In Part 2 of “Left on Read” we see how the Holy Spirit is not a force to be wielded, or just a doctrine to be believed. The Holy Spirit is God. He is a person to follow who is powerful and who empowers us to accomplish God’s purposes.
Jesus said that when the disciples received power, they would become his witnesses throughout all the world. That same promise is true for us: when we receive the Spirit we are empowered to accomplish the mission of Jesus – to both declare and demonstrate the gospel, the good news of Jesus.
Freedom
Jesus Culture
Homecoming
Bethel Music
Resurrender
Hillsong Worship
Here Again
Elevation Worship
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John 14:12
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
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Acts 1:1-8
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
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Genesis 41:38-39
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
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Joseph was empowered by the Holy Spirit for God’s purposes.
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Exodus 31:1-5
The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
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Bezalel was empowered by the Holy Spirit for God’s purposes.
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The Holy Spirit fills and empowers people to accomplish the purposes of God.
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Nehemiah 9:29-30
And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules,…Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear.
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1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel?
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Isaiah 11:1-2
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
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Isaiah 42:6-7
I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
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Matthew 3:16,17
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
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Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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Francis Chan’s ‘The Forgotten God’
“God wants to see His children stake everything on His power and presence in their lives…the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus didn’t die in order to follow us…You don’t need the Holy Spirit if you are merely seeking to live a semi-moral life and attend church regularly. You can find people of all sorts in many religions doing that quite nicely without Him.”
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This Week’s Practices
1. Pray for the filling and empowerment of the Spirit.
2. Speak truth and show grace.
3. Stand in the gap.
4. Use your gifts.
