Pastor Francois van Niekerk Date: 21 June 2015 – first morning service Preacher: Pastor Francois van Niekerk

Theme: Life with the Holy Spirit – knowing, growing, going  

HOLY SPIRIT POWER AND INFLUENCE Sermon: Holy Spirit power and influence Text: Acts 1:8 (NLT) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Emphasis added)   Introduction The past few weeks we have looked at the person of the Holy Spirit, who He is and what He does. To know someone personally is far more important than to only know about them. Our theme is all about enhancing our connection with the person of the Holy Spirit. We have looked at the power and wisdom He brings and how all believers need to be filled with the Spirit and learn to know His voice. His presence brings freedom and healing! Walking with the Holy Spirit and being filled with His power is a huge honour. Today we will focus on the fact that He empowers us for divine purpose.

FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIP Main points Focus on relationship

Life with the Holy Spirit is about relationship Life with the Holy Spirit is about having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. It is about walking with Him daily, listening to His voice as well as loving and obeying Him. Relationship with the Holy Spirit needs to be central in our lives! With this core focus underlined, we can now look at the purpose His power has in our lives. If we truly focus on Him and we are filled with His power, our lives will have great purpose.  

POWER FOR PURPOSE 2. Power for purpose From today’s text we can derive that the power of the Holy Spirit has clear purpose.

THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER IS FOR INFLUENCE The purpose of His power is influence.

Acts 1:8 NLT But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere − in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Emphasis added) Acts 1:8 (NLT) His power fuels the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, causing people to be supernaturally influenced for godly change. As believers, it is our honour to be ambassadors of Christ. In this capacity we are called to influence people and point them towards Jesus all the time. Influence is a powerful force – think of salt and light. This force can be used for either good or evil. The Holy Spirit empowers us so that our lives, words and actions can influence people to know Jesus. You are called to be influenced by the Holy Spirit, and then to become an influence for Him.

HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE FOR GODLY CHANGE The Holy Spirit empowers us to influence people to become aware of Jesus, and for godly change. Sometimes His power is demonstrated in signs and wonders, other times through kindness and compassion. We are God’s vessels, filled with the wonderful treasure of His presence and power. He chooses where, when and how He wants to distribute it (in the same way a gardener uses a garden hose). This scripture sums it up beautifully:

2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.’ 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)   The Holy Spirit must be allowed to do His work of convicting and convincing people. Although we take action and speak the words as He empowers us, He remains the one who does the work of challenging and changing hearts. It is not our job. Let’s work with the Holy Spirit and do our part.

HOLY SPIRIT INFLUENCE IN ACTION Egypt, Cyrene (Libya) and Ethiopia are considered the first nations to have been introduced to the good news of Jesus in Africa. How did this happen in a world with no technology? In short, it happened through the Holy Spirit empowering people to influence others by telling them about Jesus. Let’s look at the example of one man who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, influenced an Ethiopian to carry the good news of Jesus Christ to his country. Philip was one of the first deacons (servants) in the early church. He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom (Acts 6:3).

Filled with the Holy Spirit … Acts 6:3 NIV Due to the pressure of persecution he moved away from Jerusalem and started telling people about Jesus in the city of Samaria. In Acts 8:26 we read how the Holy Spirit worked to mobilise him for influence. This story illustrates the going part of our focus on the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:26-39 NIV ‘Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.’ Acts 8:26-39 (NIV)   One man under the power of the Holy Spirit, influencing another man can bring the light of God to a nation! From this illustration we learn the following about Holy Spirit influence:

Listen when God speaks. Acts 8:26 NIV Listen when God speaks – it will launch you into adventures on a daily basis (Verse 26).

The Holy Spirit speaks simple instructions. Acts 8:26-29 NIV The Holy Spirit speaks simple instructions. Don’t complicate things, divert to the rational or be over spiritual (Verses 26-29).

Obey when the Spirit speaks. Acts 8:27 NIV Obedience to the Holy Spirit’s instructions triggers divine appointments and events for influence (Verse 27).

Ask real questions at the right time. Acts 8:30 NIV Ask real questions at the right time (Verse 30).

The Holy Spirit sets the stage − play your part. Acts 8:28 NIV The Holy Spirit sets the stage for His purposes. The Eunuch was busy reading a passage written by the Prophet Isaiah when Philip showed up – this could not have been a coincidence! It was the work of the Holy Spirit setting the stage. All Philip had to do was show up and play his part. The Eunuch was the minister of finance, in other words, a man of influence that could spread the message of Jesus to his nation (Verse 28).

Focus on Jesus. Acts 8:34-35 NIV Use the stage set by the Holy Spirit to tell others about Jesus. Don’t get into petty topics or doctrines. It is Jesus who saves, not doctrine! The Holy Spirit’s mark of authenticity is that He always puts the spotlight on Jesus. If you want the Spirit working through you, then stick to Jesus (Verses 34-35).

The Holy Spirit will do the work. Trust the Holy Spirit to complete the work. If you complete your assignment, He will complete the work of saving people. Do your part, and He will do His. God does not always give us the complete picture because it will be too overwhelming. He did not tell Philip that He wanted to use him to save Ethiopia. He only told him to take a certain road, and then to walk next to a chariot. It is important that we all do our part, however big or small, because in the greater picture every part is important.

There is joy where He works. Acts 8:39 NIV When the Holy Spirit is at work influencing people, the focus remains on the Lord not on the vessel He uses, and there is great joy in the lives of those affected (Verse 39).   Here is a summary of these lessons on Holy Spirit influence: Listen when God speaks. The Holy Spirit speaks simple instructions. Obey when the Spirit speaks. Ask real questions at the right time. The Holy Spirit sets the stage – play your part. Focus on Jesus. The Holy Spirit will do the work. There is joy where He works. Who knows where the next person you speak to about Jesus will take the message? Application Walk with the Holy Spirit. Let your relationship with Him enjoy top priority. Give Him your full attention and listen when He speaks. He will empower you to tell people about Jesus and also provide opportunities to do so. Be ready and act in His power to influence people. Prayer Holy Spirit, thank you for Your power in my life. I believe I am empowered to be a godly influence. I will play my part as You lead me. Amen.