Acts 21 A Spirit-Filled Church Led by the Holy Spirit

When you open your Bible to the Book of Acts, the title likely reads, The Acts of the Apostles. While the apostles certainly played a vital role, I am convinced Acts tells a much bigger story. From the opening pages, the book pulses with the life, power, guidance, and activity of Precious Holy Spirit. He is the One empowering ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. He directs, speaks, comforts, warns, fills, sends, and works miracles through believers who are yielded to Him. The same Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters at Creation now hovers over the Church, bringing life, power, and purpose to God's people. Acts is not simply a record of what happened long ago; it is a living testimony of what happens when people partner with the Spirit of God. As we journey through Acts, let's resist the temptation to place these stories in a museum of church history. The Holy Spirit has not changed. God's plan for His Church has not changed. The invitation remains the same: to live Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and Spirit-empowered lives that continue the ministry of Jesus in the earth. Acts is vibrating with the life and power of Precious Holy Spirit which resulted in the Acts of Precious Holy Spirit! Again and again, we see His gifts, the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation. Gifts that must be plugged into His Presence and power to operate.  We see that the glorious activities of the Holy Spirit were a normal, active and essential overflow of the Spirit-filled church. We see His power, guidance and influence woven into the very fabric of how the early church operated as they fulfilled the great commission of Jesus. We see Holy Spirit throughout Scripture, but the first time we see Him is at Creation. Gen 1: 2Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. The KJV says "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.   The Topical Lexicon  rachaph "  רָחַף appears three times in the Old Testament, each occurrence portraying divine activity that is both protective and powerful. Whether describing the Spirit at creation, the faithful care of the covenant God, or the overwhelming impact of prophetic revelation, the verb underscores God's nearness in decisive moments." We see Precious Holy Spirit brooding over the believers that make up the church, teaching them, guiding them and empowering them.   Because Holy Spirit hasn't changed and God's plan for the church hasn't changed, we shouldn't try to function without His active influence, power and guidance. Galatians 3:3 Berean Standard Bible Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?   You remember Philip 8Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, (Eph 4:11 One of the Five-fold ministry gifts) who was one of the Seven. (Acts 6 Philip was an elder before Samaria)   Miracles and Healings were taking place throughout the book of Acts. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.   6The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip's message and to the signs they saw him perform.   7With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.    8So there was great joy in that city. The miracles that happened in Acts is the work of the Spirit continuing the ministry of Jesus through believers. These signs show that the same power that was in Jesus is now in the church.   Throughout Acts the Holy Spirit operating not only through the leaders but also ordinary people. It was normal Spirit led, Spirit filled living. The #1 way that God speaks to believers is through the Word of God. God's Word is the foundation of our faith. We see some ways in Acts that God speaks to believers.   Look how the Holy Spirit talked to Philip. 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." In this case God spoke to him through an angel. But look at verse 29. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that chariot and stay by it." The Holy Spirit spoke to him. My dear reader, if you are a born-again believer God speaks to you! Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."   Look with me in just a few of the times that we see God speaking to believers in Acts. ·    In Acts, the Holy Spirit speaks through: Direct voice Prophets Visions and dreams Inner promptings Scripture Community discernment Spirit‑directed circumstances   The Spirit was not silent — He was an active communicator of the early church, guiding, warning, encouraging, empowering, and sending.  He hasn't changed, but His church has.   Look at this verse. It's one of those amazing miracles that makes you scratch your head and wonder. WOW! Acts 8:39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.   Look at this verse; it makes me so happy! It is what Joel prophesied.   Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.   29 Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.   Did you see that He included the women? I am so thankful!!!    Acts 21:9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. It thrills me to see the Holy Spirit working in the next generation and women!   Acts shows us a Spirit‑filled, Spirit‑led, and Spirit‑empowered  church that acted like Jesus did; they did the works of Jesus, because it was the Holy Spirit at work, not the person. Yet Holy Spirit worked through the people in a beautiful and holy collaboration. God-breathed. God inspired. God-empowered, holy partnership.   Father, forgive us for thinking we can have the fullness of life that you planned without including Precious Holy Spirit. We need His inspiration, His infilling, His Power and His guidance. We need His presence in our homes, in our families and in our churches. Open our eyes, cause our hearts to be tender and responsive to Your voice and your ways so that we can do what You called us to do. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.   Want To Be Stronger?   Join me every Saturday for faith-filled encouragement, inspiring articles, and helpful resources delivered right to your inbox. I'd love to connect with you! Or subscribe to this podcast on your favorite Podcast Provider.