the role of the Holy Spirit in spirtual awakening and church planting

This is a big week. We are beginning to form the core group of a new church planting initiative I am helping with. As I mentioned in my last post, Asheville is a very spiritual city. As we are forming the team and beginning incarnational missional engagement I am realizing we need to be spiritually centered in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sensitive to his leading. Reading through Acts has once again challenged me and opened my eyes to the necessity of God's work being carried out through the power and leading of His Spirit. It is how the church was born and how it is to advance.

Consider the following references in Acts to the work of the Holy Spirit in the context of spiritual awakening and church planting:

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 2:4 - Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

Acts 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”

Acts 2:33 - Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.

Acts 4:8 - Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders...”

Acts 4:31 - When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.

Acts 6:3 - Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

Acts 6:10 - But they were unable to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Acts 7:55 - But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said...

Acts 8:29 - The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”

Acts 8:39 - When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 9:17 “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

Acts 10:19 “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him…”

Acts 10:44 - While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

Acts 11:24 - ...for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith—and large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

Acts 11:28 - Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.

Acts 13:2 - As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to.”

Acts 13:4 - Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 16:6-7 - They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Acts 19:6 “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied”

Acts 20:23 - ...except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.

Acts 20:28 - Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 21:4 - So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. They said to Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.

God’s work on earth is a work of the Spirit. The Spirit is God’s life giving gift to all who believe. To do God’s work we must be filled with and guided by the Spirit. He is our life and our guide. If you don’t have the Spirit, ask the Father and he will give it to you.

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you , then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 3:34-36 “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Sons will not see life,…”