Tom Leonard - April 11, 2010
The Gift for Living
The Resurrection - The Gift for Living Main Point: By His death and Resurrection, Jesus obtained the gift of the Holy Spirit for everyone of us who are His disciples. We receive Christ’s Spirit who lives in us, fills and empowers us to be witnesses to lost people. Luke 24:44-49 1. Repentance & transformed living is the first and most powerful fruit of our Spirit-filled witness. Acts 2:32-33; 36-39 This Jesus, God has raised to life, and we are all witnesses to this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, and has poured out what you now see and hear. …"Therefore let all Israel be assured that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied â€Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.†Repentance = turning from our sin, and turning from trusting in ourselves or anything else - to trusting only in Jesus Christ. Baptism is the outward sign of repentance! 2. Testimony of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done comes from the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Acts 2:22-24 'Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.' 3. All of us must be daily filled = (controlled!) by the Spirit of Jesus Christ in us! Ephesians 5:18
Scripture References: Acts 1:1-9, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 2:32-33, Acts 2:36-39, Acts 2:22-24, Ephesians 5:18
