Next Step Christian Church
Worship 4/11/26
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  • Jesus ascending and sending the Holy Spirit to convict, teach, lead and empower his disciples was always the plan. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you have the Holy Spirit indwelling. We can go forward in confidence in being and making disciples because (and only because) both we and our disciples are Spirit-filled.

    Florida 2023

    Just a couple of years ago, we had the AWESOME privilege of a family trip out to Florida to go to Universal Studios and Disney World.
    SUCH a great trip, awesome in EVERY way. Especially, everyone’s favorite part… waiting in wicked long lines for hours at a time for a ride that lasts 2 minutes.
    You wait in lines long enough, you start feeling like this. I don’t know if you can see, because she is super sneakily camouflaged, but KK appears to be napping in the bushes.
    Actually, an earlier ride messed with her inner ear and took her down, but I was super jealous and I was just tired. It takes it out of you! You start wondering if the line is even worth it!?
    Why are we talking about waiting in lines? I don’t know.
    It’s because Jesus made a promise in his Great Commission. We haven’t touched on it yet, we have kind of dodged around it a bit, maybe.
    Matthew 28:19–20 ESV
    19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    Oh good… they all breathed a sigh of relief. Jesus will be with us! I though for a second you were going to fly away into the clouds or something… but you will be with us!
    That’s great, we can continue following and learning, and trying and failing, but you will be there with coaching and correction and encouragement.
    I believe they would have taken this to mean Jesus’ physical presence with them on an ongoing basis.
    And imagine if that were the case.

    Can you imagine the line to see Jesus?

    Jesus, in his incarnation, is not omni-present. He is localized in space and time, fully God and fully man, in 1st century Bethlehem, then Egypt, then Galilee and Jordan, Samaria and Jerusalem. He was there.
    In his resurrected body, he still seemed to be localized. Far be it from me to put any limits on Jesus, but in his physical presence, it sure seems like he wasn’t everywhere all at once even then.
    The plan was not ever that Jesus would clone himself, even though it would be fun for us all to have a little Jesus on our shoulder. This was the plan:
    John 16:7 ESV
    7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
    The “helper”. Parakletos. Advocate, intercessor, helper.
    It was necessary that Jesus go away, ascend to the right hand of the Father, in order that we could receive the Helper.
    Why can’t we have both? I don’t know, but Jesus said this was the Way.
    And what does the Spirit do? How does the “Helper” help us?
    John 16:8–15 ESV
    8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
    This was always Jesus’ plan. All throughout his ministry, but especially in these prior chapters, he has been preparing his disciples for this big transition.
    John 14:16 ESV
    16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
    John 14:26 ESV
    26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
    And in chapter 15
    John 15:26 ESV
    26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
    This is all “Upper Room” / “Last Supper” conversation. Chapters 14, 15, 16, Jesus is preparing them for what’s next.
    And it’s all about the Spirit.
    And after the Resurrection, he is teaching them again, and preparing them for the coming of the Spirit… and then he ascends in order that the spirit would come in this new way.
    For 40 days after the resurrection, appearing, proving, teaching, then:
    Acts 1:4–5 ESV
    4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

    And does the Spirit come?

    Acts 2:1–4 ESV
    1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
    In fact the book of Acts can be called the Story of the Holy Spirit, carrying out the exploding ministry of Jesus, the church of Jesus, through the disciples of Jesus…
    What explains the transformation of the chuckle-heads who followed Jesus into these bold and gifted preachers and teachers, apostles, leaders, bold evangelists and ultimately fearless martyrs?
    The work of God in them, to teach them, to mold them, to lead them. Producing fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control in them.
    The word of God the Spirit in them, to supernaturally empower their gifts and talents to have impact FAR beyond what they could expect. Some gifts for just a moment, like the need to speak a foreign tongue and have someone understand you who couldn’t otherwise, some gifts for a season of ministry, some gifts for a lifetime.
    And this is amazing to me. They knew from the start this wasn’t a gift just to them. I am SURE guided by the Holy Spirit, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter gives his first Holy Spirit empower, super naturally translated, incredible gospel sermon… and the first altar call:
    Acts 2:38 ESV
    38 And Peter said to them, “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.
    He knew, this gift, the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was for everyone listening, all who would say “Yes” to Jesus, repent and be baptized.
    This has been a question in Christendom ever since, what are the details, the order, the process, the necessary steps to receive the Holy Spirit. And it really, ultimately, boils down to one deep question for the disciple:

    Do I have the Spirit?

