The Holy Spirit in the Church

Acts 4:31

The Holy Spirit in the Church

"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

28 A to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

29 A Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

30 A by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all," (NKJV)

• Introduction

The context of this verse. Peter and John and others had been preaching the gospel and many were being saved. The Jews threatened them and told them not to preach any more. The disciples then gathered together and praised God, quoted scripture, and prayed.

Verse 31 occurs at the end of the prayer

A. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (NKJV).

• The Holy Spirit had been given to them after Jesus' crucifixion (John 20:22). They had experienced the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), and now they are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31).

A. There are various discussions on the relationship between the initial indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit -- explain them briefly.

i. Which ever view you hold concerning the matter, it is apparent here that the disciples who were all ready saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit were subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit. The immediate result was that they spoke the word of God with boldness.

ii. I remember as a young Christian, wholly dedicated to the word of God, and speaking boldly God's word to any and all who would listen.

a. Swapmeet ministry, phone, beach, etc.... Evangelism was and still is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in you.

1. In the church, the holy Spirit makes Witnesses out of Weaklings (Acts 1:8)

A. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, A...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

1. Power, dunamis. We get the word Dynamite from the Greek word dunamis.

B. The death and resurrection of Christ brought the Holy Spirit, the indweller of the church and its members.

i. The Church had to first be cleansed by the blood of God before it could be filled with the power of God

3. It was before the ascension of Jesus and before Pentecost that the disciples received the Holy Spirit.