Sunday Sermon
Ingredients For The New Way Of Living
Date: September 16, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Ephesians 2:8-9

PRELUDE
Acts 2:1-13
Acts 2 1-13 1AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,
2When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
3And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.
4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit [a]kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
5Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven.
6And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them [the apostles] speaking in his own [particular] dialect.
7And they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, Are not all these who are talking Galileans?
8Then how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own (particular) dialect to which we were born?
9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [the province of] Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the transient residents from Rome, both Jews and the proselytes [to Judaism from other religions],
11Cretans and Arabians too--we all hear them speaking in our own native tongues [and telling of] the mighty works of God!
12And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, What can this mean?
13But others made a joke of it and derisively said, They are simply drunk and full of sweet [intoxicating] wine.

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Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (fdelivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BEGIN TO FUNCTION IN THE NEW WAY OF LIVING YOU MUST KNOW THE INGREDIENTS OF THIS NEW LIFE. THE TERMS YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF IN THE PAST, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING SO THAT YOU CAN APPLY THEM IN YOUR NEW WAY OF LIVING.

AS BASIC AS THIS MAY SEEM WE WANT TO START BY LOOKING AT WORKS VS. FAITH.
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT TRUE REPENTANCE ALWAYS COMES BEFORE TRUE FAITH.

WE MUST REALLIZE THAT ALL THE GOOD DEEDS WE HAVE DONE WILL NOT GET US INTO HEAVEN. SALVATION COMES ONLY BY SAVING FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. SO IT IS ALSO WITH ENTERING INTO THIS NEW WAY OF LIVING, DOING GOOD DEEDS WILL NOT GET THE JOB DONE. WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN JESUS AND WHAT HE HAS SAID AND DONE. ALONG WITH YOUR FAITH YOU MUST HAVE THE WORKS THAT GETS DONE THROUGH YOU BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. DONE BYWHO? THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THE WORK THROUGH VESSELS THAT HAVE TOTALLY YIELDED TO HIM IN ,EVERYTHING.

(Heb 6:1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

IF EVER YOU WANT TO START LIVING THE NEW WAY, YOU MUST BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TRULY REPENTED FROM DEAD WORKS. THE WORKS THAT YOU HAVE DONE AMOUNT TO NOTHING IN THE EYES OF GOD, BUT ONLY THE WORKS THAT ARE DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ANDTHROUGH YOU. DO YOU UNDERSRAND THAT? WE CANNOT PROCEED ON UNTIL WE HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF THAT TRUTH.
LOOK AT ISAIAH 55:6-7 --

(Isa 55:6) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(Isa 55:7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

WE MUST HAVE FORSAKEN OUR WAYS AND THOUGHTS IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE LORD’S PARDON. AND DO YOU KNOW THAT MOST HAVE NOT FORSAKEN THOSE THINGS? MANY, IF NOT MOST CHRISTIANS, TODAY ARE STILL IN THE BABY STAGE OF THEIR CHRISTIAN LIVES. SELFISHNESS HAS KEPT THEM FROM MAKING PROGRESS.
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I JUST SAID AND EXAMINE YOUR OWN LIFE TO SEE REALLY HOW MUCH PROGRESS THAT YOU HAVE MADE?

YOU CANNOT BE JUST SORRY FOR YOUR SINS BUT MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT PAUL SAID IN 2 CORITHIANS 7:10 –
(2Co 7:10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

GODLY SORROW COMES WHEN YOU SEE YOUR CONDITION THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD. WHEN YOU SEE HOW FOOLISH AND SELFISH YOU HAVE BEEN IN YOUR THINKING AND BEHAVIOR. DO YOU KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T SEE THEMSELVES THE WAY GOD DOES? IN THEIR OWN THINKING THEY ARE A-OK. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM THAT THEY CAN’T FIX. BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS THAT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGS. SEE ISAIAH 64:6 --

(Isa 64:6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THOSE FILTHY RAGS IN YOUR LIFE. THE NEW WAY OF LIVING CANNOT BE ATTAINED WITHOUT GODLY SORROW OVER YOUR REAL CONDITION.

