19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior
regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.
19:2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that
there is a Holy Spirit."
19:3 Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They
answered, "Into John's baptism."
19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus."
19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.
19:6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon
them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied--
19:7 altogether there were about twelve of them.
I'm diving into this text because of my congregation's ignorance of
and antagonism toward the Holy Spirit. I'm not talking about about
antagonism regarding controversial spiritual gifts or anything like
that. I'm talking of many folks who say, "I don't believe in the
Holy Spirit." or "I don't believe we do things by the Holy Spirit."
[Both of those are actual quotes, one from a church officer!]
I think this text is particularly applicable because it shows (much
like the Gospel text) how various things are tied together:
repenting, baptizing, faith in Jesus, and receiving the Spirit.
The other helpful aspect of the text is how it exemplifies, both in
the case of Paul and those he baptizes, how to deal with a lack of
knowledge. Paul does not condemn these folks for their ignorance. In
fact, the scripture refers to them as disciples. Paul simple tells
them what they do not know. They, in turn, do not pretend to know
what they do not know. Rather, they hear the word which God has for
them and then respond to it.
And (hooray!) God is faithful. God responds to the actions of Paul
and these people in the Holy Spirit coming upon them.
It's still the seeds of a sermon, but it's taking shape! Thanks be
to God!
Dan in Philly
Dan in Philly, I know what you mean about trying to awaken folks to
the power of the Spirit! Preach it! It turned my congregation around
and Paul is so clear with this text for the need for the Spirit in
our lives! D. in Pa.
I'm diving into this text because of my congregation's ignorance of
and antagonism toward the Holy Spirit. >>
great text.. when i went to seminary.. years ago they taught that
the Holy Spirit was a good theory...a good way to try to explain the
work of God..... it was only some 18 years later that i found out
that that the Spirit Holy was actually working ass she was supposed
to! Also speaks to the misunderstanding that we are SUPPOSED to
speak in tongues and get slain.... rather than it is all a gift
which we need not feel second class if it doesn't happen to us. Some
progressive and liberals seem to have trouble with seeing the Spirit
in this way.. We also need to recall that we can't demand gifts from
God. We have experienced the work of the Spirit for the past 8
years.... present with a number of persons, transforming, changnig
hearts.
donhoff, elmira, NY
Dan in Philly - I'll be praying for you and your congregation. What
a sad state so many of our churches are in! What you wrote reminds
me of a poem I wrote back in college days:
The Church of No Return
Pews display their heavy burden - folks all clad in Sunday best.
Pews distress the congregation - hardwood is averse to rest! In this
church filled with empty people.
Choir stands to sing an anthem, a worn-out song with lifeless beat.
Choir strains to feign rejoicing; no one claps or stomps his feet in
the church filled with empty people.
Pulpit draws the eyes upon it - sermon time once again. Pulpit
drones for half an hour; major theme: "It's wrong to sin." In the
church filled with empty people.
Altar dressed in soft silk linens; there's need to fill the church's
tills. Altar draws the ushers forward; silver plates bring dollar
bills from the church filled with empty people.
Spirit finds it hard to live here; this House of God is not a home.
Spirit flies to some new dwelling, He cannot reap what's not been
sown in this church filled with empty people.
I am a part of the United Methodist Church and so I have first hand
experience with churches filled with empty people! I wonder why we
talk so little about the Holy Spirit? Are we scared? Are we just too
sophisticated to believe in "ghosts"?
Part of my sermon will probably be reminding the people that we all
believe in invisible things that have real power (and which are
directed) - like electricity, magnetic forces and radio and tv waves
- so why should we have such a hard time believing God's Spirit has
REAL influence within and through our lives as believers, (as long
as he has an open channnel!)?
Here's a great illustration I found on a computer compilation:
"Benjamin West, the great painter, speaking of Gilbert Stuart, a
brother artist famed for his beautiful coloring, used to say to his
pupils, 'It's no use to steal Stuart's colors; if you want to paint
as he does, you must steal his eyes.' When we are baffled in our
efforts to live as Christ lived, the record of his life, however
wonderful it is, will not enable us to be like Him. What we need is
His heart, His nature. Only divinity within us can recognize
divinity without. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot know Him as
God." The original author was not listed...
Steve in Indy
I too will be preaching on the acts text, because I feel that the
church needs to be awakend to the power of the Holy Spirit. I also
have officers who say things like "I don't know the will of God." OR
"I don't know anything about the Holy Spirit.
In preparing for this sermon, I reviewed a book I had in seminary,
written by Robert Tuttle on the Holy Spirit. I found a quote from
John Wesley, in the book almost as if Wesley looked into the future
and saw where we were headed. Wesley states: "I am not afraid that
the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in
Europe or America. But I am afraid,lest they should only exist as a
dead sect, having the form of religion without the power." We may
not be completely there, but it seems as if we are well on the road
to getting there.
Why are so many churches without power. Have we stopped at just the
water and forgotten to strive on to receive the power of the Holy
Spirit, which Wesley would call striving for perfection or living
lives of holiness of hearts? Did we not stay in Jerusalem as
instructed, until the breath of God's fire touched and fills our
souls and lives? Are we afraid of the Holy Spirit in the church?
I shall pray for the power to fall upon your sermon, you are
preaching from this text. I hope you will do the say for me. Sermon
title: A Powerless Church!
BWJ in Wisconsin
Dear Steve in Indy: Don't despair. The people are hungry, not empty.
The Spirit manifests Itself in many, many ways...often in some of
our "empty" churches as the Peace that passes understanding.
However...get in touch with the Upper Room site in Nashville and
check out the Walk to Emmaus and see if there's a group in your
area. "It only takes a spark..."
A former agnostic called Sodbuster who had his eyes and heart opened
Christmas Eve 1983 and has neve been the same since...who's been
pastoring now for 11 yeas *S*
