Hello
Everyone,
What
made the disciples so compelling to the crowds that gathered?
Answer
is Acts 2:1-4
When
the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly
a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the
whole house where they were sitting. 3 They
saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each
of them. 4 All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The
answer to the question is:
It was
the experience they had with the PERSON and POWER of the Holy Spirit!
The men
and women who went out of the upper room weren't the same men and women
who went in to the upper room!
There's
an incredible difference between knowing about someone and KNOWING
someone … experientially … personally just ask the upper room
disciples they went from knowing about the Holy Spirit to knowing
the Holy Spirit and their lives were never again the same!
(We
are meant to have a personal experience with the Holy Spirit)
To
experience the person of the Holy Spirit and the ability He brings is vital for
two reasons:
Our Experience with
the Holy Spirit is a — confidence builder!
It's
been said that —
A person
with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument!
Illustration
—
A number
of years ago … a great evangelist by the name of H.A. Ironside was preaching on
the streets when a well known professor who was a very vocal and active atheist
… began to heckle him and his message!
Ironside
kept trying to preach but this bitter professor kept yelling — "There is
no God, Jesus is a myth!"
Ironside
kept preaching … the antagonistic professor got more belligerent and began to
taunt Ironside by shouting — "I challenge you to a debate! Are you afraid
to debate me?"
Ironside
knew that a debate wouldn't prove much … but he needed to respond to the
attacks … so he said — "Sir I accept your challenge … but on one
condition! When you come to the debate, I ask that you bring with you ten men
and women whose lives have been changed for the better by the message of
atheism! Bring some alcoholics and drug addicts who have been set free by
atheism's power … bring former prostitutes, criminals and outcasts a let them tell
us how atheism has lifted them out of the pit!'
"And
sir,' Ironside said — "if you can find ten such men and women, I will be
happy to debate you. And when I come, I will gladly bring with me two hundred
men and women from this very city whose lives have been transformed in just
those ways by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ!"
The
professor … walked away.
A person
with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument!
Our Experience with
the Holy Spirit is a — communication builder!
We
communicate effectively what we know by experience!
"Out of the overflow of the
heart the mouth speaks"
The more
my heart and life are filled with the Holy Spirit.
The more
relational experience I have with Him.
The
better I'm able to communicate the amazing life I'm called to
live!
The
Spirit-filled disciple’s model one of the first keys to being an amazing person
… it's the characteristic of — experience!
Greater
Things Are Still To Come!
Pastor Phil
No comments:
Post a Comment