledge the Spirit exists.
That is catastrophic on so many levels, because if you don’t have the Spirit then you don’t have Christ. We need the Spirit like we need air in our lungs.
Core to our faith is the belief in the Holy Spirit
So we have to ask,
Key Question: How do I truly know if I have the Holy Spirit?
Maybe you’ve come to believe that supernatural experiences are the sign that you have the Holy Spirit.
Maybe that idea terrifies you, so you avoid the Spirit all together.
But you sense and feel that you need the Spirit
Maybe you are afraid the Spirit has overlooked you completely - you know you need the Spirit, but you are afraid you’re not spiritual enough for Him to show up in your life.
I want to take us to Acts 8 this morning to help us answer that question - how do I truly know if I have the Holy Spirit?
Story in three scenes that help us discern the Holy Spirit in our lives
Confrontation: Spectacle vs. Spirit (Acts 8:9-13)
Confrontation: Spectacle vs. Spirit (Acts 8:9-13)
Scene One is about confrontation.
Who or what is going to be the thing that attracts and wins the hearts of the people of Samaria?
The scene deals with our motivations about the Holy Spirit.
Let’s set the scene first:
The book of Acts places us in the story of the movement of Christianity through the “church”, those bearing witness to Jesus as the Christ.
Jesus told his disciples:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The “Jerusalem ” phase of the ministry has been in focus in 3-7, but now there is persecution against the Christians in those regions and the church has scattered to that second and third phase - “all Judea and Samaria”
Philip (one of those first deacons and evangelists) has gone to the city of Samaria and started proclaiming and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
He has a very effective ministry!
But there is another “preacher” in the city with a different message.
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
This guy was a sorcerer and one who used the means of the occult to attract a crowd, do amazing signs, and make a name for himself.
He even would even tell people he was great - like not just that he was an important person, but that he had a unique and powerful gifting above all.
The city loved Simon.
They hung on his every word
10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
Notice what he was called - “the power of God that is called Great”
This was Satanic power and presence.
The name that were ascribing to Simon was the Samaritans name for Yahweh.
Satan’s hold, through Simon, was deep in Samaria.
11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
Not length of time in one setting - but he had been in that community for a long season of life.
So we have Simon the Satanic Sorcerer and we have Philip the Christ-centered Preacher.
One is working through the satanic power of the spectacle - the show!
One is working by the empowering ministry of the Spirit to show Christ.
Here’s the confrontation:
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
They hear the gospel of Jesus - they believe, and they were baptized
(catch that order - hear, believe, baptized).
Something surprising happens:
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Simon indicates that he has believed, and he is baptized as well.
He’s in awe as some signs and miracles are done that he can’t reproduce himself.
But here’s a clue for us about the state of Simon’s heart
What is he attracted and awed by?
The signs and the miracles - the external spectacle.
There is no comment about his belief or devotion to Jesus - it’s devotion to Philip and awe at the miracles.
Simon is a spiritual groupie.
You know what a groupie is, right? Someone who follows, hangs out with, or is a devotee of a celebrity hoping that the spotlight will hit them and they will get a taste of the glory and fame that goes along with that.
People will attempt to befriend and get close to someone who has “celeb status”
However, as soon as that status is lost or diminished the groupies move on to another celeb that can bring fame and fortune to their own name.
When it comes to our hearts, its worth us asking, what is that drew me to be a Christian?
Simon saw the spectacle - he saw powerful works, awe, greatness. That’s what held his attention
If Christianity appeals to you because of the external things of Christianity, then it’s the wrong stuff.
Christianity is about CHRIST - not about power encounters, spiritual experiences, inspirational quotations, or the trinkets and tricks of religious commercialism.
Do you want to know the true test of any ministry’s power - do they make Christ the central thing?
If the podcast, or the book, or the movie, or musician isn’t putting the spotlight on Jesus clearly, then they are after something else.
Jesus said that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
So where Jesus is spotlighted, lifted up, declared - that’s where the Spirit is at work.
Where the focus is on the attractive charisma or power of people… that isn’t the work of the Spirit, it’s the deception of the spectacle.
The Holy Spirit is a person, not a power.
His work is to spotlight Christ in our hearts.
Is your heart captivated by the external spectacles of religious stuff or by the superior Spirit who spotlights Christ?
Scene Two:
Confusion: Gained vs. Given (Acts 8:14-19)
Confusion: Gained vs. Given (Acts 8:14-19)
Scene Two is about confusion, namely confusion over how a person acquires Holy Spirit in their lives.
Back to Philip’s ministry in Samaria - it’s gone well. People have responded to Christ, believed the message and the preaching of the gospel.
But there is a connection missing for these Samaritan believers.
Simply put, is what is happening in Samaria true Christianity?
Are these non-Jewish Christians part of Jesus’ church?
The focus shifts to the apostle’s leadership and discernment…
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
Peter and John—lead apostles—are dispatched to verify what they have heard, and the authenticity of what has happened in Samaria.
They came to Samaria and…
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
It’s a curious thing.
The Samaritans had heard Philip’s preaching, believed his message, and then were baptized - but they had not received the Holy Spirit!
This raises a question for us today about how and when does a Christian receive the Holy Spirit?
I will answer that question in a moment, but I want to point out something specific about this passage: that is, this experience is not normative for every Christian person and experience.
This experience is unique and specific to this very situation for an express reason.
Remember how this book is structured and what Jesus said in Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
in Jerusalem and in all Judea… in Samaria… and to the ends of the earth (three regional phases)
And that’s what happened.
