(Acts 6:1-7)
1.1. Growth Brings Problems: The Book of Acts is a story of the early church and when we get to chap 6, we see how it deals with the problems of growth and life. When humans grow in numbers, friction happens. Here, issues arose between the Greek- speaking Jews and the Aramaic-speaking Jews because the widows of one side were not getting their share in the daily distribution of food and so they felt discriminated against. The leadership decided that such admin matters shouldn’t be dealt with by the spiritual elders and instead by a specially chosen bunch of people. Although they weren’t called deacons as yet, that was what they were called to do in the work of serving and ensuring the distribution was handled well and fairly.
1.2. Choose Spirit-Filled People: They chose 7 men. Note the conditions: men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. So that the elders could devote themselves to prayer and ministry of the word. A church that wants to grow must prioritize prayer and preaching, and teaching the word.
They chose Stephen and a few others. About Stephen, Luke writes that he was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. They brought the men before the apostles and laid their hands on them. It is written that the word continued to increase and the number of disciples multiplied and many priests were converted. Laying off hands in prayer is a visible way of asking the Spirit to empower and fill!
What I want to do is to discuss this expression of being “filled with the Holy Spirit.” ****First of all, the expressions “Filled with the Spirit” are often confused with “baptized with the Spirit.” Let’s have a discussion of this 2 expression first and next week we’ll look at “Filled with the Spirit.”
2.1. John the Baptist Says These Words: There are 2 expressions that have been a source of disagreement between leaders. I think that both expressions have to do with the presence of God in the believer and that it is important for us to realize what we have inherited and what should we be doing with our inheritance. What I mean to say is this: Jesus does the heavy lifting and secures our redemption by his work on the Cross. He and the Father send the Spirit to us and all we do is receive the Spirit. Now, we should ask what is it we have gone through and what is our response.
So today, what I want to do is to look at Acts and to do in 2 parts and the first part is what it means to be Baptized in the Spirit.
2.2. References to Baptism in the Spirit: there are 7 references to baptism in the Spirt in the NT. Let’s take a look and see.
Again, John: “I baptize you with water for repentance but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Mt 3:11).
John in Mark: “I have baptized you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8).
John in Luke: “I baptize you with water but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16).
Again: “he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain; this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:31).
These 4 quotes from the Gospels are saying the same thing. The only difference being Matthew and Luke add the words “and with fire” at the end of baptism with the Holy Spirit. The words “fire” refers to the purifying work of that baptism.
5.“And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49). Jesus is definitely referring to the empowering work that comes with the baptism of the Spirit.
Luke quoting Jesus: “for John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:8) – referring to Pentecost and we see the big and powerful work that it does to those who are there.
Peter reporting to the council of his experience in Joppa in Cornelius the centurion’s house. He saw a vision of a great sheet containing animals and being told to slaughter for food and recalls the words: “John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 11:6). The Spirit fell on the people as Peter began to speak. They were gentiles. This was the first time that he goes to a gentile home and this a reminder that this baptism is about breaking through to a new dimension altogether. Something new and transformative is happening.