ACTS 2: 1-41.
Previously:
The Person Of The Holy Spirit | God Himself.
Scripture | John 14: 15-27
JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT:
I. We Are Not Alone: The Holy Spirit Dwells Within Us.
John 14:15–17.
FOR HE DWELLS WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU.
II. We Are Linked To Christ: The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us.
John 14:18–21.
AND I WILL LOVE HIM AND MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM.
III. We Are Made Righteous: The Holy Spirit Guides Us.
John 14:22–27.
HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE ALL THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU.
THIS WEEK:
THE
PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
POSSIBLE
OUTLINE:
THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH:
1. THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: VERSES 1-13
2. PETER'S SERMON AT PENTACOST: VERSES 14-41
THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: VERSES 1-13:
THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED OUT:
I. The TIME was at Pentecost - “was fully come.”
THE DAY OF PENTECOST HAD COME.
The Disciples were opened to understand the Scriptures.
The Disciples understood that this was to be a great occasion.
They were gathered in one place.
Many prayers were offered up to heaven.
Many prophecies about this day were remembered no doubt.
Many songs of praise were offered up to heaven.
As they were thus engaged, SUDDENLY:
A SOUND LIKE A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND,
THERE APPEARED LIKE AS OF FIRE AND SAT ON EACH ONE.
THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST,
BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES.
They Looked: They Listened: They Stood In Amazement.
Nothing Like This Had Ever Occurred In The History Of The World.
THE TIME:
Pentecost Is The Greek Word Which Means Fiftieth.
This Feast Began Seven Weeks, Or Forty-Nine Days,
After The Presentation Of The First Ripe Fruit,
Which Was Presented On The Second Day Of The Passover.
Sometimes Called The Feast Of Harvest.
THE INTENTION OF THE FEAST:
TO TEACH THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN GIVING THE HARVEST.
It was the Thanksgiving day of Israel.
Why Was Pentecost Selected As The Day On Which The Spirit Should Be Poured Out And A Great Revival Should Begin In The Christian Church?
1. BECAUSE OF ITS PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE.
A Specific Day when the early church should begin to reap a great harvest.
THE PRINCIPLE LESSON:
THE HARVEST DEPENDS UPON
THE BLESSING AND POWER OF HIS SPIRIT.
2. BECAUSE OF THE GREAT GATHERING AT JERUSALEM.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven (2:5).
Devout Men Expecting A SPIRITUAL Harvest Beginning This Day.
3. BECAUSE OF THE PURITY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Disciples Were Living Pure And Devout Lives.
They Were Placing The Glory Of God Before Everything Else.
They Were Fit Instruments To Be Used Of The Holy Spirit To Do His Work.
4. BECAUSE OF THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CHURCH TO SERVE.
The Disciples Were Waiting In Obedience.
The Object Of Their Obedience Was Earthly Service.
The Expected Power From On High Would Help In This Service.
NOTE:
The Holy Spirit Does Not Come With Power Into The Hearts Of Men Who Are Not Willing To Be Used Of Him.
II. The PLACE (v. 1).
They Were All With One Accord In One Place (1:1).
They Were All In The Same Place.
They Were Evidently Gathered In The Same Place As Before:
THE HALLOWED UPPER ROOM.
This Place That Reminded Them Of The Lord.
The Exact Same Place Jesus Had Instituted The Lord’s Supper.
The Place Where Jesus Spoke Of His Death And Its Meaning.
Where Jesus Had Given Them Instructions.
After His Death And Resurrection:
The Disciples Were Ready To Go Forth And Tell Of His Death:
NOT FOR REVENGE BUT FOR FORGIVENESS:
The Apostles And Disciples Were To Spread The Gospel.
III. THE EFFECTS OF THE OUT-POURING OF THE SPIRIT:
A. The miraculous effects. Verses 2-3.
Sounds as of a wind.
Sight as of fire.
There was a sound as of a rushing mighty wind.
The word used for sound means a sound which arrests attention.
The sound came from Heaven.
It came suddenly.
It was not just a wind.
It was a sound like that of a MIGHTY WIND.
The sound filled all the house.
It could be heard through the city.
The people gathered in multitudes to hear and see.
And there appeared unto them TONGUES LIKE AS OF FIRE (1:3).
It Appeared To Sit Upon Each One Of Them.
The Disciples Were All Filled With The Holy Spirit .
They Began To Speak With Other Tongues.
The Disciples Had Waited According To Christ’s Command.
They Were Now Clothed With Power As Promised From On High.
They Were All To Be Messengers.
Their Tongues Were To Be Consecrated,
Used To Testify Of Christ And Of The Wonderful Works Of God.
This Was Done As A Sign.
It Was A Wonderful And Convincing Sign.
There Are Some Who Think That The Gift Of Tongues Was To Be A Permanent Gift To The Church. We Do Not So Believe.
NOTE:
GOD DOES NOT PERFORM MIRACLES CONTINUALLY:
TO SAVE MEN THE LABOR OF LEARNING LANGUAGES.
TO SAVE MEN THE LABOR OF PREPARING FOOD.
He did that as a sign;
He did it to fill a special need,
He does not continue to do it today.
