Encountering the Spirit – The Cost

Text: Luke.24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 14-22

INTRODUCTION

What is your pursuit of The Holy Spirit costing you? Please, remember, that all service to God or encounters with His Spirit will involve a sacrifice. It was unknown in the Old Testament to approach God without some sacrifice. There was always expense involved in entering into His presence. In fact it is one thing to say that you are hungry for His presence and to be asking for it and another thing entirely to be willing to sacrifice for it. What are you will to put on the table to encounter the Holy Spirit?

See:

(I) Math.13:44-46 “44 The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field.

45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, 46 Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it”.

Summary (I): An Encounter with the Holy Spirit will cost you ALL you have. i.e

God can ask or demand for all your harvest or your best.

– Abraham – Isaac – Gen.22:1-2

– The boy with 5loaves and 2 fishes –John 6:9-11

– The rich young ruler – Mk.10: 18-22

– The Disciples – Mk.10:28

– The Apostle Paul – Phil.3:7-8

(II) Lu.12:50 “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished!”

Summary (II): An Encounter with the Holy Spirit will stretch and compel or put a demand on you.

Using our text- Lu.24:49 and Acts 1:4-5, 14-22 as a backdrop, I will discuss this cost under three (3) headings.

1) The Spiritual Cost

The first thing required of them was to “Tarry”. This involves the discipline of applying one’s self to waiting i.e time. It was not a passive wait, but an active one in which they were to be engaged in somethings while waiting.

Acts 1:14 told us the time was employed: i.e in

§ Prayers and Fasting (Matth.9:15, Mk.2:20)

§ Study of the word.

Prayer and Fasting

· Kept or maintained their fellowship with the master – John 5:17,19 and Heb.5:7

· Was a source of strength and boldness for them Acts 4:31

· Opened their spirits and minds for the revelation of the truth from the word because:

– It is the knowledge of the truth that connects us to our inheritance -2Pet.1:3-4

– Facilitate the release and demonstration of the power of God through us. – Dan.11:32

– Produces effectual Faith in us- 2Pet.1:5,8

– Creates boldness in our hearts as a result of our knowing our rights in Him. – ICor.2:12-13

When you spend time in prayers and fasting before the Lord to have and encounter with the spirit of God:

(1) Like Job – You create a future for yourself – Read the Entire –Job.29

(2) Like King Uzziah – You receive the required divine direction to achieve the desired victory in life – IIChro.26:1-15; Prov.14:12

2) The Intellectual Cost: – Isa.5:13; Psm.45:3-5

– Peter spent time in the word to gather knowledge as a result – He knew

What to do before the Spirit will descend – V14-22

– Knowledge is power – e.g Samuel in ISam.3:1-11

– Information gives timely expression to every pursuit – Isa.33:6

– Adequate information ensures success – Isa.30:20-21, 2Sam.5:17-25

3) The Physical Cost

Peter Obeyed by tarrying, he led the 120 into:

– Separation unto God. Acts 1:14-26

· Jacob in Gen 32

· Jesus Christ Lu.4:1-14

· Paul, 3yrs in the Arabian Desert –Gal.1:11-18

· While in separation, you will learn amongst others to cultivate the other 4 ‘s’ of power i.e

§ Stillness – Psm.46:10

Refusal to be disturbed or distracted

§ Solitude – Lu.3:2 ability to stay the course while building stamina and self confidence.

§ Silence – Isa.30:15, John 8:4-8 no noise, distraction e.t.c makes for thinking and meditation.

§ Skill from insight and imparts the ability to do something well e.g

David – Psm.78:70-72

Peter- Matth.17:25-27

Labour and work

§ Energy is required to fulfill destiny- The Spirit of might –Isa.11:2

§ Things answer to workers

Jesus – John 9:4

Paul – ICor.15:9-10

§ You will be required to be diligent in many areas to facilitate the encounter – Prov.13:23; 20:4; 27:

CONCLUSION

Are you ready to pay the Price?