    After all, Peter here says “repent and be baptized”… so is that the process? You can’t have the Spirit until you have been baptized, and maybe even baptized “right”?
    Something like 10-ish years later, Peter is himself shocked when God sends him to preach the gospel to a Gentile, Cornelius and his family. And he preaches, tiny short little sermon, but pure gospel, about Jesus’ life, crucifixion, resurrection, and his command to preach and testify.
    Acts 10:44–46 ESV
    44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
    THEN they look for water.
    Acts 10:47 ESV
    47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
    The Holy Spirit is “poured out” on folks before they even have time to get to the water. Because it isn’t procedural, God isn’t waiting until you check the boxes, it is personal.
    There is a working out of this in the story of Acts. In fact Acts can be called the gospel of the Spirit, the story of the Spirit. There are some folks in Samaria who believe and are baptized by Phillip but don’t receive the Spirit until the apostles come and lay hands on them. Acts 8:14-17.
    There is one other fun story, I won’t read it, but Paul encounters some folks who had NOT received the Holy Spirit, who were baptized “into John’s baptism” which is a whole different thing. I’d argue they were “disciples” but not of Jesus, but of John. Paul essentially introduces them to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came on them! Acts 19:1-6.
    Here is how I understand those moments, generally. I come to it with questions, but I think those are early rollout moments, the dramatic revealing of Pentecost, the new way God was pouring out His Spirit within His people.
    Remember, it is personal, not procedural.
    After those stories, there is no separation ever mentioned again of disciples of Jesus who don’t have the Holy Spirit.
    This is important, because I think disciples of Jesus ask this question, sometimes with fear and worry.
    Do I have the Spirit?

    David and the Holy Spirit

    Anyone else enjoying the “David” show?
    There is this fun moment from the show “David” where Jonathan asks David what it felt like to be the “anointed one”:
    Powerful, life fire or a rushing wind. I become more of something… everything I feel is amplified: passion, joy, even rage. It frightens me. I fear I may lose control.
    The anointing they are talking about, literally the word “Messiah”, comes to have this special meaning in anticipation of Jesus, but is used of folks throughout Biblical history to describe this: the anointing of the Spirit of God. The “coming upon” of the Holy Spirit. They usually experienced the Spirit in bursts, in moments, sometimes for seasons. The judges, the prophets, the highlight reel of the Old Testament… all of it are “Holy Spirit” moments. The Spirit has always been at work within God’s people.
    But they experienced it partially, temporarily, for a moment… and they feared the moment the Spirit would depart from them. Hear the words of David:
    Psalm 51:10–11 ESV
    10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
    Hear this: what David feared, the “taking of the Holy Spirit” from him…
    He saw it happen before his eyes with King Saul.
    This is the question I find many disciples of Jesus asking. Especially in those first days.
    Because I WISH we all had the undeniable experience of Wind and Flame. That the moment someone made their decision for Christ HERE IT COMES… and WHOOSH, the Spirit floods in visibly and dramatically. I vote for that, I want that, sign the petition. It happened at Pentecost. It happened later with Cornelius and those other first Gentile disciples maybe 10 years later.
    But God chooses to do it quietly, instead, in all the cases I know of. Maybe to reduce fire danger? I don’t know. Maybe to shape our faith. Certainly, for our good, I do know that.
    But you may, as a disciple of Jesus, ask do I have the Spirit dwelling in me?
    And as you make disciples of Jesus, they will certainly ask, do I have the Spirit dwelling in me?
    If Jesus is your Lord and Savior… the answer is “yes”.
    If Jesus is your Lord and Savior… the answer is “yes, he has given you his Spirit”.
    There is no two-tier membership system in the Body of Christ.
    It is not a pay extra to get the Disney fast pass to get your Holy Spirit does for today.
    Do I have the Holy Spirit? If Jesus is your Lord and Savior… the answer is “you have the indwelling Spirit of God”.
    1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV
    3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
    You couldn’t call Jesus “Lord”… and mean it… except by the Spirit of God. That’s how it works.
    Can you learn to hear the Spirit better? Know it? Follow it? Sense it? Yes, you can grow in all of that.
    Conversely, can one deafen themselves to the Spirit’s voice and ignore or refuse it’s leading? Yes. Absolutely. This is the account of ALL sin and stupid amongst the people of God!
    Is that true? Is that too far?
    Everything stupid and sinful I have ever done… not one single time did the Holy Spirit lead me to that. Not once. Never happened.
    Everything good and beautiful, wise and loving, every bit of it was in line with the Holy Spirit… sometimes despite myself, sometimes stumbling blind and deaf, but the Spirit leads us into all righteousness and all truth.
    Isn’t that what Jesus said?

