The Holy Spirit (Part 4)
Holy Spirit • Sermon • Submitted
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pneuma (408 Times in the NT)
pneuma (408 Times in the NT)
“pneuma” = The Root and General Word for “Spirit” (Sometimes “Wind” and “Breath” - 379 Times
“pneumatikos” = “Spiritual” - 26 Times
“pneumatikōs” = “Spiritually” - 2 Times
“theopneustos” = “Inspired By God” - 1 Time
Acts 8:9–19 (NAS)
Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
This Passage Can Be a Bit Confusing
It Seems Like it’s Saying the Holy Spirit is Given Through the Laying On of the Apostles Hands
But the Focus is On Specifically the Miraculous Aspect of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is Given to Everyone Who Believes in Jesus
But Miracles are Only Bestowed When the Apostles Lay Their Hands on a Believer
Acts 8:29 (NASB95)
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
This is Actually a Rare Thing to Find in the Bible
“The Spirit Said”
This Means in the 1st Century the Spirit Would Occasionally Speak Directly to People
Acts 10:19 (NASB95)
While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Acts 13:2 (NASB95)
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
If You Recognize the Context to Each of These Times the Spirit Speaks Directly…
They are All Focused On an Important Event of Evangelism
The Spirit Told Philip to Go Evangelize to the Ethiopian Eunuch
He Would Take the Gospel Back to Ethiopia With Him
The Spirit Told Peter About the 3 Men Who Were Coming to Take Him to Cornelius
Cornelius and His House Would Be the First Gentile Christians
The Spirit Told the Prophets and Teachers at Antioch…
To Send Paul and Barnabas on Their First Missionary Journey
These are All Major Events in the Spreading of the Gospel
After Philip Baptized the Eunuch, We Read This:
Acts 8:39 (NASB95)
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
The Spirit Would Also on Very Rare Occasions “Snatch Away” His People
Acts 9:31 (NASB95)
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Now that Paul was No Longer Persecuting the Church, They Experienced Peace
Because of Their Peace, They Were Growing in Strength
They Were Increasing in Number for 2 Reasons Listed Here
They Continued in the Fear of the Lord
They Were Being Comforted, Encouraged, Emboldened By the Presence of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Gives Comfort, Encouragement, and Boldness
In Chapters 10 & 11, We See the Gentiles, Along with Cornelius, Be Immersed in the Holy Spirit
What Happened to the Apostles at Pentecost is What Happened to the Gentiles
And in Chapter 15, We See a Counsel in Jerusalem Amongst the Leaders of the Church
They Discussed Gentiles Being Part of the Church
Acts 15:7–9 (NASB95)
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
“And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Receiving the Holy Spirit was the Sure Sign that Someone was a Christian
God Gives His Spirit to Those Who Have Their Hearts Cleansed By Faith
Acts 15:28 (NASB95)
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
At the End of the Counsel Between the Apostles, Elders, and Leaders of the Church…
They Wrote This in a Letter to the Church in Antioch
They Claimed Their Decision Seemed Good to Them and to the Holy Spirit
How Can They Make Such a Claim?
First, the Spirit Communicated to Them More Directly Than Today
Second, They Made Their Decision Based Off of the Spirit-Inspired Scriptures
Acts 16:6–10 (NASB95)
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
We See 2 Neat Things About the Spirit Here
First, We See Him Referred to as the “Spirit of Jesus”
This is a Pretty Common Way of Referring to the Holy Spirit
We’ll See this Description Several More Times in the Epistles
Why Would the Spirit Be Referred to in this Way?
Sent From Jesus
Oneness with Jesus
Leads Those He Indwells to Be Like Jesus
The Other Neat Thing We See is:
He Forbids Paul and His Companions to Go to Certain Places to Preach
The Next Couple Verses Provide Clarity for That
A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
God Had Other Plans for Them at that Moment
Acts 18:24–19:6 (NASB95)
Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
While in Ephesus, Apollos was Preaching About Jesus But Only Knew About John’s Baptism
John’s Baptism was for Repentance and Pointing Toward Belief in Jesus
But that Baptism Had Nothing to Do with the Holy Spirit
So These Men Didn’t Know the Holy Spirit had Been Given Yet
They Needed to Be Baptized into Christ to Receive the Holy Spirit
After Doing So, Paul Then Laid His Hands On Them to Impart Miraculous Gifts to Them
Most of the Remaining Uses of pneuma in Acts are:
Paul Paul Following the Spirit’s Lead in Going to Jerusalem
And Fellow Christians Begging Him Not to Go to Jerusalem…
Because the Holy Spirit Revealed that He Would Be Arrested and Taken to the Gentiles