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14 August 2011
Gifts of the Spirit
Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit upon all people..." (NIV)
What you need: 2 bottles of water, 1 Umbrella, 2 t-shirts (to fit a 5th Grade boy), and 1 towel.
Preparation: Ahead of time select two 5th grade boys to help you. Prepare them that they will get wet. Have your two helpers change into the t-shirts that you have.
Application:
I need two boys to help me who don't mind getting wet. (Have the two boys you have spoken with come forward. the second boy is carrying the umbrella)
Many times the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is like water. (Hold up the bottle of water)
Jesus said that, "Rivers of living water will flow out of your belly."
In the Book of Acts it says, "God will pour out of is spirit on all flesh."
We have seen many moves of the Holy Spirit over the years. In the early 1900's we saw the beging of the Pentecostal Movement. (Pour a few drops of water on the first boy) Thousands of people all over the world began speaking in tounges for the first time in centuries. Today there are over 50 million Pentecostals around the world.
In the 1950's we saw the Healing revival. Men like Oral Roberts and William Branham ministered in giant tents (pour another little drop on the first boy). In the 1960's and 1970's we saw the Charismatic Revival as all denominations - Catholics, Methods, Baptists began to speak in tongues (pour another drop of water on the first boy).
You know what? We still have not seen the "pour out" yet. There is still a lot of power up in heaven. God promises He is going to pour out (empty the bottle on the first boy) His spirit on all of us.
(Pick up the second bottle of water and start to pour it on the second boy, but he puts up the umbrella so he can't get wet.)
Did you see what just happened! This guy didn't get any of the Holy Spirit. How come? Because he put up the umbrella. The rain of the Holy Spirit is something good. We want God to pour out His spirit on us, God is pouring out His spirit, but many people are putting up their umbrellas - they dont want it.
How do people resist God's spirit? They resist God's spirit by saying things like, "Speaking in tongues is not for us, miralces don't happen today, the gifts of the spirit are not for kids."
When we say words like this you are stopping the move of God in your life. Throw down the umbrella and step up into the rain of the Holy Spirit.