The Holy Spirit
Course: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New
Testament Church
Section Three: The Ministry of
the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
Lesson 5
Lesson Title: The Character of the New
Text: Acts
Theme: When the Holy Spirit is moving we can expect
the Church to have the same characteristics as the
Introduction: Acts
What did Barnabas see?
He would have seen the same things happening in
The Grace of God
The power of the Holy Spirit
seen in the lives of believers.
Love towards one another
Faith that is a living faith. An active, trusting faith
in daily life.
By their fruits you shall know them, Matthew 7:16. People
are known by what they do. The evidence
that the Holy Spirit is moving in the body of Christ is that the 'Grace of God'
will be seen in the everyday life of the believers.
Introductory
illustration: The Grace of God
What would we expect to see in the Church?
Helping each other.
Fellowshipping together
Giving to one another.
What do we see?
Yes we can see this but often we only see an organized
religion.
1)
Church in isolation. Separation is not isolation.
2)
Like the world – without the power of God
3)
Counseling - psychology
Main Points;
1
(Acts 2:42-47) The Grace of God in the Early Church.
The church was characterized by
·
a love for teaching (
The scriptures come alive because the scriptures reveal
Jesus.
The scriptures are not an end in themselves – we must see
Jesus.
It is possible to be disciplined in reading the scriptures daily
but forget the importance of growing in relationship with Jesus.
·
A love for fellowship (
·
prayer (
·
praise (
2
(Acts 4:32-35) The Grace of God was seen because the believers were characterized by
·
their unity (
It is a unity that cannot be produced. It is a unity that is received through new
life in Christ. We are not told to
produce this unity – that is what ecumenicalism tries to do.
We are told to keep the unity of the Spirit. Ephesians
4:3.
It is a unity that is kept by
our love one for another. Jesus said
this is how people will know you are my disciples. John 13:34-35
When the grace of God is working in a person’s life then he or
she will be generous. God’s people are a
giving people.
·
their great concern and love for
one another (
3.
Great grace was upon them all (Acts
·
Grace is the Greek word ‘charis’
and has the meaning 'that which brings joy'.
God’s grace brings His people into a right relationship with Himself
through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and also brings great rejoicing as
the heart is filled with gratitude, thankfulness and joy. We need the presence and power of God in the
Church.
·
The result of God’s grace upon the
·
The Lord gives more grace, James 4:6. Grace comes to those who walk in humility. Greek – tapeinos which
means lowly and not proud. It is a
humility that does not trust in our own abilities but is dependant upon the
Lord. The
Summary:
1
When the Grace of God is upon the Church it will be like
Acts 2:42-47
2
When the Grace of God is upon believers they will be like
Acts 4:32-35
3
When there is great grace upon the body of Christ, then the
result will be that people will be drawn to Christ.