The Holy Ghost: The Unseen Authority Behind
Missions
Text: Acts 13:1-4 IBCSS
March 15, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Millions of people have
little knowledge about the Holy Ghost. Even numbers of believers could not
speak much or write much about the third Person of the Trinity. It may shock
us, but even some professing believers during the New Testament time were
caught unaware and were found ignorant about the indwelling act of the Holy
Ghost.
In Acts 19:1-2, it is
written, 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul
having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain
disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye
believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there
be any Holy Ghost. (KJV)
The Holy Ghost is the
unseen power behind missions. We may not notice His presence like we see our
physical and visible co-workers, but the Word of God tells us that He
indwells the believer and He works in us and through the ministry that God
has entrusted us. Without His help, we surely cannot fulfil the Great
Commission.
The Holy Ghost is God
and not just a mere active force as many cultists believe and teach. In Acts
5:3-4, it is written, 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of
the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold,
was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (KJV) These verses will
enlighten our mind and teach us that the Holy Ghost is not a human being but
God.
As we serve the Lord
Jesus Christ, we should be also aware that the Holy Ghost has emotion and
could be grieved by our questionable deportment. In Ephesians 4:29-30, it is
written, 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption. (KJV)
Behind our success in
the ministry is our obedience to the will of the Holy Ghost, and certainly,
behind our failure is our indifferent attitude toward Him. The more we
submit ourselves to His will, the more we become Christ-like, and the more
we look upon Jesus, the more we become pleasing to God. In II Corinthians
3:17-18, it is written, 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is
liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even
as by the Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)
(I)
He Sets Aside Believers For A
Purpose
Acts 13:1-2
-Believers must be
sensitive to
the leading of the Holy Ghost
Spiritual sensitivity is so
important in the life of a servant especially in discerning the leading of
the Holy Ghost. Paying attention to a visible authority is surely easier
than taking note from an unseen authority. For such reasons, Christians must
then live in deep spirituality so they could perceive what the Holy Ghost
wants them to do in the ministry.
In Acts 13:1-2, it is
written, 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets
and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
(KJV)
We must keep in mind
that every believer has a special purpose in life and without spiritual
sensitivity, he may fail to fulfil his role; and as a sad result, his
purpose in life will be defeated. To avoid such failure, we must live a holy
life and establish a strong prayer life so we may have deep communion with
the Holy Ghost. In such spiritual condition, it will be easier for us to
know His leading.
(II) He
Sends Forth Believers To
The Mission Field
Acts 13:3-4
-Believers must submit to the
will of the Holy Ghost
In Acts 13:3-4, it is
written, 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands
on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy
Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (KJV)
It is evident from these passages that the Holy Ghost is the One who send
missionaries to the mission field and He uses godly believers as instruments
to support labourers in their missionary task.
Sending labourers in the
spiritual harvest field is God’s act of mercy for the benefit of fallen man.
For such reason, Christians should be willing to submit to the will of the
Holy Ghost so they could be used in reaching the lost with the Gospel of
Christ. As we see the spiritual need of the world, may we not grieve the
Holy Ghost by ignoring His direction, but always willing and ready to go
wherever He leads us.
(III) He
Empowers Believers In An
Unusual Way
Acts 13:9-11 Acts 1:8
-Believers must
rely on the
power of the Holy Ghost
Going to the mission
field is going to the battle field. Spiritual warfare is prevalent and
inevitable in the ministry, but we praise God for He is mindful of His
servants empowering them with the Holy Ghost as they serve Him. In Acts
13:9-11, it is written, 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,)
filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all
subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy
of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the
Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord
is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a
season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went
about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (KJV) Without doubt, Paul was
able to overcome Elymas victoriously only through the power of the Holy
Ghost.
THE
POWER OF TRUTH
