Wisdom from Above

I share here notes from an old sermon in regard Walking in the Spirit, Walking in Wisdom, Walking in the Way of Love. My hope is that this will help us recognize outcomes of hearing the Holy Spirit.

And, for the mediocre preaching of this passage, here you go:

Holy Spirit--Experiential

I’ve written much about the practical side of walking in the Spirit and therein being continuously directed. The aspect of experiencing the Holy Spirit that I have covered might seem mundane; it might be overlooked; it might be taken for granted. There’s another aspect of the Holy Spirit that is much more intoxicating.

What I allude to appears in 1 Peter:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

The Apostle Paul referred “manifestations” of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Spiritual gifts are given to individuals (i.e., every believer) for the good of the whole rather than for the good of the individual. For instance, if one is gifted to teach, it’s not to benefit the teacher, but, rather, the students. We are therefore directed to serve as good stewards of that gift, implementing it for the sake of others.

There is nonetheless something amazing in it for the gifted. The gifted operates in the strength that God supplies to do something beyond self and beyond self’s ability.

I do not experience this strength when I serve in forced ways. I, personally, experience this when preaching or teaching the Gospel. There is nothing mundane, to be taken for granted, or overlooked in the experience. It is, as it were, the power of the Living God himself welling up within me and sweeping me along. The experience makes it impossible to dwell in unbelief.

Lord God, give me opportunity to serve as a good steward of the gift that you have given. Be glorified in its outcome. Thank you for the strength that wells up in me in the midst of my weakness.

The Holy Spirit in Acts

• Jesus instructs the apostles "through the Holy Spirit" (1:2).

• Power of the Holy Spirit for believers

• Promised to first disciples (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)

• First disciples received at Pentecost (2:1-4)

• Promised to all repentant and baptized (2:37-39)

• Gentiles receive at Cornelius’s house (10:44-48; 11:15-18)

• The disciples at Ephesus (19:1-7)

• Terminology for receiving the Holy Spirit

• Baptized with (1:5; 11:16)

• Filled with (2:1-4)

• Poured out (2:17, 33)

• Fall upon (8:16; 10:44)

• God gave (15:8)

• The Holy Spirit in relation to water baptism

• First 120 disciples at Pentecost (2:4)

• 3000 at Pentecost sermon in conjunction with water baptism (2:38)

• Samaritans after water baptism, prayer, and laying on of hands (8:14-17)

• Cornelius after believing, but before water baptism (10:47)

• Ephesians disciples after two water baptisms and laying on of hands (19:1-6)

• The relationship of  tongues to the Holy Spirit in Acts

• To preach intelligibly to speakers of other languages (2:4-12)

• As a sign of fulfillment to the Jews of Gentile inclusion (15:6-9; Is 28:11; 45:23)

• Evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Similar to other evidences:

• Joy (13:52; 16:34)

• Sharing (4:32)

• Speaking with boldness (4:31)

• A heightened power of the Holy Spirit present during times of need

• Filled to preach (2:4; 4:8, 31; 11:24)

• Filled to confront evil (13:9)

• Filled to withstand persecution (7:55; 13:52).

• Deacons and other ministers must also be "full of the Spirit" (6:1-6), esp. when they prophesy (6:10; 11:28; 21:4).

• The Spirit "speaks to" the apostles and prophets (8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:1-4; 21:11).

• The Spirit leads and guides the decisions and actions of the Christian leaders (13:1-4; 15:28; 16:6-7; 19:21; 20:22-23).