Driven By Eternity-1-People Of Spirit

This morning Pastor Brad starts a new series he calls Driven By Eternity with a sermon titled People Of Spirit.

Pastor's Notes:

TEXT
Mark 16:14-20 NKJV
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who [a]believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everybody!
I’m so glad each and every one of you are here. This morning, we are going to start a brand new sermon series entitled “Driven By Eternity”.
Over the next three weeks, we’ll be looking at the mission of the church and what we are called to.
Last week, I preached about the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today, I want to preach to you about “ People of The Spirit.
BACKGROUND
In our text, we see Jesus have a conversation with His disciples about the work they were to do. He accompanied that with soul willing, along with accompanying signs of supernatural power such as healing, deliverance, tongues, and casting out demons. All of these were to follow after the Holy Spirit would be poured out, which is what we learned about last week.
Yet, verse 20 is what I wanted to lock in on. It says:
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen”.
These people went out and preached the Gospel, believed God, and saw the world turned upside down.
The Book of Acts is actually a historical record of the formation and mission of the church.
In Acts, you see this brand new church that was formed in Jerusalem. They had received the power of the Holy Spirit.
They received opposition and persecution, but with God’s help, they pressed forward.
Souls were being saved, disciples were being baptized, and corrupted culture was being challenged. (We should still be doing this today!).
Acts records the very missionary journeys that the early Apostles did, spreading the Gospel to all of the known world at that time.
TRANSITION
Yet my friend, you and I have the same responsibility and are a part of the same mission: To share Jesus Christ and to warn  people about eternity.
That’s what is truly great about our church.
Let me take you on a journey.

APPLICATION


Our Past

- Let’s look at our past.
- Denomination believers heard about a prayer meeting in California.
- Many went there and received the Baptism of the Spirit.
- In this revival, people were awakened to eternity and the soon coming of Jesus.
- Out of this revival formed many groups, but most notable is the one you’re a part of right now. In 1914, a group assembled in Hot Springs Arkansas to establish was we know is the Assemblies of God.
- From there, a doctrinal statement was formed and a passion for missions.
- Missionaries were sent all around the world with many going on faith, packing their belonging in coffins to be shipped overseas with no expectation of returning.
- Churches all over the USA were planted through revivals, prayer meetings, and brush arbor services.
- Such is how our church was started. In 1922, Gordon and Glen Miller came to Woodward to start a new work. In 1924, Woodward First Assembly of God was started.
- Throughout the years, many pastors have served, many leaders have came out of our church such as pastors and missionaries, and many people have been saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Yet, He isn’t done.

Our Present

- Dear friends, God is doing something TODAY!
- Times have progressed. Methodist have updated. Scenery has changed. Yet, our mission is the same: SOULS
- Today, souls are being saved.
- Today, people are being healed.
- Today, marriages are being restored.
- Today, the Holy Spirit is still filling people.
- Today, we are still sending missionaries!
- The mission is still the same: To exalt Jesus and to preach this full gospel message across the land!
- Fun Fact: Did you know that our church sends out roughly $4,000 per month in missionary support to 42 different missionaries and missions outreaches? That's why we ask you to give. That’s why we need you to sacrifice!

Our Future

- While we honor the past, we live in the present. Yet while we live in the present, we plan for the future.
- We will see more people saved.
- More people healed.
- We will raise up more leaders.
- We will support more missionaries.

CONCLUSION