The Spirit came in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost and the believers were filled and bore witness about Jesus “in Jerusalem and in all Judea”
But that had not happened in Samaria yet.
So the Apostles come and pray that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit and the movement of the gospel would advance.
What we find here is a once-in-time event of the Spirit coming, and demonstrating that these believers are part of the same church, the same movement, the same faith as the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
So:
17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Let’s go back to the story here and what happens next.
Luke focuses on Simon - again he’s setting up a contrast.
Simon sees the “Holy Spirit has been given through the apostles hands”, and notice Luke doesn’t say that Simon wants the Spirit in his life.
He wants the power to do what the apostles did.
So, he tries to buy it!
He offered them money:
19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Simon believes that the Holy Spirit can be gained or purchased
The Spirit becomes a commodity to possess, instead of person to know and commune with.
Here’s where we need to understand the Holy Spirit better.
The Spirit is not a force to be tapped into or a power or energy source to connect with.
We do not need to perform certain incantations or give certain offerings or find a certain groove to experience or acquire the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is the gift of God being sent from the Father and the Son to equip and empower believers to make much of Jesus and become like him.
The Spirit is a gift of God, being truly God, working to conform and mold us to God himself.
This is a concern I have about much of the charismatic movement, the Assemblies of God denomination, and other charismatic groups
They withhold the gift of the Spirit for every Christian and make it a matter of performance to acquire the Spirit.
They practice that the baptism and filling of the Spirit is something that must be gained or possessed
The Spirit, in the way they talk and act about him, becomes a force to be manipulated or monetized and the heart of it isn’t to glorify Christ but to put on the spotlight on the person giving the Spirit or the performance of the one receiving the the Holy Spirit.
Friends - the Holy Spirit indwelling you is a gift - sent from the Father and the Son!
He is received by faith when we trust the gospel message about Jesus Christ.
He is given - Gal 3:2
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
The Spirit is given, not gained.
There is nothing you can do or amount you can pay to gain more of the Spirt.
Instead, believe Christ, draw near to Him and you will be filled with the Spirit.
He is the Father and Son’s gift of love to indwell you.
Scene One confronts us what attracts us in Christianity.
Scene Two clarifies the confusion about how we acquire the Holy Spirit
Scene Three then is the final case for us.
Correction: Religiosity vs. Repentance (Acts 8:20-24)
Correction: Religiosity vs. Repentance (Acts 8:20-24)
Scene three is about correction, Simon’s correction, but ours as well.
This scene deals with what the evidence of the Holy Spirit is in your life.
How do you know you have the Holy Spirit living within you?
Let’s be corrected here away from our religious performances.
Peter comes down hard on Simon, and he should.
Simon is trying to manipulate God, and make a name for himself believing the Spirit is someone to purchase and a power to possess for his own purposes.
That’s Satanic, demonic thinking!
So Peter is right to rebuke him.
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Peter gets right at it - “your heart is not right before God.”
Wrong motives, wrong heart.
But Peter is not so hard to believe that Simon is a lost cause - he challenges him like every faithful minister should when he sees people in sin.
“Repent!”
22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
Simon - your heart is in a bad place, you’re wrapped up in a love for money and power and your thinking about God is way off.
Repentance and turning in faith to Jesus is the only way out!
Now here’s the tragic verse - but it doesn’t, at least on surface level, look that way.
24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
That’s not a bad thing to do, and we should invite and ask others to pray for us.
But notice what Simon doesn’t do himself - he doesn’t repent and pray.
He wants someone else to intercede on his behalf, but he won’t own his sin to the Lord personally.
You pray for me that the bad stuff doesn’t happen.
Do you know what this is friends?
It’s religious ritualism instead of real repentance!
The evidence of the Spirit in your life isn’t through rituals and religiosity.
He is working when there is true repentance and faith, seeking Christ.
One of the most profound and deep books I’ve ever read is Jonathan Edwards book The Religious Affections - in this book he talks about what are the false and true signs of the work of the Spirit in the life of a person.
Here’s some of the false signs:
Great effects on the body (external actions)
Fluent, fervent, and abundant talk about spiritual things.
Quick recall and quoting of Scripture passages.
Encouraging other people to spend much time in religious activity.
Zealous engagement of the external duties of worship.
Religious externals are no certain (or sure) sign of having the Holy Spirit!
In many ways this gets down the heart of Christianity and the heart of my concern for you as a pastor.
I’m concerned deeply that you might say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit” but that profession is based on your religiosity.
I am concerned that you would look at the external performative religious actions you do (giving, attending church, fasting, etc) and think that those things are the signs of the Spirit’s work in you.
Consider again Paul’s words:
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
The Spirit’s work is internal, often hidden and unseen, to bring us to repentance and make us like Christ.
He works in you by your hearing the gospel and believing the message of Christ!
The answer to the question of how do you know if you truly have the Holy Spirit is found in this:
Big Idea: The Holy Spirit comes as the gift of God, who changes hearts.
The evidence of the Spirit’s activity and work in your life is that your heart is changed and your life looks more and more and more like Jesus.
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.
The Spirit reveals his work when your life is filled with the fruit that comes from faith in Christ!
Why is this the case? Because the Holy Spirit is given as a gift when you and I believe and trust Christ and he does the work of changing our hearts and lives to be more like Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Friends, you don’t have to perform some religious ritual or do some magical incantation to experience the Holy Spirit in your life.
Simply hear the word of God concerning Christ - that he came and lived the perfect life for you, died in your place, and was raised again on the third day and repent and believe in Jesus!
Where there is that repentance and faith, the Spirit is yours! He is at work
You can say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”