• 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.