Acts Pt. 16 | Sermon Notes
Acts Pt. 16 | The Gift of the Spirit
Pastor Chris Pletcher
March 9, 2025
Acts 8:14-25 // Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
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Hebrews 1:1-3 // Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
“The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)
By capturing the words and works of Jesus, the Gospels preserve for us this knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. But as we’ve mentioned throughout this series, Jesus ascends at the outset of the Book of Acts and the third member of The Trinity takes CENTER STAGE in the grand unfolding of God’s redemption story. Jesus, of course, foretold the disciples about all of this in John 14-16. We are now watching it unfold in Acts exactly the way the Lord Jesus told us it would. John 14 in particular helps us grasp the Trinitarian mystery and introduces to us the now-present Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:1-10, 15-18 // Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Gatorade // IS IT IN YOU?
Ephesians 1:13-14 // In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed (stamped, marked) with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Sealed = sphragizō = to stamp (with a signet or private mark); In ancient times, especially in the biblical era, a signet ring was an important symbol of authority and ownership. It often belonged to a king, ruler, or person of high status, and was used to make an impression in wax, clay, or another material. This act of sealing something with the ring had several key functions:
Authentication: The presence of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that the believer belongs to Christ and has received salvation. It's a divine stamp of approval that confirms the believer's new identity in Christ. “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And the Spirit descends…)
Ownership: The seal represented ownership or possession… it marked it as belonging to the person who owned the ring.
Authority/Inheritance: The seal also symbolized the authority of the person whose signet it bore, which we discussed in depth last week as we looked at Spiritual Authority GIVEN as part of our inheritance.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit //
His Identity WITH YOU (which informs our identity and the identity of our Adversary)
Paraklētos vs. Accuser
Helper, Comforter, Advocate - one called alongside in our defense against the Accuser
Advocate is the “lawyer” who stands alongside the defendant and argues FOR THEM in court! He stands in SUPPORT of your cause and exists to defend your innocence before the Judge.
It is critical that we learn Him as our Advocate because one of Satan’s primary titles is The Accuser of the Brothers!
The Judge, The Mediator and the Advocate
Understanding this, we must search our own hearts and ask if we have partnered with the Accuser against our fellow brothers and sisters.
If you often find yourself thinking critical or judgmental thoughts (accusations) towards others, then you may be unknowingly partnering with our enemy in the spirit of prosecution
Spirit of Truth vs. Father of Lies
Spirit of Adoption vs. Sons of Disobedience
Galatians 4:4-7 // When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
His Presence IN YOU = Indwelling Presence to Transform You
Sanctifies us from the inside - He’s the HOLY Spirit
Baptizes us into the Body of Christ and Imparts spiritual gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1-7, 11-13 // Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 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. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
His Power UPON YOU = Empowerment for Service & Ministry
To witness, speak, proclaim, declare
To work miracles
To fulfill an assignment
Luke 11:9-13 // And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Holy Spirit is the GOOD GIFT of the Father! We must cultivate the habit of ASKING… This cannot be bought! Only received by faith like a child. Simon needed to renew his mind from years of witchcraft that taught him that power was transactional… Jesus came to show us that spiritual power is actually relational.
Response //
Hear, Believe, and be STAMPED with the Indwelling Spirit IN YOU for your…
Sanctification/Holiness
Identity/Belonging
Understanding Your Spiritual Gifts
Ask for more of His Empowering Spirit UPON YOU…
To fulfill a certain calling
To step into a certain ministry
To meet a certain need with God’s power