NGSI CH 24 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 24: The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Advancing the Kingdom

  • The key method for advancing God's kingdom is planting new churches through anointed leadership.

  • Three crucial elements to this advance:

    • Preaching the good news of Jesus and the Kingdom.

    • Understanding the twofold message; Jesus is the Christ, and God's rule is established.

    • The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit energizes this mission.

The Twofold Message

  • Jesus as the Christ:

    • Paid for sin and anointed by the Holy Spirit.

    • Brings healing and restoration to the earth.

  • The Kingdom of God:

    • Acknowledges Jesus's authority and establishes God’s reign.

Power and Evangelism

  • The power of the Holy Spirit enables believers to perform signs and wonders.

  • This leads to rapid evangelism and the establishment of local churches across diverse groups.

Waves of the Gospel in Acts

  • General Structure:

    • The book of Acts is organized into six waves of gospel advancement.

    • Each wave sees a different geographical and cultural expansion.

Wave 1: Mainstream Judaism (Jerusalem)

  • Summary verse: Acts 6:7 - "The word of God spread; the number of disciples increased rapidly."

  • Priests who opposed Jesus begin to obey the faith.

Wave 2: Fringe Judaism (Judea and Samaria)

  • Summary verse: Acts 9:31 - Church enjoys peace and is strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

  • Fulfillment of prophetic unity for the divided Israel.

Wave 3: Gospel to the Gentiles (Syria)

  • Summary verse: Acts 12:25 - "The word of God continued to increase and spread."

  • Expansion of the gospel into new cultures.

Wave 4: Gospel to the Gentiles (Asia)

  • Summary verse: Acts 16:5 - Churches were strengthened and grew in numbers daily.

Wave 5: Gospel into Europe

  • Summary verse: Acts 19:20 - "The word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power."

Wave 6: Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

  • Summary verse: Last verse of Acts - "Without hindrance, Paul preached the kingdom of God."

  • Affirmation that nothing can stop the gospel.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

  • The prologue echoes themes from the earlier Gospel of Luke.

  • Jesus instructs his disciples to wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

  • Ascension of Jesus and promise of his return.

Pentecost

  • Significance of Pentecost: Celebrates 50 days post-Passover, linked to harvest symbolism.

  • Events of Pentecost:

    • The Holy Spirit descends on the disciples (Acts 2:1-4).

    • 3,000 conversions as the initial harvest of believers.

The Spirit of Prophecy

  • Peter’s declaration cites Joel 2, emphasizing prophetic empowerment for all believers.

  • Prophecy signifies restored two-way communication with God (hearing and speaking).

  • Speaking in tongues at Pentecost represents the unification of diverse cultures.

The Great Commission Continues

  • The early church engages in koinonia (community), prayer, healing, and sharing resources.

  • Indicative signs of the new creation initiated by Christ's resurrection.

Conclusion

  • The chapter captures the transformative impact of the Holy Spirit and the believer's role in the ongoing mission of Jesus.