“Unstoppable Work of the Holy Spirit” - Acts 11:17
Sermon series: Unstoppable Work of the Holy Spirit
Sermon Title: Unstoppable Work of the Holy Spirit
Scripture: Acts 11:17
Introduction:
The theme of the year 2020 was See God is doing a new thing. We have witnessed God doing a new thing in and through our church and our families during this challenging year.
The theme of 2021 is The Unstoppable Work of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is unstoppable in any circumstance.
The context of Acts 11 is this: when the Holy Spirit was speaking to Peter to go and minister to Cornelius, who was a Gentile, Peter had at first said no because he thought the Gospel message was only for the Jews. But the Holy Spirit was persistent, not just calling Peter once, but 3 times and that is when Peter’s attitude shifted. At the same time God was speaking to Peter, He was also speaking to Cornelius.
Overview:
As we look at the Book of Acts, the early church believers, they faced even more difficult challenges and hardship
Many were persecuted, put into prison, because they were preaching the kingdom of God message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But they never stopped ministry – evangelizing and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and becoming the salt and light
Slogan – Let us go back to the early church days
During these days of the pandemic, the Lord is teaching us to go back to early church days – where we will not stop to continually press on with the conviction and calling of the Gospel
Question: What is the secret of the early church – to never stop, but to press on?
Answer: it was because of the unstoppable power of the Holy Spirit empowered them to advance the kingdom of God
How did the Holy Spirit empower and use the church? When we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit, what kind of power is it?
3 Things to share with you:
1. Persistent Power of the Holy Spirit
Power of the Holy Spirit was so persistent giving them the conviction to overcome barriers
Power of the Holy Spirit will cause us to become consumed with the calling of the Gospel
Not be idle until everything is over
2. Creative Power of the Holy Spirit
New way of forming spiritual community
Holy Spirit has an unlimited, creative power, and component
3. Unifying Power of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit was bringing this conviction and creativity it did not lead to chaos, confusion, or division
We need to understand what is the essential and what is non-essential part of the Gospel – where we don’t compromise the essential, instead we are being united
Know there is nothing that can stop the work of the Holy Spirit
God is inviting His people to join in and be used by His unstoppable work through the Spirit.
Key Bible passages:
Acts 1:8
”But you will receive when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 5:39
Acts 10:5
Acts 10:19-20
Acts 11:18
Post-sermon questions:
Meditate: What does it mean for you to allow the work and persistent, creative and unifying power of the Holy Spirit to work through you?
Reflect: What is stopping and hindering God’s work in your life? In our campus? (sin issues, fear, old patterns, old way of thinking, pride, etc.)
Application: How can you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life? In our Campus? How do you think the Holy Spirit is trying to work through and lead in your life?