YOU CANNOT STEP OUT TO DO THOSE GREAT WORKS THAT JESUS TALKED ABOUT IN JOHN 14:12 –
(John 14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

UNTIL YOU HAVE COME TO PEACE WITH GOD CONCERNING YOUR CONDITION, THAT IS COMING TO THE END OF YOURSELF.
OUR FAITH MUST NOT BE PLACED IN OUR WORKS OR EVEN IN OUR ATTENDANCE TO BIBLE STUDY OR PRAYER, BUT OUR FAITH MUST BE IN GOD HIMSELF.

HE IS THE ONE WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD PUT HIS SPIRIT IN US. SEE JOHN 14:17 --
(John 14:17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY MUST WAIT FOR THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT TO COME AND RESIDE IN THEM. HE IS THE ONE THAT ASKED, THROUGH PAUL, THOSE NEW DISCIPLES IN ACTS 19 IF THEY HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT SINCE THEY BELIEVED. THIS NEW LIFE IS A PROMISE FROM GOD BUT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT IS FOR YOU.

YOU CAN BE TOLD THAT THERE IS A NEW WAY TO LIVE YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE BUT IF YOU DON’T REALLY BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAID AND DID, YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE NULL AND VOID. HEARING ABOUT THIS NEW LIFE ISN’T ENOUGH; YOU HAVE TO START TO PURSUE IT WITH ALL THAT IS WITHIN YOU. YOU HAVE TO EAT, SLEEP, AND DRINK THAT INTO YOUR LIFE. IT’S A MINUTE BY MINUTE, HOURS BY HOUR, AND DAY BY DAY PURSUIT THAT WILL HAVE A GREAT ENDING IF YOU FAINT NOT.

THE GOOD WORKS THAT WE DO MUST BE MOTIVATED BY THE REALIZATION OF THE DEPTH OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US AND THE WORK OF HIS SPIRIT IN US.

LOOK AT EPHESIANS 2:10 --
(Eph 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

GOD FASHIONED US TO DO GOOD WORKS BUT ONLY IN HIS STRENGTH. NOTHING HAPPENS GOOD TO AND THROUGH US THAT GOD ISN’T RESPONSIBLE FOR. LOOK AT EPHESIANS 2:13 --
(Eph 2:13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

WE COULDN’T EVEN COME CLOSE TO HIM IF IT WASN’T FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS. IF THIS NEW WAY OF LIVING IS TO REMAIN IN OUR WALKS, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT IT COULD NOT HAPPEN IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT?

THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF TONGUES AND PROPHESY IS FOR US TO KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOW ENERGIZED TO DO THE GREAT WORKS THAT JESUS SPOKE OF IN JOHN 14:12.

THIS EVIDENCE ACTS AS A MOTIVATOR FOR US TO STEP OUT IN FAITH. WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUPERNATURAL ACT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PROPHESYING IS A FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE.
WHY WERE THE APOSTLES GIVEN THE ABILITY TO SPEAK IN LANGUAGES THAT THEY DID NOT LEARN?

WAS IT NOT TO SHOW THE PEOPLE AND THE APOSTLES THAT GOD HAD WROUGHT A SUPERNATURAL WORK AND THE APOSTLES WERE CONVINCED THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM. THIS INFILLING PROPELED THEM FORWARD TO DO OTHER GREAT WORKS IN THEIR MINISTRIES.

THE SAME HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS TODAY WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM. THEY SPEAK IN THEIR HEAVENLY LANGUAGE AND OR PROPHESY SO THAT EACH CAN COMPREHEND THAT SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WILLING AND WAITING TO OPERATE IN THEM THIS NEW AND LIVING WAY THAT IS THE RIGHT OF EVERY BELIEVER.

