1 | The Promise of the Father
“The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.”
Warren Wiersbe
Slide: Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46
and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again
from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would
be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You
are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of
My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with
power from on high."
The Promise of the Father:
Even Jesus was led and empowered “by the Holy Spirit”
Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized,
and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended
upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My
beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." 23 When He began His ministry, Jesus
Himself was about thirty years of age…
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
around by the Spirit in the wilderness… 14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the
power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding
district.
The Promise of the Father:
The Holy Spirit transforms us from observers to witnesses.
The Promise of the Father:
The Holy Spirit is a person, and He is personal.
John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in
Me. 2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would
have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you."
Slide: John 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that
He may be with you forever; 17 [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, [but] you know Him
because He abides with you and will be in you."
The Promise of the Father:
The “Helper” comforts, intercedes, and advocates on our behalf!
Slide: The Promise of the Father:
The Holy Spirit is powerful
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that
I do, he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do; because I go to the
Father."
The Promise of the Father:
Waiting on the Lord is an active process. You could also call it prayer.
Slide: The promise of the pastor:
Seek the Lord in prayer
Filter decisions through the Word
Move forward humbly
Luke 11:9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you. … 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is
asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
12 Or [if] he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If
you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"