The Temple of the Holy Spirit – Greater Things

This morning we're back in our series, and we've been in a series reminding ourselves that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Can you say the temple of the Holy Spirit?

You gotta believe it, you gotta receive it.

Because when we surrender our lives over to God, when we recognize that Jesus Christ gave his life for the restoration of life itself, when we decided in our hearts to follow Jesus Christ and walk in the direction he leads, did you know, and let me remind you, that a change was made inside of you?

Turn to your neighbor and say, a change was made inside of you.

No longer were you an empty, were you a hopeless and even dead, purposeless vessel, but by the Spirit of God, when the Spirit of God took residence within you, it brought this dead spirit back to life.

Can you say amen?

First Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Read this aloud with me.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own, for you have been bought for a price.

Therefore, glorify God in your body.

Amen.

See, the Holy Spirit revived your spirit.

Where once was a dark place, the lights were turned on, and you became alive again.

I don't know if you've ever entered a room when it's very dark.

Try walking through this sanctuary when it's really dark.

You're gonna knock into some chairs.

I've done it a couple times.

But when you turn the light on, everything comes alive again.

That's what happens when the Holy Spirit comes inside of you.

Where once was an empty, hopeless, dark place, the light is turned on.

The Holy Spirit has stepped into your life to make you the best version of yourself.

You might have never even imagined what the Holy Spirit can do, but the Holy Spirit can meet you right where you are at and take you on a journey to discovering and even recovering the person you were truly meant to be.

Last time we talked, we said you don't have to pretend to be a child of God.

You don't have to fake being a child of God.

Listen, I'll tell you this: you don't have to pretend like you have it all figured out because you don't.

All God asks you to do is come humbly before Him with a sincere heart that desires to be transformed.

I think of, and we talked about this, Eunice and Lois, we've heard those names before, two powerful ladies in the New Testament.

Why were they so powerful?

They were a grandmother and a mother of young Timothy, a contemporary of Paul, if you read the scriptures.

And what Paul points out about Eunice and Lois, his grandma and his mom, is that they had a sincere faith.

Timothy, they taught you what sincere faith looks like.

You don't have to go overboard and pretend you're somebody that you're not.

Just be sincere and let the Holy Spirit transform you.

A faith that is real, a faith that is honest, a faith that starts on the inside and then works its way to the outside and produces beautiful fruit.

Hebrews chapter 10, verses 22, it says, let us approach God with what?

Hebrews 10:22

A sincere heart.

Say that, a sincere heart.

In full assurance of our faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Why?

Because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

See, our sincerity of heart, when we are sincere of heart, it allows the Holy Spirit to actually do something in your life.

When you come hungry and thirsty and say, God, I don't know anything, I need you to teach me.

That's when the Holy Spirit can do something in your life and make a long-lasting change.

The Spirit wants to take you to a place where you are so far removed from your old man, so far removed from the old woman, that even thinking about your former life becomes so unnatural.

Have you ever been there?

You're such a new creation that even thinking about your old life, it grosses you out.

I don't even want to think about it anymore.

It doesn't even come natural because you've continued to chase after the things of the spirit and deny the things of the flesh.

Why?

Because you are born again.

Say, I am born again.

You are walking in a new natural, which is the supernatural, where the Holy Spirit is residing in you and taking you to a new level of living.

Jesus talks about this, and that's what we're going to talk about this morning.

In the book of Acts, he says this, and it's important before he ascends into heaven.

Acts chapter 1, verse 6 through 8.

Acts 1:6–8

It says, So when they had come together, now Jesus has already died and was buried and rose again on the third day, and now he's getting ready to ascend into the heavenlies.

So when they came together, they began asking him, saying, Lord, is it at this time that you are storing the kingdom to Israel?

But he said to them, It is not for you to know the periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive what?

Power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you.

And you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the remotest parts of the earth.

See, before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, could you imagine that you were missing out on your full potential?

You were missing out, there was a power that you were meant to have hold of, but you could not have it because sin kept you from experiencing it.

Could you imagine that there was a different way of operating that you were meant to experience, but you couldn't because it requires God Himself taking residence within you, but that couldn't happen because your sin in God's presence cannot be in the same place.

That's why Jesus died on the cross.

That's why our sins needed to be washed away, so now God can reside in us and we can experience the power that we were meant to experience from the very beginning.

I really hope that you're receiving this because the Holy Spirit wants to take you to a new level of operation.

Because outside of God, what you see is people try to operate on their own strength, people try to operate on their own wisdom and their own confidence, and they hope to accomplish something meaningful, but the truth is our strength, our wisdom, even our confidence is limited, and we can only go so far on our own.

While I'm sitting on a plane from Providence to Philadelphia to St.

Louis, I can't help but think, and maybe you've done this, maybe Auntie Lydia was thinking this as she was flying from Accra, Ghana to Boston.

But I'm sitting there on the plane and I'm realizing how blessed are we in 2026?

We're just a bunch of spoiled brats, that's what we are.

As I go from Providence to Philly to St.

Louis in under four and a half hours, are you kidding me?

There was a time where people had to walk from place to place.

People had to ride animals as their only means of transportation.

My dad would say when he was younger, he had to walk to school in the snow, in the rain, uphill both ways.

Maybe that was your parent too.

For some reason, they all had the same story.

I couldn't imagine.

In 2026, imagine life without the means of transportation that we have today.

Think of all the things that you would have missed out on.

Think of it.

Think of all the food that you would have never gotten to eat.

I've ate I've eaten some really great food, you can tell.

From places all over the world.

Go back 50, 60 years, that wouldn't have happened.

And not only can I get to those places by cars and trains and planes and maybe soon teleportation, maybe that's on the way.

I'm just kidding.

But food from all over the world, in the matter of a click, can show up at your doorstep.

We are spoiled brats in 2026.

A friend of mine, I was in Missouri, and a friend sitting there, she lives in Arizona, and she's like, Yeah, I have my Tesla, and I don't even drive to work anymore, I just put it on autopilot.

And I'm like, wait, so you literally don't drive to work?

She said, No, I get in the car and the car drives me to work and I don't have to do anything.

And my jaw is literally to the floor.

This is crazy.

How blessed are we?

And could you imagine with all of this technology, with all of this advancement, with all of this strength and wisdom and the confidence that we have, it will never take you as far as where the Holy Spirit wants to take you.

I don't know if you heard what I said.

I can sit there with my jaw to the floor, but yet the Holy Spirit has greater things in store for me.

Greater things that I could ever never think or imagine.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 9, read it with me.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Realize this.

When the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, we gain access to the strength, the wisdom, and the confidence that comes from the Creator of the universe itself.

Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered beyond our natural abilities and given the potential to accomplish greater things.

And that's what we're calling this message today: greater things.

Can you say greater things?

Greater things.

God wants to do greater things in your life.

Greater things that reflect his glory.

Greater things that are beautiful reflections of who God is and him working inside of you.

Beautiful reflections of what it looks like to be a son or daughter of God.

We can choose to rely on ourselves and remain limited by our own abilities, and unfortunately, many of us do that every single day.

Or we can allow the Holy Spirit to take us further than we could ever go alone.

How do I know this?

Turn in your Bibles in chapter John, uh, the book of John, chapter 14.

John 14 · chapter mention

Jesus says this, very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even what?

Say it again, they will do even what than these.

Could you imagine all that Jesus was doing?

He's saying, You'll be able to do all this, but imagine you'll even be able to do greater things.

Why?

Because I am going to the Father, and and I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son, and you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

If you love me, keep my commands, and I will ask the Father who will give you another advocate.

And who is that advocate?

It's the Holy Spirit to help you and be with you forever, and that's the spirit of truth.

The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him.

Why?

For he lives with you and will be where in you.

Jesus is prophesying what's gonna happen.

But you see what Jesus is saying?

There's greater things that are coming.

Everything that I do, yeah, you'll be able to do that, but even greater things.

Say greater things again.

Jesus says, Greater things will we do as the Holy Spirit takes residence within us and takes you further than you can ever imagine.

And it's not for your glory, so knock it off.

It's for his glory, it's for his glory.

When we talk about greater things, because the Holy Spirit is at work, we can't help but look at the life of the Apostle Peter.

What a great example of greater things happening after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

And I just want to touch on Apostle Peter this morning.

If you know the story, there's familiar stories with Peter, a follower of Christ.

He once was a fisherman casting his nets, and then he decided to follow Jesus.

He knew he didn't know it all.

Peter had no idea what he was getting himself into.

How many that was you when you gave your life to Jesus Christ?

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I saw one hand, but I know there has to be at least 25 in here.

Because I know your story.

There was a moment where Peter, in his journey and finding out who Christ is, there was a moment where he's sinking below the surface of the water because his faith was not there yet.

There's even a moment where Jesus is hanging on the cross and Peter is denying Jesus three times.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Peter receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

And what happens there?

Everybody's in confusion.

What's going on in there?

Peter steps out and he preaches a gospel message from start to finish, and 3,000 people give their hearts to the Lord that day.

Greater things, if we look further in the book of Acts, we find Peter doing these greater things that he never imagined to do.

I want us to turn in our Bibles to Acts chapter 5.

Acts 5 · chapter mention

At the hands of the Apostles, many signs and wonders.

Michael, do you have that?

Acts chapter 5, verse 12 through 16.

Acts 5:12–16

At the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were taking place among the people.

And they were all together in Solomon's portico, but none of the rest dared to associate with them.

However, the people held them in high esteem, and increasingly, believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women were being added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any of them.

The people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Could you imagine this?

Peter, once a fisherman, now with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as he walks through the streets, as his shadow is cast, people are being healed.

Can you say greater things?

How is this possible?

Because the Holy Spirit is operating so much inside of Peter that the people around him are experiencing the supernatural work of the of God, even as he just walks down the street.

Do you think while Peter was rowing his boat, was rowing his boat and throwing his nets, do you think he ever thought to himself, you know what, one day I believe people are just gonna line the streets just to be in the vicinity of my shadow?

Or how about this?

Did you think Peter woke up one day and said, One day I'm gonna be the temple of the Holy Spirit?

And everywhere that I walk, the Holy Spirit is gonna do mighty, miraculous things through me.

You think he ever thought that?

And the greater things didn't stop there as Peter surrendered himself to the Lord's use and the Lord's work in Acts chapter 9.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

These are powerful stories, powerful truths.

In verse 36, now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas.

This woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity, which she did habitually.

But it happened at that time that she became sick and died, and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, Peter, do not delay in coming to us.

Could you imagine Tabitha or Dorcas is dead?

And if you look at Jewish custom, usually if somebody dies, they want to bury them right away before their body starts to decompose.

But they didn't do it here.

Why?

Because they heard Peter is close by.

Peter is close by.

Peter, just another temple of the Holy Spirit, walking around from city to city, yet doing the greater works as prophesied by Jesus Christ Himself, realizing Peter that he had been given a power, that the power of the Holy Spirit was moving and active inside of him, realizing that the Holy Spirit was working through him, realizing that wherever he goes, the power of the Holy Spirit is there.

Could you imagine you have the same potential?

Everywhere that you step foot, the power of the Holy Spirit is there.

Peter is close by.

People gather around.

Don't bury her just yet.

Put her in the up room.

Peter is close by.

We need to get him over here to pray.

Let's put Tabitha upstairs until he comes.

Turn.

Let's continue in verse 39.

So Peter got ready with them.

When he arrived, they brought him to the upper room, to the room upstairs, and all the widows stood behind beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with him.

But Peter sent them all out.

And he knelt down and he prayed.

And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise.

And she opened her eyes.

And when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand and raised her up.

And calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Amen.

And it wasn't for Peter's glory.

Remember, we said it was the glory of God.

In the next verse, it says, It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Once a fisherman, now filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter is doing greater things.

Greater things, not by his own might or his own power, not by his own wisdom, not by his own confidence.

We saw good that Peter is doing.

Peter is doing greater things because he realizes that he is the temple of the Holy Spirit and he has surrendered himself to the work of the Lord activated through him.

Did you notice Peter even kneels down to pray?

He knows where the source comes from.

He knows the reverence and respect for the Lord.

He knows that he is nothing without God, without the Holy Spirit moving.

There's a humility, there's a surrender, there is a confidence in who he is and what he has been given, all for the glory of God.

I believe there's greater things that God wants to do through you.

I believe God wants to change the atmosphere of everywhere that you step foot.

But here's the thing there are believers that have the Holy Spirit residing in them.

If you've given your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you.

You're the temple of the Holy Spirit.

But for some strange reason, you can't let go of the unkindness.

For some strange reason, you can't let go of the bitterness of the hate.

For some strange reason, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, but these filthy words just keep coming out of your mouth.

You say mean things, you cause discord.

Watch this.

The same spirit that was moving in Peter that said to Tabitha, the Tabbitha arise.

It's the same spirit that lives inside of you.

God, there's an open door here.

Flesh wants to run away because it's not who I am, but the spirit inside says, Go for it.

I got you.