Module 2: The Spirit of the New Creation
10 min read
The book of Acts is sometimes called "The Acts of the Apostles," but a better title might be "The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles." The church grows, not by human strategy alone, but by the Spirit's initiative, power, and guidance.
At Pentecost, "those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day" Acts 2:41. The Spirit convicts, converts, and incorporates people into the body. Every genuine conversion is a Spirit event.
When the apostles were threatened by the religious authorities, they gathered to pray. After they prayed, "the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" Acts 4:31. The Spirit does not remove opposition. He fills His people with courage in the face of it.
If you feel afraid to speak about Jesus, the Spirit is the answer to your fear. Ask Him to fill you with the same boldness.
The early church assumed the gospel was for Jews. The Spirit shattered that assumption. He fell on Samaritans (Acts 8), on the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8), on Cornelius and his Gentile household before they were even baptized (Acts 10). Peter had to admit, "God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean" Acts 10:28. The Spirit is always ahead of our prejudices.
In Antioch, while the believers were worshiping and fasting, "the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" Acts 13:2. The first missionary journey was Spirit-directed. The Spirit still sends today — across the street and across the ocean.
Paul and his companions "traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to" Acts 16:6-7. Sometimes the Spirit guides by closing doors as much as by opening them.
The Acts church was not perfect. It had conflict, hypocrisy, and growing pains. But it was a Spirit-directed community. It prayed, obeyed, suffered, expanded, and worshiped under the Spirit's leadership.
Your local church can be the same. It will not happen automatically. It happens when leaders and members alike seek the Spirit, obey His Word, and move with His direction.