The Apostle Peter’s faith goes deeper

The Apostle Peter’s faith goes deeper

Posted on by Matthew Laker

(Series: Walking with the Apostle Peter and Jesus)

Jesus will transform your life, just as you are part of the journey in transforming someone else’s life.

peterIn Luke 8:40-9:6, Jesus calls a little huddle among the 12. Among this group is Peter. Jesus gives the apostles power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure disease. Then Jesus sends them out to preach about the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

Previously, Peter has been watching people who have faith that Jesus is their only hope.   Peter has been witnessing the power of the kingdom of God in others and has been learning how God views him and who he is. Now Jesus creates an environment for Peter to experience him in a deeper and new way.  This is an opportunity to trust in him and his word.

I remember when my triplets were born.  During those early months we were experiencing much stress and I remember one important conversation.  A good friend said to me, “now you have a choice to live out your theology or not.”  At the core of that comment was this question:

Do you believe who Jesus says he is and who he says you are?

Jesus sends Peter out on a training mission and tells him to take nothing.  We know this is to bring about a lesson, because later he would tell them they can take things with them as they proclaim the Kingdom.

Peter would go from knowledge of Jesus to experience of Jesus.  But the question is, for both Peter and ourselves, will what we really believe about Jesus come out in how we live our life?

Peter now has to live out his trust in Jesus as he goes out on his own  and trust in who Jesus says he is.  Peter’s theology (belief) and faith is put to practical tests.

David Benner shares “true knowing of our self, demands that we know our self as known by God, and true knowing of God demands that we know God not just as an abstraction or as objective data but in and through our lived experience”(The gift of knowing yourself).

Jesus sends Peter into a lived experience so that he would know Jesus in a new and deeper way.

Three questions of reflection:

a) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what is God revealing about himself to you? What do you need to accept about him?

b) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what are you learning about yourself? How does that align with God’s view of you?

The sending out of the 12 was to proclaim the kingdom of God.  However, the first priority was the training of the 12.  It was a season for them to put into practise what Jesus had revealed to them;  a season for their life to be transformed.  Transformed lives have a natural way of proclaiming the kingdom that goes beyond one self.

As you serve others and as you proclaim the kingdom, be aware that Jesus is wanting to teach you something in this process. Be aware that Jesus is wanting your life to be transformed as you are part of the journey of transformation in someone else.

How to be filled with the Spirit – Part 3

Posted on by Matthew Laker

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

This is Part Three of a series on How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

What is our motivation for wanting to be filled with the Spirit?  When we seek this, we do not always understand what we are asking for.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit,  means that Jesus is taking charge in our life, we will not be the master.  There is no magical formula, dance or puppet string we attach to our body. It simply is, but what is not so simple is offering your life on the altar of God to him.

Acts 5:32 (ESV)

32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, [by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This is where it starts and continues, offering our life to Jesus that he be Lord of our life.

Let’s test it in our life.

In prayer and song we sing about how we are sinners and need God, thinking that we have submitted to Jesus. Then, someone at work or a close family member or class mate or teacher says to us, “You are so selfish.”  How do we react?  Do we say you are right, show me how I was selfish?  Many of us will put up walls and get out our guns.  We will try to defend our self in hopes that they feel our pain of their judgment.

We could ask, “What lies are you believing in this moment?”  Paul says in Galatians 5, we are led by the Spirit, not the sin nature which is contrary to the Spirit.  However, in the midst of the text is an  understanding of the struggle between the two in ones’ life.  Perhaps there is some need for confession in your life.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is about Jesus being Lord of your life.

What do you find hard about living in Romans 12:1-2?  Where do you need to empty yourself so the Spirit can come in?  Seek the things of God and not self and the Spirit will rest with you.

Galatians 6:25-26 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Repentance is the road to being led by the Spirit.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Part 2

Posted on by Matthew Laker

holyspirit 1

Why do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

The first question you must ask is “Why?”  Why would we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?  Any time we see this happen in the Scriptures, it means that people are living counter cultural, and some are  thrown into jail (Acts 3).  The bigger question is “Are you willing to yield to the Spirit, thereby becoming obedient?

Be careful to not jump out and say “Yes” here.  Do you really believe that Jesus is the only hope?  Do you live as Jesus is the only Hope?  We will speak more to this in part 3, but let’s look at the first question.

We must remember that the Holy Spirit reminds us about Jesus, and he will call you to obedience in your life.  One person in Scripture tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.  They wanted the power without the full cost.  He  wanted to bargain, and failed to understand the Holy Spirit was a gift from God (Acts 8).  If you  are seeking the power for yourself, you will not get the power.

In Ephesians 5:18 Paul encourages the Church to be filled with Holy Spirit, and Jesus says we need the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).So take a moment and ask yourself “Why do you want to be anointed with the Spirit?  For what purpose?  Do you just want the thrill without having to pay the price? Do you want others to look at you in a certain way?  Is there something you are looking to gain in status among your community?”  If so, you really are not worshiping Jesus.

Why do we want the Spirit in our life?  The plain answer should be, “Jesus said we need the Spirit”.  As we lay our life down as a sacrifice on the altar of God, surrendering to the Spirit’s work and leading, we will bear the fruit we were created for.  The Holy Spirit came to draw us to God, but the bigger role of the Holy Spirit is to make us effective witnesses, and to guide us.

Check out this post on who the Holy Spirit is.

