Submitting to the Holy Spirit: Walking in the Power of Acts
Base Text: The Book of Acts
Introduction
Speaking about sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit is a delicate and vital matter. Because it involves personal experiences, spiritual manifestations, and divine direction, there is always a tension. On one hand, there is the danger of emotionalism or straying from the Word of God. On the other hand, there is the risk that, out of fear of making mistakes, we stifle and quench what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through us.
The Book of Acts does not show us a perfect Church, but it shows us a Functional Church. It was a Church:
• Guided by the Spirit
• Moved by the Spirit
• Dependent on the Spirit
If we, as the youth of this generation, want to hear the voice of God more clearly, we must look at the blueprint of the early Church.
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I. The Evident Leadership of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8
The Book of Acts begins with a divine exchange: Jesus ascends to heaven, and the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost. Jesus promised He would not leave us as orphans; He sent the Paracletos—the Comforter.
The Holy Spirit came to:
• Teach us all things.
• Guide us into all truth.
• Convict the world of sin.
• Empower us for the mission.
1. The Spirit in the Redemptive Plan
The promise of the Spirit is for everyone who believes (Acts 2:39). The Holy Spirit is essentially missionary; His target is always people. Without Him, there is no power, no divine direction, no supernatural boldness, and no kingdom expansion.
Application for Youth: In modern ministry, we often make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. In Acts, it was the opposite: The Spirit directed, and the leaders followed. Sensitivity begins with surrender. If we want to fulfill our purpose, we must move from "initiative" to "submission."
II. Resistance Blocks Sensitivity
Acts 7:51
Stephen issued a stinging rebuke to the religious leaders: "You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Resistance creates spiritual deafness.
What blocks the voice of the Spirit?
• Stubbornness and pride.
• Hardness of heart.
• Unforgiveness.
• Hidden sin.
Sensitivity is deeply linked to Holiness. The early Church lived in the "Fear of the Lord." After the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira, great fear came upon the church (Acts 5), and the churches grew as they walked in that holy reverence (Acts 9:31).
The Spiritual Principle: "The Lord confides in those who fear him" (Psalm 25:14). You cannot expect intimacy with God while living in rebellion against Him. Resistance may not totally silence the Spirit at first, but it makes His voice weaker and weaker until you can no longer hear Him.
III. The Spirit is Communicative by Nature
The Holy Spirit is not a passive force; He is an active Person who speaks. In Acts, we see Him communicating in various ways:
• Direct Speech: He spoke to Philip about the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29).
• Clear Instruction: He told Peter to go with the Gentiles (Acts 10:19-20).
• Selection: He commanded the church to set apart Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2).
• Prevention: He kept Paul from preaching in Asia at a specific time (Acts 16:6).
• Encouragement: He spoke to Paul in a vision during a crisis (Acts 18:9).
The Scale of Communication:
1. Global: Prophesying about a worldwide famine (Acts 11:28).
2. Local: Giving direction to a specific congregation.
3. Individual: Personal guidance for your life.
True revelation always has one goal: To glorify Jesus Christ. If a "feeling" or a "word" doesn't exalt Christ, it isn't from the Spirit.
IV. Sensitivity is the Fruit of Continuous Relationship
The Church in Acts was a Praying Church. Almost every chapter mentions prayer. They prayed before choosing leaders, they prayed for boldness, they prayed before sending missionaries, and they even prayed in prison.
They dedicated time. Today, we want "instant" direction, but we give God "minimal" time. There is a direct correlation between:
Surrender + Prayer = Sensitivity
The less time you spend with God, the less clarity you will have in His direction. Prayer is not "losing time"—it is "gaining direction." A youth who prays is a youth who is sensitive to the Spirit.
The Dynamic Power of the Spirit: Acts 2 and Beyond
In Acts 1, we saw that the disciples had to wait and submit to the Spirit before they could witness a breakthrough. In Acts 2, that breakthrough arrives with the sound of a rushing mighty wind. The Holy Spirit is not just a theological concept; He is the third Person of the Trinity who indwells every believer to empower, guide, and transform them into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
To live a life that reflects the glory of God, we must move beyond acknowledging the Spirit’s existence to actively submitting to His leadership.
I. The Spirit Reverses the Curse of Babel (Acts 2:1-13)
The first thing we see in Acts 2 is a supernatural reversal of history. In Genesis 11, at the Tower of Babel, God judged human pride by confusing their languages, leading to division and scattering. At Pentecost, God used the gift of tongues to bring understanding and gathering.
• Divine Discernment: The Holy Spirit grants us the ability to discern truth from error. Under His guidance, we are empowered to choose what is holy over what is worldly.
• Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good: The Bible lists various gifts (1 Corinthians 12) such as prophecy, discernment, healing, and tongues. In Acts 2, we see the Spirit enabling the early church to speak in the native languages of the visitors, signifying that the Gospel is for every nation.
• Inspiration for the Impossible: The Spirit inspires us to do "big things"—tasks that exceed our natural strength or courage—so that we may live according to God’s perfect will.
II. The Spirit Proves Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 2:14-41)
When Peter stood up to preach, he wasn't just giving a speech; he was speaking under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. The primary work of the Spirit is to "exalt Christ" (John 16:14).
• Evidence of the Resurrection: The Spirit’s descent was the ultimate proof that Jesus was no longer in the grave but was seated at the right hand of the Father.
• Conviction of the Heart: For unbelievers, the Spirit works to convince them of their need for a Savior. For believers, He asks: “Are you living as if God indwells you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
• The Ministry of Jesus: From His conception to His resurrection, Jesus operated under the complete control of the Holy Spirit.
◦ Anointed for Service: Acts 10:38 tells us God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power to do good and heal.
◦ Raised by the Spirit: Romans 8:11 declares that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.
III. The Spirit Unites the Body of Christ (Acts 2:42-47)
The result of the Spirit’s outpouring was not just individual excitement, but the birth of a community. Only by the Spirit’s indwelling could these thousands of diverse people become "The Church."
• From "Me" to "Us": The Spirit moves us from isolation to participation. Has God’s Spirit succeeded in making you an active part of your local church body?
• Manifestation for Profit: Spiritual gifts are given to each one for the "profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7). When we submit to the Spirit, our talents become tools for building others up.
• The Litmus Test: Spirit vs. Flesh: How do we know if we are truly submitting? We look at the fruit.
◦ The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Read more:
- Sermon About Patience: Wait in God
- Sermon About Evangelism: Why Evangelism?
- Sermon about Trusting God
- Top Sermons to Preach The Word or Read OnLine
Conclusion: Knowing Your Role in the Plan
The purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit was to demonstrate that Jesus is the risen Messiah who can save people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The Spirit did not put you into the Body of Christ just for your comfort, but to reach the nations.
The Main Idea: You are an essential part of God’s global plan. The breakthrough you are looking for is found on the other side of your submission.
To submit to the Holy Spirit is to recognize that He is the senior partner in our lives. To hear Him better, we must:
1. Repent of Resistance: Ask God to soften any areas of stubbornness.
2. Cultivate Quietness: Turn down the noise of the world to hear the whisper of the Spirit.
3. Obey the Small Things: If you don't obey what He has already said in the Bible, why would He tell you something new?
4. Wait in Prayer: Don't rush into decisions without seeking His peace.
The same Spirit that moved in the streets of Jerusalem and the docks of Ephesus wants to move in your school, your family, and your heart today.
