Attitude check: I Corinthians 13:4

How do I know the Holy Spirit is talking to me? (continued)

• These promises to the apostles began to be fulfilled in Acts 1-2.

• We might wonder if the phrase in Acts 2:38 (“the gift of the Holy Spirit”) means that all people receive some supernatural communication or power from the Spirit.

  • Numerous examples show that baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit in a miraculous way were two separate things. Acts 8:16-18; 10:44-48; 19:1-7

  • So, what is the “gift of the Holy Spirit” that is received at baptism?

    • For centuries, the Holy Spirit had been saying (through prophets) that salvation was coming.

      • Hebrews 3:7; 4:7

      • Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21

      • Salvation was the gift!

• I should not be waiting for something miraculous to occur to either produce or confirm my salvation.

• So, does God do anything today?

  • What God does in answer to our prayers is beyond our ability to know.

  • God is not going to contradict the written word. Galatians 1:6-9

  • God wants us to pay attention to the revealed gospel. Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:1-4

• James 1:5

• II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:3; Jude 3

Does the New Covenant authorize worship with instruments?

• God has always been very strict about keeping His word exactly.

  • Acts 16:25

  • Romans 15:9

  • I Corinthians 14:15

  • Ephesians 5:19

  • Colossians 3:16

  • Hebrews 2:12

  • Hebrews 13:15

  • James 5:13

  • We have zero New Covenant passages authorizing Christians to worship through instruments.

  • It’s easy to see that singing is authorized, but there is no clear authority for instruments as worship.

  • Matthew 15:1-9; Colossians 3:17; II John 9 – God warns us about staying within what He has specifically authorized.

  • Deuteronomy 4:2; Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19

• Are instruments just aids for singing?

  • When God authorized something, He narrows it down to a certain degree.

  • Instruments are not just aids – they add a new type of music.