Sunday Sermon: Receiving The Holy Ghost, February 7, 2021
Sunday Sermon at The Grateful Church (UPCI) in Phoenix
Receiving The Holy Ghost
Receiving the Holy Ghost is a joyful life-changing experience that occurs when we believe God concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is an experience shared only by people who (a) believe in what God wants, (b) trust in His promise to give them the Holy Ghost, and (c), have the readiness to do what He says. God wants to be worshipped. John 4:23-24, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Hence, God pours His spirit into human hearts to worship Him in spirit and truth. Joel 2:28-29 - And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy …
Receiving the Holy Ghost is a process of hearing the word to raise awareness, believing the word to heighten expectation, and fervent submission to God’s spirit to form a habitation of praises – The Church. Reading from the text,
Acts 10:30-35, 42-46
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the seaside: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now, therefore, are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Raised Awareness. Hearing the gospel is particularly important to a person seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost. God raised apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to make known to people His desires to dwell in human hearts.
Rom. 10:14-15
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, …
While Peter was yet speaking God poured His Spirit into Cornelius and his family where they were seating.
Heightened Expectation. Our expectation is raised when we: (a) believe what God wants, (b) are persuaded that God keeps He promise of the Holy Ghost, and (c), have the readiness to do or obey what He says.
Rom. 10:16-17
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
The disciples heard the prophecy of Joel but did not fully understand the reach of the promise. The overarching sentiment was that the Holy Ghost was for some people. Peter confessed in Act 11 saying,
Acts 11:15-18.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, …
The binding tie was that the Jewish disciple heard the gentiles speak with tongues as they experienced in Act 2:1-4. Moreover, the one seeking the Holy Ghost must not only believe but wait patiently for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Fervent submission. Cornelius, his family, and the 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost tarried and eagerly waited to receive the promise of the Holy Ghost. They were willing to do whatever it takes, praying, praising God, and yielding themselves to the Holy Ghost to receive the promise. Do not give up too easily.
Act 10:33
33 Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now, therefore, are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
People who receive the Holy Ghost:
They ask for it: - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13
They believe in it: - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive) John 7:37-39.
In Acts 19:2, Paul said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
They get filled where they are: - And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. - Acts 2:2
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