The Holy Ghost Difference

Acts 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.  7 And all the men were about twelve.

Ephesus was the sight of the great Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. (425 ft long; 220 ft. wide; 60 ft high; 127 massive pillars supported it.)  There was no mega-church in Ephesus.  Whatever church was there had not made much impact on the city.  It was a tough place to start a church. 

I’m not sure how Paul found these disciples.  However that happened, he got together with them and they had church.  They were happy to have a guest preacher that day.  Paul did not mince words. He didn’t play the diplomacy game.  Maybe the worship service tipped him off…this church needed something!  He began to preach exactly what was needed.

“Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”  No. “How were you baptized?”  Unto John’s baptism.  “Have we got a deal for you!”

They were re-baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost.  There were many things that Paul could have preached.  What about love, peace, justice, worship or other important subjects?  If this is what Paul preached, I take it that he thought it was important.  It is the model for all of us to follow.

Paul preached about the Holy Ghost because he knew that the Spirit made the difference.  I don’t want to preach about things that don’t matter…that don’t make any difference.  Our preaching is in vain if this message doen’t really make any difference.

The Holy Ghost Difference in Power

Power in Prayer

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

• Praying in an unknown tongue is a marvelous mystery.
• It is a direct “hot line” to heaven.
• Strength pours into your soul. God’s power flows in; Victory comes.
• There is a difference between just praying and Holy Ghost praying!

Romans 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Paul knew the church an Ephesus didn’t need to know how to wield political power; They didn’t need to know the techniques of political action committees.  They needed to know how to pray in the Holy Ghost!

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

• I want my preaching to be powered by prayer.
• I want to preach with unflinching boldness.
• I don’t need to be a smiling, social diplomat skilled in the art of almost saying something.
• Preachers, stand. Pray through until the fire touches your every fiber!
• Deacons, stand. Pray through until the fresh zeal of the Lord falls on you!
• Sunday School Teachers, stand. Pray through until a genuine burden for your students hits you!
• Choir members, stand. Pray through until you sing with anointing and true worship.
• There is power in Holy Ghost praying!

Power in Witness

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This movement started with people seized with a passion from the heart of God for souls.  They weren’t worried about money, security, fame or acclaim.  No sacrifice was too much for them.  They had one thing on their minds: souls!  When persecution came to the first church in Jerusalem, the people packed their bags and moved on.

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Power in Healings

Acts 19:11-12 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:  12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Yes, there is a lot of trickery, deception and counterfeit out there today.  But, it’s not my job to figure out why God doesn’t do what I want him to do, every time I want him to do it.  I know what he can do…and what he has done.  My job is just to keep on praying.

Power over Demonic Forces

Acts 19:13-16 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.  14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

We need this kind of power today!

Romans 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

Romans 1:28-31 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: This world needs a Holy Ghost filled church to stand up and pray against the demonic powers that hold it in sway.

• The feminist movement has and agenda.
• The anti-Christians have an agenda.
• The New Age people have an agenda.
• The hedonists have an agenda.
• The secular humanists have an agenda.
• The gay pride people have an agenda. The gay marriage advocates will destroy the normal and natural institution of marriage if they possibly can.
• But the Holy Ghost can make a difference!

The Holy Ghost Difference in Purpose

The difference in worship services.

We are not here to worship ourselves. It is his worship service! Paul didn’t exalt himself. He didn’t send out a monthly magazine with his picture plastered on every page.

Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

The Holy Ghost Difference in Purity

Acts 19:18-20 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.  19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Does it make any difference to have the Holy Ghost Difference?

Romans 8:5-11 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

• If you don’t’ know what the Holy Ghost is, find out.
• If you don’t have the Holy Ghost baptism, get it.
• If you have the Holy Ghost, let the Holy Ghost have you.
• If you are used by the Holy Ghost, get ready to see the difference!