Sermon Tone Analysis

The Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian

What a great text we have to talk about this morning.

For most of 30 years there is little information about Jesus and now Mark jumps in and gets write to the point in which He is baptised, confirmed and then tempted.

I want us to take a moment though and think about what is happening here.

Before us is the eternal Son of God, that gave up His place their and to humbly become the redeemer for all mankind.

Now, as far as we know, this is the first time that Jesus hears from God I can’t imagine what He must have felt in that moment after 30 years of silence and now hearing God’s voice and having the Spirit descend upon Him, it had to be such a huge encouragement to Him.

This scene is about prophecy fulfilment, confirmation, suffering and encouragement.

Which He was going to need because the Spirit “immediately” Mark says drove him out to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

What I would like to talk about this morning is how a prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled here, but more specifically a look into how the Spirit played a critical role in Jesus’ ministry, the story of the bible, the lives of the early Christians and our lives today.

The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus Christ as Messiah

Is 11:2, 42:1, Ac 10:38

These are just a couple verses that point to the event here in Mark and indicate the role the Spirit was to play in Jesus' ministry.

God wanted His son to succeed and it was the Spirit that gave Jesus the tools he needed in order to see His ministry tot he end.

God doesn't want anything different for us.

He wants us to succeed as well, He wants us to stay on mission, on His mission.

In Acts 10:38 we take a look back at what the Holy Spirit did throughout Jesus' ministry.

"God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,"

The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets

Neh 9:30, "you have warned them by your spirit throughthe hand of your prophets,"

Is 48:16, Mic 3:8, Heb 1:1,

God spoke thru the prophets "in many ways" the Hebrew writer says, in order to bring about God's will in the times in which they lived.

The Holy Spirit empowered the first Christians

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you,"

Ac 2:16-17, Ac 11:15

The Holy Spirit was active in the lives of the early Christians in order to spread the Gospel message to known world at that time.

The Spirit emboldened, encouraged and gave words to the Apostles and disciples in that time.

But that was not just reserved for the early church, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to help us today as well.

He empowers God's people today

Spurgeon’s Worse Sermon

Mr. Spurgeon once preached what in his judgment was one of his poorest sermons.

He stammered and floundered, and when he got through he felt that it had been a complete failure.

He was greatly humiliated, and when he got home he fell on his knees and said, “Lord, God, Thou canst do something with nothing.

Bless that poor sermon.”

And all through the week he uttered that prayer.

He woke up in the night and prayed about it.

He determined that the next Sunday he would redeem himself by preaching a great sermon.

Sure enough, the next Sunday the sermon went off beautifully.

At the close the people crowded about him and covered him with praise.

Spurgeon went home pleased with himself, and that night he slept like a baby.

But he said to himself, “I’ll watch the results of those two sermons.”

What were they?

From the one that has seemed a failure he was able to trace forty-one conversions.

And from that magnificent sermon he was unable to discover that a single soul was saved.

The Spirit of God used the one and did not use the other.

We can do nothing without the Spirit who helps our infirmities.

Rom.

8:26-27 "but the Spirit himself intercedesfor us with unexpressed groanings.

And the one who searches our heartsknows what mindset of the Sprit is,"

The Holy Spirit accomplishes the mission of God

He convicts sin

John 16:8 "And when he comes, he will convict the worldconcerning sin..."

Ac 2:37, 1 Cor 14:24-25

He directs mission

Acts 13:2, 8:29, 10:19-20, 13:4, 16:6-10

He inspires witnesses and speakers

Ac 6:9-10, Matt 10:19-20, Act 2:14

The Holy Spirit's missionary activity is ongoing

He cares for God's people involved in mission

John 16:13, Ac 15:28

He sanctifies God's people

Rom 8:10,14,16, 2Thes 2:13

He encourages God's people

Rom 8:16 "The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit the we are childrenof God,"

2 Thes 2:17, John 3:24, 1 John 4:13

These few scriptures don't even scratch the surface of the NT references to the Holy Spirit.

But you can see that the Spirit has played a crucial role in the story of redemption and continues to work in the hearts of minds of believers.

When we are on mission the Holy Spirit is there to help and there to strengthen and sanctify.

We should have great comfort in knowing that the Spirit reminding us that we are children of God.

The same Spirit that was there when Jesus needed him the most is there to guide all those that will reach out in prayer.