THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

~Acts 1:1-8~

Rev. Barbara Melancon, Assoc. Minister

 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ²Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ⁴And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ⁶When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:1-8

The Work of The Holy Spirit

The Book of Acts is the continuation of the gospel of Luke. Both books were written to the attention of Theophilus. The name Theophilus in Greek, Latin and Hebrew means, friend of God, Loving God and or Loved by God. God is love (I John 4:8), therefore this applies to you and me, because we are the children of God and we inherited God's nature. Our Lord Jesus said, "a new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” (John 13: 34-35)

Consider what it means to be a disciple of Jesus by loving one

another as the Lord has loved you.  

The book of Acts draws our attention to all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day in which He was taken up to His rightful place in heaven and is now at the right hand of the power of God, where He holds all power in heaven and in earth.

(Acts 1:1-2{a})

After that Jesus, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen (Acts1:2b). He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father (Acts1:4,5). Jesus said that John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Further, Jesus said that you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth, that is till the end part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

In the gospel of Matthew 24:14, Jesus said, "and this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." 

Consider what Jesus says about being in the place where you

are to witness to the world what God has done for you in Christ.  

In Acts chapter 2, the apostles obeyed Jesus and remained in Jerusalem till the day of Pentecost. They all were with one accord in one place. The church must be on one accord. That is in agreement with God's word; spreading the gospel of the kingdom.

Now the work of the Holy Ghost is now in affect and in progress working towards an end. This is the Holy Ghost dispensation. The Lord said, “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of host.” (Zechariah 4:6)

The Holy Spirit dwells in the believer. Jesus said that the Holy Ghost comes upon the believer and gives power. That is spiritual power. The Holy Spirit convicts sin: the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins, leads to repentance and turns people toward God. John 16:8 says the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness and judgement.

Consider what it means that the Lord gives you what will empower

you to do what the Lord expects of you.  

Jesus said that your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him (Luke 11:13).

1. A believer should ask the Father in Jesus' name for the Holy Spirit. In order to be a witness for Jesus the believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out this mission.

2. Galatians 3:14: Paul said that we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith.

3. Roman 10:17: Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Seek the Holy Spirit by meditation on the word, believe in what we hear and see.

Consider what it means that you have to embrace what the

Lord has given you in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit

to fulfill being a faithful disciple of Jesus.  

Joshua 1:8: The Spirit of God said to Joshua, Moses' successor: this book of the law should not depart out of your mouth, you should meditate in it day and night and observe to do according to all that is written in it:

• then you shall make your way prosperous
• then you shall have good success

Consider what it means that when you follow the directives of the Lord you are prosperous (you fulfill the purpose of the Lord for your life) and have good success (you achieve the end for which you have life in Christ).

John 16:7: Jesus departed from this world and then He sent the comforter, the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13: when the Spirit of Truth is come He guides into all truth. He does not speak of himself, whatsoever He hears from the Father and son He speaks and He shows things to come. He gives the believers revelations and prophecies. When believers pray or minister to God, the Holy Spirit is always present.

In the book of Acts 13, in the church at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as they ministered to the Lord, were praying, praising God and singing Psalms and hymns to the Lord. And they fasted. The Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them."

Consider what it means that the Lord, through the empowerment of the

Holy Spirit, gives you what you need to fulfill what the Lord

expects of you as a faithful disciple.

Consider what it means to be empowered to do what the Lord expects of you to be a representative mimicking the example of Jesus, the Christ.  

The Holy Spirit calls Pastors and gives assignments. Jeremiah 3:15 – “I will give you pastors according to my own heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

The Holy Spirit calls pastors, teachers of the word, apostles and evangelists.

Joel 2:28 – “The Lord said in the last days I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters will prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.”

The is what the Lord is doing today through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to convict, convince and convert those who believe in what the Lord has done in Christ; to build up the body of Christ as a congregation of believers in what the Lord has done through the life of Christ and continues to do through the Holy Spirit through those who follow Jesus. The Lord is present today and is using all believers to His glory. We are witnesses for the Lord. Amen.

Consider what it means that the Lord uses those who are convicted,

convinced and converted to believe in Jesus as their Lord, Redeemer and Savior,

to witness through the community of believers in Christ about who the Lord is, where the Lord is and what the Lord is doing in the world to create the harmony, peace and unity that the Lord desires.