Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE HOLY GHOST

1. His visit at Ephesus:
   1. Met a group of disciples, who needed his encouragement.
   2. They were uninformed on the Holy Spirit and His work in the lives of the believers.
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit was uppermost in the mind of that great preacher:
   1. He could have talked about a number of other profitable subjects.
   2. But no, the gift of the Holy Spirit was the subject of his conversation and with good reason.

1. Paul's question, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"
   1. This question indicates the burden upon the heart of Paul -
      1. It had been promised - Joel 2:28; John 15:26; Acts 2:17
      2. It had been procured by the death and the resurrection of Christ - Gal. 3:13, 14; John 16:7, 8
      3. It had been received by the early disciples - Acts 2:1-6; 4:31-33; 10:44,45
2. Faith in Jesus Christ will bring this heavenly gift to the believers: John 7:37, 38; 10:44
   1. "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost."
   2. "For this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:38, 39
   3. If we fail to receive this heavenly gift there is something very wrong in our lives.
   4. Paul's question is still timely and ought to receive our prayerful consideration.
   5. Can we at this time answer Paul's question in the affirmative?
3. The answer of those disciples is very revealing:
   1. It confirms the fact that light does not come all at once, but it comes very gradual -
      1. Jesus recognizes human limitations and He said so - John 16:12, 13
      2. "But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18
   2. Not even John preached, as far as we know, on the subject of the Holy Ghost, "We have not heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."
   3. Best of all, their answer shows that they were ready and eager to receive new light.

1. To the ministers and all the members of the church:
   1. How well are we informed on the subject of the Holy Spirit?
   2. Do we know from experience the blessing of the Holy Ghost?
   3. Is our faith the recipient of the Heavenly gift? If not, why not?
2. Reasons why we ought to be able to answer in the affirmative:
   1. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross would be of no avail without the gift of the Holy Ghost. Desire of Ages, page 671.
   2. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the highest gift that Christ could solicit from His Father for us. Desire of Ages, page 671.
   3. Christ bestowed this gift upon the disciples before they preached a single sermon. Desire of Ages, pages 668, 669.
   4. The impartation of the Holy Ghost is, in fact, the impartation of the life of Christ.
   5. It is the beginning of eternal life. Desire of Ages, 805, 388. Can we truly understand the importance of this statement? I doubt it.
   6. This heavenly gift beautifies the life, energizes the soul, gives power to witness, and equips us for successful soulwinning. Acts of the Apostles, pages 412-414.