Spirit-Filled Preaching

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• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
• Posted 06/07/2020
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The Spirit Filled Preaching

Acts.2:36-41

Rev Dr Devadosan Sugirtharaj

Introduction

• Preaching is the proclamation of God’s word to communicate effectively by unpacking of of the Bible to the people of God so that they may live and serve God in the time and place where God has placed them.
• Preaching is not the oral communication of information or of making people happy or entertained or business of making selfish gains.
• Preaching is the call of God for the church and it is also part of ministry in the Church.
• What are the essentials of Spirit-Filled Preaching?

Context of the Passage

• After the filling of the Holy Spirit, all apostles stood before the crowd and Peter preached the first sermon.
• Peter’s Spirit Filled preaching was totally based on the word of God only and this is the core of the preaching.
• When Peter preached, the people heard and were cut to the heart and engaged

Word Study

• Preaching or Proclamation: Greek word ‘Kerugma’ comes from the word Kerusso which means to proclaim or announce in public. It is used by the herald to proclaim the King’s message to the public. The church uses this as the proclamation of God’s word and gospel to the public based on the word of God
• Teaching: Greek word ‘didache’ comes from  didasko which means to give instruction in a formal or informal setting for the development of the students. It is used to teach in educational setting in the Greek times. The church uses this as the ministry of teaching so that the believers will develop their faith and life by understanding the doctrines or teachings of the Bible.

1. The Spirit-Filled Preaching calls his hearers for repentance to Christ so that they may be changed in their hearts.
   1. Acts.2:37-38a.  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”38 Peter replied, “Repent.               
   2. 37. இதை அவர்கள் கேட்டபொழுது, இருதயத்திலே குத்தப்பட்டவர்களாகி, பேதுருவையும் மற்ற அப்போஸ்தலரையும் பார்த்து: சகோதரரே, நாங்கள் என்ன செய்யவேண்டும் என்றார்கள்.38. பேதுரு அவர்களை நோக்கி: நீங்கள் மனந்திரும்பி,
   3. When the crowd were convicted in their hearts by the gospel of Christ preached through the word of God, they asked the disciples the way of salvation. Peter immediate response was: Repent.       
   4. Repent or repentance means to have another mind or to change one’s mind and heart. The bible clearly teaches us that repentance is the act of turning to God from sin.
   5. Repentance involves intellectual decision, emotional expression and also change in behaviour. It is all about turning around 180 degrees and goes the other direction.
   6. Repentance comes through the work of the Holy Spirit to respond to God’s word and it creates Godly sorrow so that the life would be completely turned to God
   7. Acts.17:30: Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent
   8. 30. அறியாமையுள்ள காலங்களை தேவன் காணாதவர்போலிருந்தார்; இப்பொழுதோ மனந்திரும்பவேண்டுமென்று எங்குமுள்ள மனுஷரெல்லாருக்கும் கட்டளையிடுகிறார்
   9. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [c]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
   10. 9. தாமதிக்கிறார் என்று சிலர் எண்ணுகிறபடி கர்த்தர் தமது வாக்குத்தத்தத்தைக்குறித்துத் தாமதமாயிராமல்; ஒருவரும் கெட்டுப்போகாமல் எல்லாரும் மனந்திரும்பவேண்டுமென்று விரும்பி, நம்மேல் நீடிய பொறுமையுள்ளவராயிருக்கிறார்.
   11. Biblical example: 1 Kings 21: Ahab’s repentance: When Ahab killed Naboth for a piece of land by listening to his wife Jezebel, Elijah brought the word of God to him and preached about the consequence of his sin. He repented.  25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife [c]stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
   12. Sermon illustration:A soap manufacturer and a pastor were walking together down a street in a large city. The soap manufacturer casually said, “The Gospel you preach hasn’t done much good has it? Just observe. There is still a lot of wickedness in the world, and a lot of wicked people, too!”The pastor made no reply until they passed a dirty little child making mud pies in the gutter. Seizing the opportunity, the pastor said, “I see that soap hasn’t done much good in the world either; for there is much dirt, and many dirty people around.”The soap man said, “Oh, well, soap is only useful when it is applied.” And the pastor said, “Exactly, so it is with the Gospel.”

