Ghost Stories Series# 2, The End is Really The Beginning

The End is Really The Beginning
By: Bobby Sullivan

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

People think that Jesus ministry died when he did when in actual fact it began. Luke said, when Jesus was on the earth it was only the beginning, that his greatest ministry started after he left.

Impartation is the legacy. The death of Jesus may have appeared to be the finality of his life and ministry because JOHN 19:30 says, “It is finished, and bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.” (IT was finished, but HE wasn’t) His death was a comma not a period, it really was a gateway, a portal for the encore presentation. In other words, Jesus was saying, “The best is yet to come! I was the warm up act” 

I want you to know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the apostles were not and are not the only ones chosen! You are as well.  Can I say, membership has privileges.

³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.
⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”  King James version, HOLY GHOST
⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?”

He was thinking the Kingdom of God while they were thinking the Kingdom of Israel! Why is it that we are always thinking about our Kingdom and not HIS?

They were so protective of their earthly identity that they lost focus of their heavenly citizenship! That as chosen believers our new kingdom is not of this world.

I have been hearing a lot lately of a NWO~ New World Order. I have a different interpretation of that. I don’t believe it is one that Satan will come and establish. He was defeated and doomed a long time ago in the dungeon of darkness. This New World Order is what God had in mind when we his chosen who rule and rein Now, not just later and establish HIS KINGDOM on earth!

As a matter of fact, once believers realize true kingdom identity we can institute His kingdom now rather than later. Why don’t most believe that? Because they want someone else to do the work of the ministry.

These guys were focused on the wrong thing!   ARE YOU AS WELL?  Jesus is the land Lord. He is the Lord of the Land .

THEN JESUS SAID,

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

Someone said, “What other people think of me is none of my business”

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

In the OLD TEST we see the purpose of the Holy Spirit was for a task. The HS overshadowed, came upon, rested and  appeared as. But now the function has transitioned into dare I say….possession. 

Now the Holy Spirit is not about a visitation but a habitation. 

I don’t want to re-hash what I have already said but after 3 years, the disciples have witnessed the power of his presence.
I want the presence of God more than I want to presents of God! 

• Partnering with His Presence: Peter in the boat. He had no fish and Jesus was trying to teach him that without me you have nothing but with me you will have everything. I want Jesus to be my filter, my protector, my bodyguard and the security of my mind. The power of his presence was so_____

Remember Acts 1:8  Jerusalem, Judea Samaria…The jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews but Jesus said, you will be my witnesss in the places you hate the most.! In other words….SOME AREA! God will work in any area, and some area where there is insecurity and uncertainty.

Not only will he work through some area but that area as well!!! His presence can penetrate anything preconceived… 

He didn’t give them anything to do! He said you “will be” my disciples in the areas that are familiar, unfamiliar and unknown.

He wants to work in some area of all of our lives including the locked doors ad private prisons that no one has the key for but you.

• that when he was sleeping, he silenced the waves while at the bottom of the boat. He basically said, SHUT UP STORM and LET ME SLEEP!
• Katheryn Kuhlmans favourite verse
• 2 Corinthians 13:14 MESSAGE“ The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” HE wants to be your friend as much as your comforter and advocate. That why Benny Hinn wrote, “Good Morning Holy Spirit”
• Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
• The Spirit of God is speaking to your spirit confirming your identity in Christ.
  

2.) Partnering with the Person:

The Nicene Creed “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.”

Westminster Confession of Faith “The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, of the same substance and equal in power and glory, is, together with the Father and the Son, to be believed in, loved, obeyed, and worshiped throughout all ages.”

1. G. Dunn“A church that seeks to restrict and control the Spirit, as too dangerous and unpredictable, may be safe, but it has signed its own death warrant. A church that seeks to follow where the Spirit leads will have to expect the unexpected and be prepared to be shaken to the core. But that’s life, the life of the Spirit.”

John Calvin   “As long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us.”

D.L. Moody said:  “You might as well try to hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.”

Im still trying not to say (The) as he is a noun.
Acts 10:19 “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you.’” 

John 16:7, 13 “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. … However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;…” 

***Holy Spirit hardwired***

Kenneth Hagin  “They thought they got an experience. They kept trying to get another experience like that one … it was Someone – a Divine Personality – who came to live in them. He is a Heavenly Being: the Holy Spirit” The experience is a manifestation of an introduction to, an awareness, an encounter of communion with Holy Spirit.

John Crowder “The only interaction you have ever had with God has been through the agency of the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:18 “For through Him (JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”    No barriers, walls other than what we put up. 

• Partnering with His Passion: Holy Spirit has emotions and feelings.

1 Thessalonians. 1:6 “…the joy of the Holy Spirit.”  How many know more churches that need some joy? I have seen some pretty sad looking Christians! So much that I don’t want what they have!

1. Holy Spirit Thinks
   1 Corinthians 2:10-16“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
   What are you thinking?
2. Holy Spirit Exerts His Will
   Acts 16:6 “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden (To exert will) by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.”
   What do You want to do?
3. Holy Spirit Has Emotions
   Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
   How do you feel?

Can you imagine asking Holy Spirit, What are you thinking?    What do you want to do?     How do you feel?
These are all relational questions.
Communication is vital to a healthy relationship. You have to be very well acquainted with His voice.

Hearing The Voice Of The Spirit Is:
1. Innate — In your DNA —  My Sheep Hear my voice … Another just like me … will lead you

2. Learned — Use your words!   —   developed … taught … equipped!!
3. Matured — Revelation Knowledge
4. Attacked—  Mark 4:15 “Satan comes immediately and takes away the word.” Accuses … Confuses … Lies
5. It’s A Lifestyle

Proverbs 3:6  (MESSAGE) “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
Proverbs 8:34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.”

He is speaking to you right now! 

Tell the person next to you what He is saying to you right now. 

I’ll tell you what most of you just heard 

Notes: For 3 years they witnessed the power of his presence but now they are about to witness the power of his absence. 

• Partnering with his Absence: We all know that God is not limited to physical dimensions or travel. RIGHT? In the absence of answers…faith is born. When we feel him the least, he may be working the most.

Has the Kingdom ever been inconvenient to you? Like its just not comfortable in your own culture anymore. WHAT NOW? When Jesus left, he really didn’t. He just change forms from being present to omnipresent! The Kingdom transformed from a localized one to a worldwide movement.

50 days from the time he died to Pentecost. But he left on day 40 when he ascended

Sometimes the things God removes from our lives are equally as important as the things he reveals in our lives.

Jesus could not get them to understand that he no longer wanted to just be with them. He wanted to be in them!

John 16:7 ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Things don’t have to feel good to you so it can good for you!

KNOCK KNOCK whose there?

Ghost Stories Series# 2, The End is Really the Beginning, Sermon notes to print, PDF