Holy Spirit – The Difference He Makes

Holy Spirit – The Difference He Makes

Subject – Being Transformed by Holy Spirit Power

by Rick Welborne 

–We have spoken of Jesus being our example of going thru the great door (the veil) set before Him and how He did that thru His blood and by the Spirit of God!

Hebrews 9:11‑14 (NKJV) 

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 

12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 

13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

–What do you mean, Pastor Rick, that Jesus is our example: It was thru His blood and it was thru the Eternal Holy Spirit that He offered Himself...if we will offer ourselves to God and will serve Him in an acceptable way...it will be thru the blood and the Spirit!

–We must offer ourselves to God in an acceptable way and I truly wonder if we are doing that or if we know how to do that.

–Years ago my sweet wife bought a book for me by one of my heroes of the faith...Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle church in New York ...Spirit Rising!

–This book has lit a fire in me that if we will be a church of Life (Living in Freedom Everyday) it will be thru the power of Holy Spirit.

–Just as a reminder...we have preached about worship...worship draws the Spirit of God to us to fill us to overflowing! We should love to worship God!

–We have spoken of the armor of God and how we should put it on every day (Living in freedom everyday - Life)...remember how Paul sums up his thoughts:

Ephesians 6:17‑18 (NKJV) 

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints‑‑ 

–What was Paul saying...to seal the deal on putting on the whole armor of God we must be willing to pray in the Holy Spirit...be filled with Holy Spirit.

–We have spoken of chains falling off so we can go thru the great and effective door... Jesus again is our example of the power of the Spirit to break chains:

Luke 4:18‑19 (NKJV) 

18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 

–Jesus was saying...The power of the Holy Spirit is upon Me to see chains come off the poor, off the brokenhearted, off the captives, off the blind (sick), off the oppressed.

–Do you just suppose He wants the Holy Spirit to come on us for the same reason!

–We have preached about going thru that great and effective door...Paul went thru doors because he was led by the Holy Spirit to do so.

–We are speaking about being one (Jesus prayer) and that happens thru the power of the Holy Spirit:

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

–We will be one when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill all of us because we will be filled with love for one another.

–Jesus had told the disciples (actually 500 of them) to go wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them...they did what they were told...120 did.

Acts 2:1‑4 (NKJV) 

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Cymbala - Suddenly they received something from heaven, something that was far beyond intelligence, talents, and training—the coming of the Holy Spirit in power.  For the first time they understood why it was good that Jesus went away. The Helper had come, and although Jesus was gone, the invisible Spirit had now taken residence in them and had granted them power.

John 16:7 (NKJV) 

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 

–Probably the best way to understand what Jesus meant by saying it would be better for the disciples after He left is to look at the life of Peter.

–In the Gospels, Peter often spoke at the wrong time, he misunderstood the teachings of Jesus, had a tendency toward boasting of his superiority over the other disciples.

–But when Jesus was arrested not only did he run but he cursed and denied even knowing the Lord. Good questions: Why was Peter so weak and prone to make mistakes?

–How could Peter deny the Messiah Who had chosen him to be in His inner circle and worked countless miracles right before his eyes?

–Didn’t Peter have a gifted teacher? Yes, it was Jesus Himself! Did Peter lack a role model and example to follow? No, he had the greatest role model of all time...the Lord Jesus Christ.

--So then, what did all this teaching, personal discipleship, and inspirational modeling do for Peter?  Evidently not enough!

–On the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, Peter fled with everyone else.

–Peter learned with over three years of excellent discipleship the harsh reality...it is one thing to know the Word of God...it is another to obey it.

Cymbala - Even the best discipleship training and spiritual accountability proved insufficient for Peter, because no outward teaching can compare to the inward power of the Holy Spirit.

–Stay with me...if you need proof...look at Peter on the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out.

–The political atmosphere and danger had not changed from the time Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter now preached boldly about the name of Jesus to massive crowds.

Cymbala - This was the new Peter! He was filled with the Spirit! Jesus’ promise about the Holy Spirit was right there to see in Peter’s life. Suddenly the failed disciple was preaching with such amazing effectiveness that thousands were converted to Christ. Jesus had been with Peter, but now the Spirit was in him.

–Jesus said this was better that the Helper, the Holy Spirit would come and dwell inside of you...the Holy Spirit was Peter’s great and powerful door!

–Hear me tonight...we will not go thru the door God has for us without the power of the Holy Spirit.

–As we read thru the NT we see that Peter continued in the power of wisdom and courage because of the indwelling Holy Spirit...He even had the courage to be a martyr for Christ!

–Peter was a different man After the Holy Spirit filled him with power.

–It is important you understand that you will know when you are filled with the Holy Spirit (Peter knew), you will experience a change, greater power, and boldness. You will experience courage, wisdom, and power to be free from your chains!

–I sense many of you have been frustrated with your life...your marriage, children, occupation, relationship with God, addictions, yourself and your worth.

–Peter was a frustrated man because he could not stand for Jesus, he could not witness for Him, he even cursed and denied Jesus, he even walked away and went back fishing!

–Maybe you are here today and your walk with Christ has become stagnant and you are starting to think ...What’s the use of even trying?

–You have heard about the great and effective door, you have heard about the chains falling off, you have heard about this incredible armor that God has for us, you have heard about blessing God at all times but it seems impossible.

–You want to go thru that door but there seems to be an oppression of the enemy that keeps you from getting there...I know what that feels like...easy to lose hope!

–Can you imagine how the disciples felt...their dreams were shattered, their hopes were crushed, they were embarrassed by their failure to be faithful, they all walked away thinking it was all over.

–They had walked with Him for 3 years but when it came down to it... they did not have what they needed to be faithful. 

–The beautiful part of this story is that Jesus rose from the dead and now He is again appearing to His disciples.

–Can you imagine the joy to know that Jesus is alive and then, the shame and embarrassment to know you deserted Him...Peter, do you love me? 

Cymbala - Through His physical body, Jesus could be a mentor, teacher, preacher, and a friend to the disciples, but He couldn’t produce change from the inside out. This would be for the Spirit to accomplish just as God had planned from all eternity.  

–To help them get thru that powerful and effective door of being who He called them to be He sent them to Jerusalem:   

Luke 24:46‑53 (NKJV) 

46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 

47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

48 And you are witnesses of these things. 

49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." 

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 

51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 

52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 

53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. 

–The baptism in the Holy Spirit changed their lives forever! Next Sunday night is Pentecost Sunday…come and pray for a major outpouring.