1. The Spirit-Filled Preaching tells his hearers to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that they may obey God’s commandments.
   1. Acts.2:38: and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins.
   2. ஒவ்வொருவரும் பாவமன்னிப்புக்கென்று இயேசுகிறிஸ்துவின் நாமத்தினாலே ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள்
   3. Peter called the crowd to repent and then he preached that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for their outward expression of inward change. Christ commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 that the church is called to make disciples and baptize them in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the act of obedience to God and His word.
   4. Baptism comes from the  Greek word bapto which means dip as in dye to color. As the result of dipping, plunging, washing and sinking something or someone, the nature of the person completely changes. Baptism is an act in which a Christian symbolizes the end of an old way of living, and a new start. When you get baptized it is a testimony to God and people that you, by faith, will live a new life as an overcomer. It is also an expression of being with Christ. It is act of obedience to God.
   5. Romans.6:3-4:  3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
   6. 3. கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவுக்குள்ளாக ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்ற நாமனைவரும் அவருடைய மரணத்துக்குள்ளாக, ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்றதை அறியாமலிருக்கிறீர்களா? 4. மேலும் பிதாவின் மகிமையினாலே கிறிஸ்து மரித்தோரிலிருந்து எழுப்பப்பட்டதுபோல, நாமும் புதிதான ஜீவனுள்ளவர்களாய் நடந்துகொள்ளும்படிக்கு, அவருடைய மரணத்திற்குள்ளாக்கும் ஞானஸ்நானத்தினாலே கிறிஸ்துவுடனேகூட அடக்கம்பண்ணப்பட்டோம்.
   7. Colossians 2:12: 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.2. ஞானஸ்நானத்திலே அவரோடேகூட அடக்கம்பண்ணப்பட்டவர்களாகவும், அதிலே அவரை மரித்தோரிலிருந்தெழுப்பின தேவனுடைய செயலின்மேலுள்ள விசுவாசத்தினாலே அவரோடேகூட எழுந்தவர்களாகவும் இருக்கிறீர்கள்.
   8. Being baptized is the sign of obedience to God. Spirit-filled preaching leads the people to obey God’s commandments.
   9. Biblical example: Acts.9: The conversation of Paul. Ananias met his and  prayed for him. He was healed . 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
   10. 18. உடனே அவன் கண்களிலிருந்து மீன் செதிள்கள் போன்றவைகள் விழுந்தது. அவன் பார்வையடைந்து, எழுந்திருந்து, ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்றான்.
   11. Sermon Illustration: One of the little boys in her class proudly announced to her Sunday school teacher that he was being baptized the next Sunday. She told him that was really great, and he told her he was going to take his swim goggles. She was curious about why the youngster would want to wear his goggles during the Baptism service. When she asked, the boy replied, “So I can see my sins washed away!

1. The Spirit-Filled Preaching declares the hearers the promise of the Holy Spirit to all whom God call so that they may be active in Jesus’ ministry
   1. Acts.2:38b39: you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
   2. அப்பொழுது பரிசுத்த ஆவியின் வரத்தைப் பெறுவீர்கள்.39. வாக்குத்தத்தமானது உங்களுக்கும், உங்கள் பிள்ளைகளுக்கும், நம்முடைய தேவனாகிய கர்த்தர் வரவழைக்கும் தூரத்திலுள்ள யாவருக்கும் உண்டாயிருக்கிறது என்று சொல்லி
   3. Peter again reinforced in his preaching that the importance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as well as water baptism so that they may empower to become Jesus’s disciples to where they were come from.
   4. As believers in Christ, when we face the desires and the thoughts coming from inside and also from outside in the time of temptation, our human abilities, knowledge or skills do not help us to overcome. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do it.
   5. The Holy Spirit is an essential part of our faith life and he teaches us how God works in our lives and also to empower us to live out our faith in the midst of any circumstance we encounter.
   6. John 14:26: 26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
   7. 26. என் நாமத்தினாலே பிதா அனுப்பப்போகிற பரிசுத்த ஆவியாகிய தேற்றரவாளனே எல்லாவற்றையும் உங்களுக்குப் போதித்து, நான் உங்களுக்குச் சொன்ன எல்லாவற்றையும் உங்களுக்கு நினைப்பூட்டுவார்.
   8. 1 John 3: 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
   9. 24. அவருடைய கட்டளைகளைக் கைக்கொள்ளுகிறவன் அவரில் நிலைத்திருக்கிறான். அவரும் அவனில் நிலைத்திருக்கிறார்; அவர் நம்மில் நிலைத்திருக்கிறதை அவர் நமக்குத் தந்தருளின ஆவியினாலே அறிந்திருக்கிறோம்.
   10. Biblical example: Acts.8:14-17: Peter and John were sent to the Samaritan community who became the believers and baptized in water. However they were not filled with the Holy Spirit. The church sent them to lay hands on them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
   11. Sermon Illustration: One day a little boy was flying his kite high, out of sight, in the sky. A man passing by asked the boy, “Son, are you flying your kite?” The boy responded, “Yes, Sir!” The man replied, “ I don’t see a kite. Are you sure it’s up there?” The boy replied, “ Sir, I know it’s up there because every now and then I feel it pulling on the string. We need the Holy Spirit to pull and move our hearts to live in faith.

