The Book of Acts
Chapter 2
“Power of the Holy Spirit”
“Moses spent his first 40 yrs
thinking he was a somebody.
He spent his second 40 yrs
learning he was a nobody.
He spent his third 40 yrs years
discovering what God can do with a nobody.”
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[Pr. 3:34] 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers [The Church] throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
-1 Peter 5:5-9
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [Greek = Languages] as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language [Gk = Dialect] being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? [Galileans were not very educated] 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? [Gk = Dialect]
God is a personal God who speaks through different styles to reach us with the Gospel (Message of his Grace)
If God doesn’t seem to be getting through to us, it is not his fault.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
-Matthew 11:15
Witnessing and Evangelism Methods:
C onfrontation (Points out spiritual errors)
H umility (Personally “impacts” people)
R elationships (Relationships build trust)
I nvitation… Instruction (Intellectual)
S erving (Personally “touches” people)
T estimonies (Personal experiences w/God which can include miracles/Miracles)
9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” [Languages] 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Joel 2:28-32] 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 BUT God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, [Scolding] both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Holy Spirit’s InterACTions with People
(The 3rd Person of the Trinity)
1. Points out sin in the lives of people.
“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…”
-John 16:8
2. Brings us saving faith.
“… no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.”
-1 Corinthians 12:3
The Father
↓
Jesus
↑
The Holy Spirit
3. Dwells in the hearts of Christians.
“…this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”
-John 3:24
4. Guides, directs and empowers us to live holy lives
“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
-John 16:13
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
-Romans 8:9
5. Encourages us.
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”
-Romans 8:16
6. The Holy Spirit gives us different “Spiritual Gifts” to bless others in the church.
“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant… 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
-1 Peter 4:10-11
7. There are also “Fruit of the Spirit” that result from the Holy Spirit within our lives
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
-Galatians 5:22,23
Pentecost is a reversal of the judgment God brought upon Israel at the Tower of Babel.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
-Ephesians 3:16-21