    Mark of Discipleship

    Disciple of Jesus, you have the Spirit of God. You are marked by him, sealed by him.
    This is our Mark of Discipleship.
    Disciples follow. They hear the call of Jesus and they follow.
    Disciples love. They love first, they love always, they love everyone.
    Disciples abide and obey. We may be inclined to one or the other. To just “live and love and abide, man!” Or “obey the commands!” But to abide is to obey is to abide is to live and love like and with Jesus. Disciples do both, inevitably so as they follow Jesus and love as He loves.
    Disciples carry crosses. In the footsteps of Jesus, laying down our life (our time, talent and treasure) for God’s glory and other’s good.
    Disciples Believe in the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Messiah from the dead.
    … and Disciples are Spirit-filled. You couldn’t be a disciple of Jesus otherwise. It is the Spirit at work in your first call to follow, the Spirit at work teaching you what love is, the Spirit connecting you to abide AND to obey, the Spirit empowering you to carry crosses, and the Spirit testifying to you to Believe in the Resurrected Jesus.
    Last night, Artemis II splashed down safely, returning from a trip around the moon.
    We have the famous example of the iPhone compared to the 1960s supercomputer. We now have in our pockets more processing power than they used to send astronauts to the moon!
    It’s crazier than that today. Our little supercomputer is actually interconnected with all the other little supercomputers… and connected to actual supercomputers running data models that can use ludicrous amounts of energy and information to either give me valuable information… or generate stupid images for me of people waiting in line for Jesus.
    And that blows our minds, it still blows my mind… and yet we take advantage the INFINITELY GREATER instant, indwelling connection we have to the very SPIRIT of God, the SPIRIT of Jesus, instant connection to infinite intelligence and infinite power and it NEVER loses signal, or charges me for tokens. It never lies to me, tells me I am great when I am not, gives me bad advice or counsel that SOUNDS good but leads to destruction.
    What an incredible gift we have, God himself, dwelling in and among us.
    And because God is always with us, we can go forward with confidence. AS disciples of Jesus, knowing that the Spirit of Jesus is shaping our souls, whispering and guiding and empowering, giving gifts and producing fruit. We go forward with confidence as disciples in the Spirit.
    We go forward with confidence in making disciples… because we aren’t ultimately the ones shaping disciples of Jesus. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in them!
    The Spirit does the work of calling someone to follow Jesus… and beautifully, wonderfully, gives you a part to play in that work. Your part is to be faithful.
    The Spirit does the work ultimately in teaching the commands of Jesus. And, crazy, invites you to be a part of that too! To teach all the commands of Jesus, even as the Spirit works through you, the Spirit is working in your disciples to unfold the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is the only reason ANY of us understand ANY of it.
    The Spirit does the work of convicting of sin… and rarely (very rarely) gives you a part to play in that work.
    The Spirit does the work among us, as we disciple one another, to lead us all to Christ, to make of us a Temple, a dwelling place for God Himself.
    We can go boldly forward in the Mission of Jesus to Save the World because we are filled, led, taught, and supernaturally empowered by the Spirit of Jesus.
    2 Corinthians 1:20–22 ESV
    20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

      • Matthew 28:19–20NIV

      • John 16:7NIV

      • John 16:8–15NIV

      • John 14:16NIV

      • John 14:26NIV

      • John 15:26NIV

      • Acts 1:4–5NIV

      • Acts 2:1–4NIV

      • Acts 2:38NIV

      • Acts 10:44–46NIV

      • Acts 10:47NIV

      • Psalm 51:10–11NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:3NIV

      • 2 Corinthians 1:20–22NIV

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Next Step Christian Church
pastordusty@nextstepchurch.org
(720) 663-9085
https://www.nextstepchurch.org
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