The Sound of the Spirit
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
This past Sunday at Highpoint AG Church, we gathered for a powerful morning of worship and a deep dive into the Word. From high-energy celebrations of joy to intentional times of encouragement and a challenging message on the Holy Spirit, it was a day of profound spiritual revival.
The Sound of the Spirit
Speaker: Pastor Nate Cress, Executive Pastor
Scripture Focus: Acts 2:4, Acts 8, Acts 10, Acts 19
Pastor Nate Cress brought a message titled "The Sound of the Spirit," exploring the biblical evidence and necessity of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
1. The Necessity of a Sign
Pastor Nate established that throughout the Bible, whenever God's Spirit moves in a significant way, there is a physical sign that can be seen or heard.
Initial: The sign happens at the start of the experience.
Physical: Because we are physical beings, God often provides a physical expression for a spiritual reality.
2. The Biblical Pattern (Book of Acts)
The sermon traced the "initial physical evidence" of speaking in tongues through four major milestones in the early church:
Pentecost (Acts 2): The original 120 were filled and spoke in tongues.
Samaria (Acts 8): Even a sorcerer like Simon "saw" something so supernatural that he tried to buy the power.
The Gentiles (Acts 10): Skeptical Jewish believers were convinced the Gentiles had received the Spirit because they "heard them speaking in tongues".
Ephesus (Acts 19): Twenty years after Pentecost, the pattern remained the same; when the Spirit came, they spoke in tongues.
3. Two Operations of the Spirit
Pastor Nate cleared up common confusion by distinguishing between the Evidence and the Gift:
The Evidence (The Baptism): This is the initial sign for everyone who is baptized in the Spirit, intended for personal assurance and a private prayer life.
The Gift (The Ministry): This is the public ministry gift mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, which is given to some for the public edification of the church.
4. The Purpose: Boldness, Not Just a Feeling
The ultimate goal of this baptism is not a "spiritual high," but supernatural boldness to witness (Acts 4:31). Pastor Nate urged us not to settle for just the "well of water" (salvation) but to seek the "rivers of living water" (the overflow).
Small Group Discussion Questions
What do you think about speaking in tongues?
What is the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Pastor Nate mentioned that their are no second-class Christians, and that we all wait on God's promises. Is there a promise that you are waiting on God for that you can share about? It could be baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing, breakthrough, etc.
Pastor Nate taught that God uses physical signs because we are physical beings. How does this affect your view of "spiritual" experiences?
How does the distinction between the "initial sign" (for everyone) and the "public gift" (for some) help you understand 1 Corinthians 12 better?
Acts 4:31 says they were filled and spoke the word with boldness. In what area of your life do you need more "supernatural boldness" right now?
In Acts 8, Simon the Sorcerer "saw" something that made him want the Spirit. What "outward evidence" have you witnessed when someone was full of the Spirit.
Do you feel like you are living from the "well" of salvation or the "overflowing river" of the Spirit? What is one step you can take to seek the overflow?
Acts 1:4 commands us to wait for the "Promise of the Father". What does "waiting with expectation" look like?
After hearing this message, what is your next step in your relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Next Steps at Highpoint:
Midweek Groups: Join us this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. as our men's and women's groups dive deeper into this message.
Membership Class: If you want to make Highpoint your home, join us May 3rd and 17th at 9:00 a.m..
Mother's Day: Start inviting the moms in your life for our special celebration on May 10th!