THE NEW WAY OF LIVING IS WAITING TO BE ACTIVATED IN YOUR LIFE. IT’S LOOKING FOR DISCIPLES THAT HAVE TRULY REPENTED AND WHO BELIEVE THAT WHAT GOD PROMISED IN HIS WORD IS A REALITY. THE PROMISE BELONGS TO YOU AS A BELIEVER. THE BASIC INGREDIENTS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THIS NEW LIVING WAY ARE:

1. A TRULY REPENTED LIFE.
2. AN HONEST BELIEF IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.
3. A WILLINGNESS TO TURN YOURSELF OVER COMPLETELY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4. AN UNRELENTING DESIRE TO BE SANCTIFIED HOLY.
5. A STRONG RESOLVE TO BE CONTINUALLY IN GOD’S WORD. (PERSONAL AND CHURCH BIBLE STUDY)
JOHN 8:31-32 --
(John 8:31) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

(John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

YOU CANNOT HEAR THESE LAST 2 MESSAGES WITHOUT EITHER MAKING A COMMITMENT TO HAVE THIS NEW WAY OF LIVING IMPARTED TO YOUR LIFE AND BE READY TO DO ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE IT AS YOUR LIFESTYLE, OR YOU CAN SAY THAT’S NOT FOR ME AND FORGET IT ALL.
IF YOU ONE THAT SAYS IT’S NOT FOR ME, MAYBE YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHURCH WHERE YOU CAN HIDE AND NOT GROW IN THE TRUTH OF GOD.

AS FOR THIS PASTOR AND THIS CHURCH, WE ARE RESOLVED TO SEE GOD HAVE HIS WAY IN ALL OUR LIVES AND TO BE USED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT.

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The Verdict

Let’s review the five examples. In at least four of them, the baptism in the Holy Spirit was an experience that occurred after salvation.

In three of them, Scripture plainly states that the recipients spoke with other tongues. Moreover, in Paul’s meeting with Ananias, his experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit was not actually described, but we know that eventually he did speak in tongues. That represents the fourth case.

In the remaining case, something supernatural occurred when the believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit because Simon tried to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit.

Thus the evidence is quite clear. In the early church, born-again believers received a second experience with the Holy Spirit, and when they did, they spoke in other tongues. This should not surprise us, because Jesus said that those who believe in Him would speak in new tongues.

So we have conclusive evidence that every one who is born again should also experience another work of the Holy Spirit—that of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Moreover, every believer should expect to speak with other tongues when he does receive the Holy Spirit baptism.

Acts 8:14-23 (Amplified Bible)
14Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money and offered it to them,
19Saying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
20But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money!
21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God's sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God].(A)
22So repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this [a]contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you.
23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in [b]a bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls].(B)

There are five examples in the book of Acts of believers being initially baptized in the Holy Spirit. Let’s consider all five, and as we do, we will continually ask two questions: (1) Was the baptism in the Holy Spirit an experience subsequent to salvation? and (2) Did the recipients speak in new tongues? This will help us to understand God’s will for believers today.

Jerusalem

The first example is found in Acts 2, when the one hundred and twenty disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4; emphasis added).

There is no doubt that the one hundred and twenty believers were already saved and born again before this time, so they definitely experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit after salvation. It would have been impossible, however, for them to have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit prior to this time simply because the Holy Spirit was not given to the church until that day.

It is obvious that the accompanying sign was speaking with other tongues.

Samaria

The second example of believers being baptized in the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 8, when Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached the gospel there:

But when they [the Samaritans] believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike….Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:12-16).

The Samaritan Christians clearly experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a secondary experience after their salvation. The Bible plainly states that before Peter and John arrived, the Samaritans had already “received the word of God,” believed the gospel, and been baptized in water. Yet when Peter and John came down to pray for them, Scripture says it was so “that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” How could it be clearer?
Did the Samaritan believers speak with new tongues when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit? The Bible doesn’t say, but it does say that something amazing happened to them. When a man named Simon witnessed what occurred as Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritan Christians, he tried to purchase from them the same ability to impart the Holy Spirit:

Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17-19).
What did Simon see that impressed him so much? He had already seen a number of other miracles, such as people being delivered from demons and the paralyzed and lame being miraculously healed (see Acts 8:6-7). He himself had been previously involved in occult magic, astonishing all the people of Samaria (see Acts 8:9-10). This being so, what he witnessed when Peter and John prayed must have been quite spectacular. Although we can’t say with absolute certainty, it seems quite reasonable to think that he witnessed the same phenomena that occurred every other time Christians received the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts—he saw and heard them speaking in other tongues.

