The Spirit Empowers
This Sermons was preached at St Peter’s Stanley on 9th April 2001
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In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
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1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Introduction
This week we met with a consultant about development of Church, our new building, asking what does Stanley, as a community, need and how may Church be used so that people come to faith in Stanley.
We talked time & time again about the importance of prayer ….. prayer for Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us and be in everything we do.
This series is on how the HOLY SPIRIT comes to help us. In the reading of Acts 9:10-22, we heard how people in Jerusalem at first could not believe Paul was now a Christian and then by Acts 13:14 - while the Jerusalem Christians were fasting and praying the Holy Spirit told them to ‘release Barnabas and Saul to do the work…” Acts 13:2. Thus the Holy Spiritg was directing the early Christians how to build the Church - not a building but a church of people.
Today I am asking, what type of Church does the Lord want to build through us here in this parish/area.
The Tent
[Instruction - erect a children’s play tent while making this point – first without rods, a person holds the fabric up and gets tired etc…].
People organise themselves to make this tent, use themselves instead of tent poles. The people are the frame. This is typical of many churches. The people are what it is grounded on. This week, our consultant said we must go ‘into the community,’ hear their stories – see the church through their eyes (we must do this). BUT that’s NOT what will keep the Church standing. People get tired etc..
Unless we pray and seek the Holy Spirit, expecting a response and being prepared to wait for a response, then we will build a tent that depends on us holding it up.
[Instruction - Give out the Rods for the tent] The rods are like the Holy Spirit. The Empowering Holy Spirit is what will make the Church stand for this day and future generations.
Acts 13:4, after prayer and fasting the Holy Spirit directed them to single out and release and support Saul and Barnabas to do the work of evangelising the gentiles.
Previously
But it nearly didn’t happen. In Acts 9:26, Saul, on arrival in Jerusalem tried to meet with the believers but they thought it was a trick/a plot.
Remember the last time Paul was in Jerusalem? (Ans: persecuting) now we have Saul back in Jerusalem but can a leopard really change its spots?
It took someone like Barnabas to put his neck on the line by bringing Saul to the Christians.
Barney told them about Saul’s conversion, about his powerful preaching in Damascus Acts 9:28 ‘they accepted him.’ After that he was constantly with the believers. In our Home group we have been studying Acts. When we looked at Barnabus, our study described Barnabus as a ‘Balcony Person’ – s.o. who stands on the balcony of life and cheers you on – believes in you, on your side –who knows about you warts and all & still believes God has a job for you. That the HOLY SPIRIT can change you and make you more like Jesus. No one s/be excluded from being active in Church life because of their background. Look at Saul’s background – he hated Christians, but who you were yesterday w/n have to be who you are today or tomorrow. [Illust – Dick – you can do it; don’t give up] Who are the Balcony people for you – who are your encouragers – keep in touch with them (they are like gold dust) also pray that God will make you a ‘balcony person’ for others, the one who believes the best when others are on a downer on s.o. Barnabus's nickname was ‘son of encouragement.’ That’s the sort of nickname I want!
The Question
So what kind of Church was the HOLY SPIRIT building – one which had a vision for the world at large, no longer narrow (Jews) now HOLY SPIRIT guiding these Jerusalem Christians to send Barnabus & Saul out with the message ‘if it’s good enough for the Jews -Gentiles.’(us) – and thro this p’ship b/n Saul & Barnabus (Blunderbus/encourager) these gentiles started coming to faith –they realise God’s love was big enough Jesus’grace deep enough, Holy Spirit’s presence real/powerful enough to change even the gentiles (you & me).
So back to our first Question – what kind of Church are we building here?
A Church which loves and encourages each other, a Church which believes the best in others, a Church which believes God can save a wretch (like me)-
Answer: [Yes, yes, yes, yes] to each question. God is calling us to tell his story, our story, what’s the story of Christ in your life and will you tell it to FRANC (Friends, Relatives Acquaintances Neighbours Colleagues).
We have a golden opportunity this year; a mission coming up, followed by Alpha Course, there are leaflets to give out, a magazine to distribute, there are new initiatives of going out into the community for the new building etc.
The time is right to tell the people of Stanley the good news that God’s love is big enough, Jesus’s grace is deep enough, Holy Spirit’s presence powerful/real enough to change even the gentiles (you & me).