There is no need of supplying men with food miraculously today. There is no need of giving men a miraculous gift of tongues.
We have the proof that the Holy Spirit is present.
We have the opportunity to learn languages To preach to all.
In This Case Difference Was:
An Aid To Convince Men Of The Truthfulness Of The Gospel.
Hear The Gospel In Their Own Language From Local Witnesses.
They should:
Realize That Almighty God Could Give This Power To Men.
Be An Encouragement To The Disciples.
Know The Lord Was Able To Make The Gospel Known To All.
B. The Spiritual Effects: Verse 4:
They Were Filled With The Holy Spirit.
But All Effects Of The Out-Pouring Of The Holy Spirit:
The Work Which Christ Continued To Do By His Spirit Through His Disciples:
WAS NOT USUALLY MIRACULOUS.
Signs And Wonders Were Needed At First.
Their Testimony Remains.
It Is Not Necessary That They Shall Be Repeated Now.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS TO BE:
A COMFORTER, A GUIDE, A REVEALER OF TRUTH,
A WITNESS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AND THROUGH MEN.
The disciples had received the Holy Spirit in some measure before this. Our Lord, after the resurrection, had breathed on them and said: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22).
The difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit is one of degree rather than of kind.
C. The Effect Upon The Ministry:
The message went forth with the mighty power.
When the disciples spoke it went forth with a power the like of which had never been known before.
Three thousand souls were added to the church in that one day.
APOSTLE PAUL Referred To This As The GIFT OF PROPHECY.
What Was To Hinder Their Continued Opposition To The Christian Church Until They Had Silenced Her Witness?
The Tradition Of The Jews Was Against Them;
The Prejudice Of The People Was Against Them;
The Influence Of The Rulers Was Against Them;
The Weight Of Great Numbers Was Against Them;
Everything Human Was Against Success Of The Early Church.
With Her Tongues Of Fire:
With Her Message Of Divine Truth:
Her Testimony Against The Existing System:
Against The Wicked, Even Murderous Men,
Words Spoken In Weakness Are Made Powerful By GOD.
MORE THAN ONCE THE GIFT AND POWER OF THE SPIRIT BEEN OVERLOOKED AND OTHER THINGS SUBSTITUTED IN ITS PLACE.
D. The Effects Upon The World: Verses 7-13.
Amazed - Perplexed - Mocked - Believed.
When the signs of the Spirit’s presence and power appeared:
The People Were First Amazed.
Then They Were Perplexed.
While Some Mocked.
And Some Believed.
The Holy Spirit would convince the world of sin, said Jesus.
THE MIRACLE PREPARED THE AUDIENCE,
IT DID NOT CONVERT THEM.
THE HOLY SPIRIT DID THAT.
Preaching May Instruct And Prepare An Audience.
But It Does Not Convert Them;
It Takes The Power Of The Holy Spirit To Do That.
It Takes The Power Of The Holy Spirit To Change The Heart.
The Holy Spirit has manifested His power in every age.
He does not lack power.
Men do not receive power because they are cold and indifferent. The church is limited by:
1. Lack of faith.
2. Lack of purity.
3. Lack of obedience.
4. Lack of enthusiasm.
QUESTIONS
Acts 2:1-13
What Does Pentecost Mean?
What Immediate Effect Did The Spirit Have Upon The Disciples?
May We Expect The Gift Of Tongues Today?
What Are Some Of The Permanent Effects Of The Presence Of The Holy Spirit?
May Anything Else Be Substituted For The Power Of The Holy Spirit?
PETER'S SERMON AT PENTACOST: VERSES 14-41:
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT'S SPECIAL ROLE IN OUR LIVES?
WE MUST NOTE THEIR IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DESCRIPTION AND PRESCRIPTION:
DESCRIPTION OF AN EVENT DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE EVENT CAN OR SHOULD BE REPEATED:
The Arrival Of The Promised Holy Spirit From John 14:7 Is Seen As A Startling Event In Acts 2.
It Has Some Partial And Selected Repetitions (ACTS 8:14-19,10:44-48, 19:1-7)
These Were Special Cases In Which Believers Are Reported To Have Received Or Been Filled With The Holy Spirit.
IN EACH OF THESE CASES, THE SOUND AND THE TONGUES AS OF FIRE THAT WAS PRESENT IN THE ORIGINAL EVENT WERE ABSENT
BUT THE PEOPLE SPOKE IN TONGUES THEY DID NOT KNOW BUT OTHERS RECOGNIZED.
These Events Should NOT BE TAKEN As The Basis For The Teaching That Believers Today Should Expect The Same Evidence, Tongues, To Accompany The Filling Of The Holy Spirit.
EVEN IN ACTS THE GENUINE CONVERSIONS DID NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO EXTRAORDINARY FILLING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
EX: CROWD OF 3,000 BELEIVED AND WERE BAPTIZED ON THE SAME DAY AS PENTECOST (ACTS 2:41) THAT STARTED SO DRAMATICALLY WITH THE GIFT OF TONGUES BUT IT WAS NOT MENTIONED AS PART OF THE CONFIRMATION OF FAITH !!
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