Saul in Damascus

The third mention in the book of Acts of someone receiving the Holy Spirit is the case of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul. He had been saved on the road to Damascus, where he had also been temporarily blinded. Three days after his conversion, a man named Ananias was divinely sent to him:
So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized (Acts 9:17-18).

There is no doubt that Saul was born again before Ananias arrived to pray for him. He believed in the Lord Jesus when he was still on the road to Damascus, and he immediately obeyed His new Lord's instructions. Additionally, when Ananias first met Saul, he called him “brother Saul.” Note that Ananias told Saul that he had come so that he would regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus for Saul, being filled with, or baptized in, the Holy Spirit occurred three days after his salvation.

The Scriptures don’t record the actual incident of Saul’s being baptized in the Holy Spirit, but it must have happened shortly after Ananias arrived at where Saul was staying. There is no doubt that Saul spoke with other tongues at some point, because he later stated in 1 Corinthians 14:18, “I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all.”

Caesarea

The fourth mention of believers being baptized in the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 10. The apostle Peter had been divinely commissioned to preach the gospel in Caesarea to the household of Cornelius. As soon as Peter revealed that salvation is received through faith in Jesus, his entire Gentile audience immediately responded in faith, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them:

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:44-48a).
In this case, it seems as if the members of Cornelius’ household, who became the first Gentile believers in Jesus, were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit simultaneously.

If we examine the surrounding scriptures and study the historical context, it is apparent why God didn’t wait for Peter and his fellow believers to lay hands on the Gentile believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and the other Jewish believers had great difficulty believing that Gentiles could even be saved, much less receive the Holy Spirit! They likely would never have prayed for Cornelius’ household to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, so God sovereignly acted. God was teaching Peter and his companions something about His marvelous grace toward Gentiles.

What convinced Peter and the other Jewish believers that Cornelius’ household had genuinely received the Holy Spirit? Luke wrote, “For they were hearing them speaking with tongues” (Acts 10:46). Peter declared that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit just as the one hundred and twenty had on the day of Pentecost (see 10:47).
Ephesus

The fifth mention of believers being baptized in the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 19. While traveling through Ephesus, the apostle Paul met some disciples and asked them the following question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2).

Paul, the man who wrote the majority of the New Testament epistles, clearly believed that it is possible to believe in Jesus but not have received the Holy Spirit in some sense. Otherwise, he would not have asked such a question.
The men replied that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. In fact, they had only heard of the coming Messiah through John the Baptist, the one who had baptized them. Paul immediately baptized them again in water, and this time they experienced true Christian baptism. Finally, Paul laid his hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were in all about twelve men (Acts 19:5-7).

Again, it is obvious that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was subsequent to salvation, regardless of whether or not these twelve men were born again before they met Paul. Also, once again, the accompanying sign of their Holy Spirit baptism was speaking in tongues (and in this case also prophecy).

The Verdict

Let’s review the five examples. In at least four of them, the baptism in the Holy Spirit was an experience that occurred after salvation.

In three of them, Scripture plainly states that the recipients spoke with other tongues. Moreover, in Paul’s meeting with Ananias, his experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit was not actually described, but we know that eventually he did speak in tongues. That represents the fourth case.

In the remaining case, something supernatural occurred when the believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit because Simon tried to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit.

Thus the evidence is quite clear. In the early church, born-again believers received a second experience with the Holy Spirit, and when they did, they spoke in other tongues. This should not surprise us, because Jesus said that those who believe in Him would speak in new tongues.

So we have conclusive evidence that every one who is born again should also experience another work of the Holy Spirit—that of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Moreover, every believer should expect to speak with other tongues when he does receive the Holy Spirit baptism.