Encountering The Holy Spirit Series

Opener:

Good morning everyone, so nice to see everyone here this morning. This morning we are joining Christians all around the world in celebrating Pentecost Sunday. This morning the title of our message is “Encounters with the Holy Spirit”.

Last week, we talked about two people that encountered Jesus and as a result, their hearts were healed. The first person we talked about was the tax collector Zacchaeus and the second was a woman at the well. We learned in our study that as a result of these two people encountering Jesus that it not only impacted their lives, but also the lives of everyone around them. In the case of Zacchaeus, his entire family was saved and in the case of the woman at the well, the entire town was affected and many came to the Savior.

Being that today is Pentecost Sunday, we are going to be looking at several characters from the bible that had an encounter with the Holy Spirit. In looking at church history, today is a significant day because it is the day that the early church started.

Pentecost is not new to the New Testament. In fact, Pentecost was celebrated in the Old Testament. It was originally instituted on the day that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Pentecost is the fiftieth day after Passover. The Jewish people would count with anticipation looking forward to this day.

Just 10 days before Pentecost, Jesus had ascended to heaven and instructed the disciples to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. So these early disciples waited, and then on the day of Pentecost with an audible sound of a rushing wind and a visual sign of fire on top of people’s heads, these disciples then began to speak in foreign languages that visitors from other countries understood. It was then when our first character that we are looking at stood up and began to preach.

I. Peter’s Encounter

A. Peter’s background

a. This person is none other than one of Jesus disciples named Peter. We all are pretty much familiar with Peter’s story. In overview, he was one of the early disciples that Jesus choose.

b. Peter left everything and began to follow Jesus and for three and a half years learned many valuable lessons along the way.

c. In fact, Peter was the only man recorded in the bible to actually walk on water.

d. While Peter experienced many wonderful things, at the end of Jesus ministry, he failed to maintain his faith. In fact, we learned that Peter went so far as to deny Jesus three times.

e. After this experience, Peter repented and rejoined the disciples.

B. Peters with the disciples

a. Peter was among those that were waiting on the promise of the Holy Spirit.

b. The bible records this beautiful event in the book of Acts chapter two. Let’s hop right into it starting in verse one. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

c. Everyone that was there in the room was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit!

d. This must have been just a tremendous scene. I just hope that they have a theater in heaven and that I am able to watch the DVD someday!

e. Anybody else want to join me? I will bring that special heavenly popcorn!

C. Peter preaches

a. Peter was so touched by the Holy Spirit that he could not contain it any longer. He did what he does best and that is to preach the Word.

b. There were people all over, the disciples were standing up and Peter recognizes the moment and stands up. Let’s pick up the story right there. It is found in the book of Acts chapter two and we are starting in verse 14.

c. Acts 2:14-42(NKJV)14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,