What Lack We Yet?

The speaker reflects on his mother's question, "What lack we yet?" drawing from a biblical story in Acts 19. Apollos, a knowledgeable Jew, lacked understanding of the Holy Spirit, which Aquila and Priscilla explained to him. Paul later found disciples in Ephesus who knew only John's baptism of repentance, not the Holy Spirit. Paul questioned them, revealing their lack. After Paul laid hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in tongues and prophesy. The speaker emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christian life, suggesting many modern assemblies lack this vital experience, leading to carnal Christian lives and potential negative impacts on church leaders.

Transcript

What Lack We Yet?

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/u1uWD6c6ObCUlE7ut4LbLzRi21w?view=summary

Outline

My Mother's Question and Its Significance

• Speaker 1 introduces the topic by discussing his mother's question, "What lack we yet?" which she often asked to indicate something was missing.
• The question originates from a scripture where a rich young ruler asked Jesus what he still lacked.
• Speaker 1 suggests that there is something missing in our lives and aims to explore what that is.
• The focus is on Acts chapter 19 and the story of Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus.

Apollos and the Baptism of John

• Apollos, a Jewish man from Alexandria, had a command of the scriptures but only knew the baptism of John.
• Aquila and Priscilla, two believers in Ephesus, noticed something lacking in Apollos' understanding and explained the scriptures to him more fully.
• Paul later arrived in Ephesus and found disciples who had become believers through Apollos' ministry but lacked the Holy Spirit.
• Paul asked the disciples if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed, and they responded that they had not heard of the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of John vs. the Baptism of Jesus

• John the Baptist baptized with the baptism of repentance, pointing to Jesus as the one to come.
• Paul explained that John's baptism was different from Jesus' baptism, which involved the Holy Spirit and fire.
• Speaker 1 discusses the debate among scholars about whether the pronouns in Acts 19:5 refer to the 12 men in Ephesus or those who heard John the Baptist's ministry.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

• When Paul laid hands on the disciples, they received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and prophesy.
• Speaker 1 emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, using his mother's example of seeking more from God.
• The Holy Spirit provides a deeper work and endowment for believers, enabling them to do things they could not do on their own.
• Speaker 1 explains that the baptism of Jesus involves a relationship with the Holy Spirit, which is a provision for every believer.

The Impact of the Holy Spirit on Believers

• The baptism of Jesus results in believers speaking in languages they had not learned and prophesying.
• Speaker 1 describes the transformation that occurs when believers are immersed in the Holy Spirit, enabling them to act and minister in ways they could not before.
• The Holy Spirit provides rivers of living water, flowing from the innermost being of believers.
• Speaker 1 contrasts the natural life of believers with the spiritual life enabled by the Holy Spirit.

The Role of Christian Assemblies

• Speaker 1 discusses the role of Christian assemblies and the need for believers to be immersed in the Holy Spirit.
• He emphasizes that the full provision of the gospel includes the baptism of Jesus, which purges the leaven in assemblies.
• Believers who are immersed in the Holy Spirit will live differently, and their actions and words will reflect their communion with the Spirit.
• Speaker 1 suggests that Christian assemblies need to be transformed by the baptism of Jesus to be effective and free from worldly influences.

The Responsibility of Elders and Overseers

• Speaker 1 shares examples of how the actions of believers can impact the reputation and effectiveness of elders and overseers.
• He discusses the qualifications for elders, including being the husband of one wife and having a good reputation.
• The actions of believers can reflect on the elders and overseers, affecting their ability to minister effectively.
• Speaker 1 emphasizes the importance of believers living a life that honors the Lord and does not bring reproach on the church.

The Need for Spiritual Transformation

• Speaker 1 highlights the need for spiritual transformation in Christian assemblies, which comes through the baptism of Jesus.
• He discusses the consequences of a carnal Christian life, which can impact not only the individual but also the church and its leaders.
• Speaker 1 calls for believers to seek the baptism of Jesus and to live a life that reflects their communion with the Holy Spirit.
• He concludes by reiterating the importance of the question, "What lack we yet?" and encouraging believers to seek a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit.