Seven Dimensions of the Work of the Spirit in the Early Church

The Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in the early church,  in the following seven areas.  These seven dimensions were also wonderfully active in the life and ministry of Jesus.  So the early church was continuing the ministry of Jesus as the body of Christ,  through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  These seven dimensions are all vitally important today as well.

1.  EVANGELISM:   ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT:   

      a.  Power of the Spirit to Witness - Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 2:37-41

      a.  Evangelism Directed by the Spirit - Acts 16:6-10  

      b.  Personal Witness, Directed by the Spirit - Acts 8:29-31

2.   GOOD RELATIONSHIPS /  UNITY IN THE SPIRIT:

         a.  One in Heart & Soul:  Acts 4:32,33

       b.  Unity in the Upper Room: Acts 1:13,14 

       c.  Unity of the Spirit:  Ephesians 4:1-3 

3.   PRAYER,  EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT:

       a.  The Upper Room: Prayer until Pentecost - when the Spirit came!  

             Acts 1:14 / Acts 2:1-4   / Luke 11:9-13

       b.  Renewed and Empowered with the Spirit:  Acts 4:31

       c.  Devoted to Prayer:  Acts 2:42  /  Eph.6:18-20

      d.  Christ Dwelling in the Heart:  Ephesians 3:14-19

4.   HOLINESS:  CLEANSED BY THE SPIRIT: 

       a.  Washed and Sanctified by the Spirit:   1 Cor. 6:9-11

       b.  Repentance:  Acts 2:37-41

       c.  Revival and Confession of Sin - Acts 19:18-20 / Acts 17:24-31 

5.   PENTECOSTAL / CHARISMATIC DIMENSION:  ANOINTED BY

      THE SPIRIT IN WORSHIP,  AND GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT:

      a.  Gifts of the Spirit:      1.  Healing & Deliverance:  Acts 8:5-8

                                               2.  Miracles:  Acts 12:6-10

       b.  Worship:  Acts 16:25,26 / Ephesians 5:18-20

6.   WORKS OF COMPASSION, AS FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:

       a.  Feeding the Hungry:  Acts 4:34,35  /  Acts 6:1-3

       b.  Works of Charity -  Acts 9:36

       c.  The Fruit of the Spirit is Love - Galatians 5:22

7.   DEVELOPMENT OF MINISTRIES, LED BY THE SPIRIT:

       a.  Missionaries sent by the Spirit:  Acts 13:1-4

       b.  New Ministries, Directed by the Spirit: Acts 6:1-6 /  Acts 20:28

       c.  Barnabas disciples Paul, who Later Disciples Timothy:  

            Acts 9:26-30, 11:19-26, 2 Timothy 2:1,2

See also, Seven Dimensions of Love,  and Seven Dimensions of the Life of Jesus

M. A. Erickson