The Promise of the Father
By: Pastor Rodney Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/24/2017
Foundation Scriptures:
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5 KJV
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 KJV
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33 KJV
1. The Promise of the Father.
a. Jesus prepared His disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
b. He told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father that they had heard Him speak about.
c. John 14:16-18 KJV - “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
d. I will not leave you comfortless!
e. John 14:26 KJV - “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
f. John 15:26 KJV - “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
g. John 16:7-15 KJV - “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
h. Comforter; Counselor; Helper; Intercessor; Strengthener; Advocate; Standby.
i. He did not leave us alone.
2. The Promise.
a. 2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV - “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
b. Earnest: a pledge, or a down payment, or an engagement ring.
c. An engagement ring is a promise or pledge of a future marriage.
d. Jesus is coming back, but in the meantime, He left the Holy Spirit with us.
e. The Holy Spirit is a person – not a language or a gift.
f. He comes to live in us and make us His own.
3. Receiving the Promise.
a. Salvation (a new creation) is the only pre-requisite.
b. Romans 10:8-10 KJV - “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
c. Come in faith – expectant – like the Early Church.
d. Acts 2:1-22
e. Receive power to witness.
f. Receive a heavenly language.
4. Develop a Personal Relationship with the Holy Spirit.
a. YOUR HELPER - He is with you and in you.
b. Hebrews 13:6 KJV - “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
c. COMFORTER - peace; joy; love.
d. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV - “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
e. COUNSELOR - gives us direction and advice.
f. INTERCESSOR - prays through you.
g. Romans 8:26 KJV - “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
h. ADVOCATE - represents us in the courts of heaven, before the Father.
i.1 John 2:1 KJV - “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
j. STRENGTHENER - inner strength; the joy of the Lord.
k. Ephesians 3:16 KJV - “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”
l. STANDBY - supporter; reliable; by your side; always there.
5. Thank God for the Fulfillment of the Promise!