 |
Text: Acts 10:43-48
Title: “Have You Received the Holy Ghost?”
Subj: The question was not, “Have you received Christ,” but “Have you received the Holy Spirit?”
We, of the independent Baptist movement, have made a grievous error in our theology. We have not done it on purpose, but we have done it by default. Personally, I have done it and you have done it. My church is doing it and your church is doing it. And I don’t think you even realize what it is.
We preach and teach correct doctrine. We hold to the correct form of church government and leadership. We give to support our church and to missionaries on far flung fields of the world. We hold to a music standard that glorifies God. We are concerned about our Christian brothers and sisters. We are burdened about the lost coming to Christ. We honor our parents, love our spouses and rear our children for the Lord. “Yes, yes, yes, bro. Darst—so what’s the problem?”
The Bible says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water (life of Christ), and the blood (death of Christ): and these three agree in one [purpose].”
The problem is that we have been generally oblivious and/or unmindful of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit (repeat). Why is that important?
First because there is nothing that can be or will be accomplished in the Christian’s life apart from the indwelling or controlling Holy Spirit. Second because there is nothing in the spiritual realm that can be or will be accomplished apart from the ever-present Holy Spirit. Third because there is nothing in the lost person’s heart that can be or will be accomplished apart from the convicting Holy Spirit. To this end there are 237 mentions of the Holy Spirit in the N.T. under 16 different designations, from Holy Ghost to the Spirit of Wisdom. An author stated that the O.T. was the age of the Father; the Gospels were the age of the Son, and the N.T. is the age of the Holy Spirit.
Though my message is not on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, let me remind you that He is God; He is Lord; and He is fully a Person like the other two members of the Godhead. His present work can be summarized in:
Jn. 16:7-9 “Nevertheless I (Jesus) tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He (Holy Spirit) is come, He will reprove (“convict”) the world of sin, and of [the need of] righteousness, and of [coming] judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me;” So the Holy Spirit’s present work is as the Comforter, the Convicter and the Convincer!
With this background in mind turn to our text in:
Text: Acts 10:43-48--“Have You Received the Holy Ghost?”—prayer
I. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SALVATION (v34-43)
A. The Holy Spirit Spoke (v33c-34)
1. To men who were ready to listen (v33c)
a. Recognized they were in the presence of God
b. Were ready to hear from God
c. Were willing to obey God
2. Through men to men (v34a)
2Pe 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (borne along like a ship before the wind) by the Holy Ghost.”
a. Peter opened his mouth and said. No signs, no visions, no miracles. Just the inspired Word of God!
1. That God is no respecter (“one who discriminates”) of persons (v34-35)
a. God doesn’t care what nation you are from, what race you are, what gender you are, what economic status you have, what education you have, what physical characteristics you have, what age you are, what religion you belong to or anything else. Anyone can be saved and everyone will be judged! It’s your choice.
b. To be accepted with God is to fear Him and work righteousness. What is this “work of righteousness?”
“Then said they unto Him, ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent’.” Jn. 6:28-29
a. Jesus Christ is the Word (Jn. 1:1-3)
b. Jesus Christ is the only source of peace (lack of conflict with God, the longing of man’s heart)
c. Jesus Christ is Lord of all. It is He with whom you have to do!
3. That God anointed Jesus of Nazareth [the man] with the Holy Ghost (power) and God (the Holy Ghost) was with Jesus (v38)
a. Everything the man Jesus did was done by the ability and power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, everything He did was good and it was healing.
4. That God determined Christ’s D.B.R., despite being “with Him (v38).” (v39-41)
a. Just because something “bad” happens to you does not mean that God is not with you.
5. That Jesus commanded us (early church) to preach & testify that He (Jesus) is to be the Judge of the living/dead (v42)
a. It is Jesus that man ultimately has to face!
6. That to Jesus gave all the [O.T.] prophets testimony that (v43)
a. Through His Name
b. Through believing in Him
c. Whosoever shall receive remission of [their] sins.
A. The Holy Spirit [permanently] Fell (“to fall upon one i.e. to seize, take possession of him”) on Them (v44) (Gentiles, 1st time)
Acts 2:2-4 (turn)
1. Which heard (“comprehended, understood”) the Word
a. Happened while Peter was still speaking!
b. They did not reform, they did not turn over a new leaf, they did not straighten out their lives—they believed!
B. The Holy Spirit Confirmed What the Word Had Said (v45)
1. See v34
1. A gift is something that is freely given without strings attached
a. The gift was poured out (“shed forth, bestowed”).
b. Everything God gives us is a gift. Christ is a gift; salvation is a gift; eternal life is a gift; the Holy Spirit is a gift; and your spiritual gift is a gift!
D. The Holy Spirit Proved His Presence (v46)
1. In how they supernaturally spoke (a known language) and why they said what they said (to magnify God).
2. There should be something in your life, a spiritual gift, that proves you have the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that something is for one purpose—to magnify or make known God!
1. You receive remission (“release” & “pardon”) of [your] sins. (v43) Every sin you ever committed from the day of your birth to the day of your death is pardoned!
a. You’re FREE!! Did you hear me? You’re FREE!!!
2. You receive the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit (v44)
a. Now you have a Guide to direct your steps toward godliness as you walk through this sin-cursed world
3. You receive a gift from the Holy Spirit for you to use to serve God (v45)
a. Not tongues, which has passed away.
b. But a gift to magnify God
1) “metaph. to make conspicuous; to esteem highly, to extol, laud, celebrate.” And, no, I don’t know what your gift is; don’t ask me ‘cause I can’t tell you. But does it magnify God?
A. It is the Receiving of the Holy Spirit the Denotes Salvation (v47)
1. Notice Peter did not say that they had received Christ, but that they had received the Holy Spirit!
1. Baptism or immersion in water
1. Acceptance into the church
1. Not “ho-hum, is church over!”
Cornelius and his household were the embodiment of Matt. 5:6: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Christian, any lack in your spiritual life is simply a lack of the Holy Spirit’s control over your life. Any lack in your physical life is simply a lack of the Holy Spirit’s control over your life. It is not that everything will be automatically “fixed,” but that you will automatically see things anew and from God’s point of view. Now you can accept what you can’t change, or change what you can change and bring your life into compliance with the Word of God. It is not often that you can make one decision in life that will positively affect the rest of your life. Make one today!
Return to the top of this page