Holy Spirit – Gifts

Subject: How the Gifts Flowed after Pentecost

by Rick Welborne

John 14:1518 (NKJV) 

15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 

–Hopefully by now we are beginning to see that unless we have Holy Spirit in our lives and in Life Church...we are sunk.

–By now we should see that we are living way below what Jesus intended for us to live when He promised Holy Spirit would come to us.

–One of my concerns as a pastor is that it is so hard for us to be filled or baptized in Holy Spirit because we are so full of other stuff.

Matthew 23:25 (NLT) 

25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and selfindulgence! 

Ephesians 4:1820 (NLT) 

18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 

19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 

–We must repent of our evil ways and get the junk out but not leave the house empty...Holy Spirit is the answer for this.

Acts 2:3738 (NLT) 

37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

–Today I want us to look at something that many in churches (even A/G) that would rather just leave alone...we will not leave it alone because it is God’s Word.

–Let me reiterate something that I said in a previous message for clarity...The gift of Holy Spirit baptism or the Promise of the Father is Holy Spirit Himself.

–Pentecostals and others have tried to say that Holy Spirit baptism is receiving one of the gifts listed in the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Cor. 12.

–Hear me well, when Jesus baptized us in Holy Spirit it was more than just receiving a gift from Him such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, etc.

–When you are baptized (submerged) in Holy Spirit you have the 3^rd Person of the Trinity coming to dwell inside of you...He has been with you and now He is in you! John 14:17

–Many say they want Holy Spirit to come and some even invite Him into their lives and churches but they seem to put a qualifier on Him...come but leave the gifts behind. Embarrassed!

–Hear me well...if we will grow to 1000 plus we need Holy Spirit to come brining all His power, all His gifts, and all His glory...we need the whole package that Holy Spirit is!

1. Evidence of the gifts of the Spirit in operation after the day of Pentecost. 

–First of all, let’s review what those gifts are:

1 Corinthians 12:711 (NKJV) 

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 

–Can we all agree that we need Holy Spirit to show up, to manifest His gifts, and that people will be saved.

–I know there are abuses of these gifts but I am talking about genuine authentic gifts given by Holy Spirit as He wills...we cannot pick and choose our preferences...all gifts.

–When the 120 received the baptism in Holy Spirit all of them were overcome by God, Holy Spirit and they were all speaking in tongues...praying in an unknown language to them.

Acts 2:1113 (NKJV) 

11 we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 

13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 

–Immediately after they are baptized in Holy Spirit the gifts begin to flow...they speak in tongues and those gathered hear them speaking in their own languages...that’s God…that’s the gifts.

–By the way, from the beginning they thought they were drunk and weird...us too!  Peter stands and tells them they are not drunk...this is prophecy fulfilled...

Acts 2:1718 (NKJV) 

17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 

–So far we see tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and now we see the apostles performing miracles thru Holy Spirit...This is truly another One like Jesus. 

--This is better for the apostles and us because Holy Spirit can be with all of us at one time bringing all of His gifts and power.

Acts 2:43 (NLT) 

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 

–How many of you believe that our church would grow if Holy Spirit showed up with His gift of healing:

Acts 3:46 (NKJV) 

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 

5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 

–After Holy Spirit showed up and the man was healed many more people came to Christ

Acts 4:4 (NKJV) 

4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

2. There is evidence Holy Spirit continued to empower the disciples in the face of opposition.

Acts 4:78 (NKJV) 

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 

–Peter boldly tells the religious leaders Jesus was the healer and they crucified Christ! They are threatened to no longer speak in the Name of Jesus...so they pray for more!

Acts 4:2931 (NKJV) 

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 

–Wait a minute...these guys were already saved and had already been baptized in Holy Spirit...with persecution they needed more...more what? More Holy Spirit power.

–To do what?  Gifts of the Spirit!  Healings, signs, wonders, speaking God’s Word with boldness...prophesying!  

–In the church the gifts were used to weed out those who were insincere in their witness and testimony...Word of Knowledge and discerning of spirits.

Acts 5:13 (NKJV) 

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

–In light of this being the last days...how much more do we need Holy Spirit and His gifts to make sure those among us are with us and not against us...oh how we need Him.

Acts 5:1116 (NKJV) 

11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 

13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 

15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 

16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 

–Church growth is continuing because Holy Spirit is given preeminence in the lives of the disciples...shadows healing, deliverance, miracles because of Holy Spirit. His gifts abounding.

3. Holy Spirit will give us the courage to obey God rather than man.

Acts 5:2529 (NKJV) 

25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 

28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.  

–Take note, Church, they are coming after us (We ought to) but if we will be obedient God will continue to fill us with Holy Spirit power and boldness! Just read how Satanist are re-surging. 

Acts 5:3032 (NKJV) 

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 

31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 

32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." 

–Conclusion for today: When we have Spirit power:

Acts 5:3839 (NKJV) 

38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 

39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow itlest you even be found to fight against God.”

–You cannot overthrow it...M. C. Hammer - Can’t touch this! We are more than conquerors, no weapon formed against us will prosper!

–Why?  Holy Spirit in us bringing all His gifts!

–Note: Holy Spirit and His gifts were functioning mostly outside the church! We really do not know how to process this!

Mark 16:1518 (NKJV) 

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."