If you still desire the power of the Holy Spirit, then spend some time reflecting on Romans 12 this week, and check out part three of the series next week.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must empty our self so He can come in.  Seeking the power of the Spirit is so that the name of Jesus may be known, not ours.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Part 1

Posted on by Matthew Laker

holyspirit 1

What do we mean by “filled with the Holy Spirit?”

How are we filled with the Holy Spirit?  (This is part one of a series on How to be filled with the Holy Spirit (add later Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 links).   For me there are four thoughts behind the term – “Filled with the Holy Spirit”

1. When one first follows Jesus, there is a placement of the Holy Spirit into one’s life.

The Holy Spirit is a marker, a guarantee, of our inheritance in God’s kingdom. (1 Cor. 12:13).  The full presence of the Spirit is given, but the full anointing is not always seen or experienced.

A.W. Tozer shares “Everyone has the filling of the Spirit but not the anointing.”

Check out this post to learn more about who the Holy Spirit is, and his role in the believers’ life.

2. Connection to the Sanctification process.

“In what may be an over-simplification, salvation depends on Christ as our Saviour; sanctification seeks to establish Christ as the Lord of our life.”

As Jesus becomes Lord of our life, there is opening to the power of the Spirit in a greater capacity.  As Jesus becomes Lord of all areas of our life, the Spirit can flow through us in a greater capacity.

Resources:

This is an older resource, but may help to stir some thoughts.

http://www.wesleyan.org/d/TSyVx/The-Baptism-with-the-Holy-Spirit-Greathouse.pdf   

3. Extra Anointing moments or refreshing moments.

The giving of the Spirit to an individual or group for a task or the mission of the Church.

The giving of the Spirit to an individual or group for a refreshing, restarting of faith, or refocusing of mission to a group of believers.

4. Someone following the leading of the Spirit.

Paul says in Galatians that we are not controlled by the Spirit, so we should keep in step with the Spirit.  As we do that, the fruit of the Spirit is produced in our life. Thus, when we speak of someone filled with the Spirit, there is a recognition that they are not only being led by the Spirit, but also following the Spirit.

This is an area not all believers in Jesus will agree on, but it is my working understanding.

Next week we will start to help you understand how to be filled with the Holy Spirit in your life.

Who is the Holy Spirit 101?

Posted on by Matthew Laker

Who is the Holy Spirit?

In Acts 2:38-39, after the coming of the Holy Spirit,Peter calls those who have heard the gospel to repentance and baptism, and to receive the Holy Spirit.

holyspirit 1Acts 2:38-39  (NIV)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.

The promise of the Holy Spirit is for them, and each of us who follows Jesus.

So,who is the Holy Spirit?

The author Sinclair Ferguson (“The Holy Spirit”, Inter-varsity press, Illinois; 1996; p. 36) reminded us that in John 14-16 Jesus speaks about the sending of the Holy Spirit and what he will do.  Looking at what Jesus has to say in answer to this question, we find the following:.

  • Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, Advocate.  (The word carries the idea of a lawyer providing advice and counsel, one who gives strength or encouragement.  The experience in acts also saw supernatural abilities.)
  • The Holy Spirit = the presences of Jesus = presences of God
  • Teach us and remind us everything Jesus taught
  • Testify about Jesus
  • Convict us of our sin, and God’s goodness and judgment
  • Guide us into truth.

In the Old Testament (This just a quick overview)

  • We see the Spirit over the waters in Genesis 1
  • King Saul – When the evil spirit was sent to  him.  The text shares the arrival of the evil “ruach” (Spirit) follows the departure of the “ruach” (Spirit) of the Lord”
  • Four main contexts in which the spirit of God is spoken of in O.T. Creation, Outstanding gifts (placed on people for such a time for work), Prophecy, Future hope
  • The Spirit of God is the promise of new covenant
  • Jeremiah 31 ” I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts”
  • Joel 2:28 =  Acts 2

If you read through the book of Luke

  • We see Jesus is filled with the Spirit.  The Spirit empowers Jesus to accomplish his mission.
  • We see people are filled with the Spirit and the mission of God is furthered.

Paul talks about Gifts of the Spirit as something that is not just for first century believers, but for all to come afterward. (1 Corinthians 12)

If you read through Acts, you see the words or similar words as  “filled with the Spirit.”  There is a connection to the disciples of Jesus, and you also to see supernatural things, which are all connected to God’s activity through the church.

Jesus says in Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” “

Looking at Acts 2 to understand who the Holy Spirit is, we see there is an enablement given from the Spirit for us to bear witness of the glory of Jesus.

The best way to understand what Jesus meant by “power” is to read through the gospels and Acts.  Look for what happens when people are filled with the Spirit.  Then, read the other letters of the New Testament looking at their understanding of what the Spirit would do?

A summary of what we see regarding the Holy Spirit’s role in our life:

  • Reminder of who God is and who we are.
  • Giving of an ability to bear witness
  • Courage given to believers
  • Language/words given to believers for times of sharing the gospel
  • Strength given for circumstances
  • Miracles taking place.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is of the same essential nature, majesty, and glory, as the Father and the Son, truly and eternally God. He is the Administrator of grace to all, and is particularly the effective Agent in conviction for sin, in regeneration, in sanctification, and in glorification. He is ever present, assuring, preserving, guiding, and enabling the believer.

What further questions do you have about the Holy Spirit?