1. The Spirit-Filled Preaching invites the hearers to live a holy life in the world so that they may demonstrate the difference.
   1. Acts.2:40: 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [l]perverse generation.”
   2.  இன்னும் அநேக வார்த்தைகளாலும் சாட்சிகூறி, மாறுபாடுள்ள இந்தச் சந்ததியை விட்டு விலகி உங்களை இரட்சித்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள் என்றும் புத்திசொன்னான்.
   3. Peter concluded in his final part of his Spirit-Filled preaching to exhort them to live a holy and sanctified life in this world. He preached that they had to live a holy in order to make the difference in the world.
   4. Saving ourselves from this generation means that separate yourselves from the influence, opinions of this world and live out your faith life with diligence and purity.
   5. John 17:15-17: 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify[i] them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
   6. 15. நீர் அவர்களை உலகத்திலிருந்து எடுத்துக்கொள்ளும்படி நான் வேண்டிக்கொள்ளாமல், நீர் அவர்களைத் தீமையினின்று காக்கும்படி வேண்டிக்கொள்ளுகிறேன். 16. நான் உலகத்தானல்லாததுபோல, அவர்களும் உலகத்தாரல்ல. 17. உம்முடைய சத்தியத்தினாலே அவர்களைப் பரிசுத்தமாக்கும்; உம்முடைய வசனமே சத்தியம்.
   7. 1 John 2:15-17: 5 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.James 1:27: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
   8. 15. உலகத்திலும் உலகத்திலுள்ளவைகளிலும் அன்புகூராதிருங்கள்; ஒருவன் உலகத்தில் அன்புகூர்ந்தால் அவனிடத்தில் பிதாவின் அன்பில்லை.16. ஏனெனில், மாம்சத்தின் இச்சையும், கண்களின் இச்சையும், ஜீவனத்தின் பெருமையுமாகிய உலகத்திலுள்ளவைகளெல்லாம் பிதாவினாலுண்டானவைகளல்ல, அவைகள் உலகத்தினாலுண்டானவைகள். 17. உலகமும் அதின் இச்சையும் ஒழிந்துபோம்; தேவனுடைய சித்தத்தின்படி செய்கிறவனோ என்றென்றைக்கும் நிலைத்திருப்பான்.
   9. Biblical example: In Antioch, when Peter and other Jewish Christians denied to fellowship with Gentiles, though they knew that they did it before, and played hypocrisy, Paul warned that it was not acceptable. Galatians.2:11-16: 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
   10. 13. மற்ற யூதரும் அவனுடனேகூட மாயம்பண்ணினார்கள்; அவர்களுடைய மாயத்தினாலே பர்னபாவும் இழுப்புண்டான்.
   11. Sermon Illustration: Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not know there was anything wrong with the peals, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch. So we tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it. God has given us His Word which is the absolute pitch of life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the false in all of the music of the world.

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit fills our lives and also our preaching/proclamation of God’s word. The Spirit-Filled preaching is needed in our world so that they people may know the power of the Holy Spirit through his word. There are four important elements which are part of Spirit-Filled preaching. They are:

1. The Spirit-Filled Preaching calls his hearers for repentance to Christ so that they may be changed in their hearts.
2. The Spirit-Filled Preaching tells his hearers to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that they may obey God’s commandments.
3. The Spirit-Filled Preaching declares the hearers the promise of the Holy Spirit to all whom God call so that they may be active in Jesus’ ministry
4. The Spirit-Filled Preaching invites the hearers to live a holy life in the world so that they may demonstrate the difference.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. When you share and proclaim God’s word, you need the Holy Spirit making the  preaching or proclamation with his power.  How do you depend on the Holy Spirit to communicate God’s word to others? How much do your preaching grounded in God’s word?
2. The Spirit Filled preaching leads the people into repentance from the sins. What are the sins you need to repent in your lives? When you repent, then your preaching also becomes powerful to make others repent. Do you compromise your preaching on sin because of fear, favour or personal gain?
3. The Spirit Filled preaching leads the people to obedient to God. The baptism is one of ways we obey God’s commandment. If baptism is not an option, why some do not want to preach? In what ways do you share God’s word to others to obey God?
4. The Spirit Filled preaching leads to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit. How does your preaching lead the people to have thirst for the Holy Spirit? How do you lead the people to have the Holy Spirit in their lives?
5. The Spirit Filled preaching leads to live a holy and un-compromised faith life. Have you ever compromised your faith because of your gain, favour or fear of opposition? In what ways do people compromise God’s word? Have you ever experiences Spirit Filled preaching in your life and how does it impact you?