The Power of Opening My Mouth
Acts 2:1-40
© 2007 Eric Bain
NOTE: This sermon is available in audio format @ www.sanctuary-church.com
BI – Do you want to see the power of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? Use words!
Last week, week as we studied Acts 1… we learned about three things the early Christians had to understand before they could really start doing this thing we call church. Those three things were…
1. They needed to understand that Jesus is coming back in the future to fully establish the Kingdom of God – Here’s what that means…
• That what he did on the cross… that was just the beginning of him ushering in his kingdom
• That this time, now, is the continuation of that Kingdome being established
• And that there will be a day in the future that he will return to finish conclude the process
2. They needed to understand was their calling
• The fact that Jesus wants to use them (us) to bring forth his Kingdom
• He wanted them to be his representatives…
• To literally, Go into the world… Make disciples… Baptize them… and Teach them as they mature in their faith.
• That was to be their role!
3. They needed to understand that the Holy Spirit was coming to give them power so that they might be able to live out that calling
And that kind of brings me to the Big Idea of last week’s message. And that’s…
BI - The journey of Church is an adventure into the known… unknown.
You see…
• They knew that the Holy Spirit was coming… but they didn’t know what that event was going to be like!
• They knew that they Holy Spirit was going to give them power… But what would that power be like?
So, here’s what I was thinking…
• I already have this Spirit within me.
• I already have this power available to me.
• Maybe if I just focus hard enough… I could break this baseball bat!
o (Attempt to do it)
• Oh, I know what I forgot to do… I forgot to pray!
o Holy Spirit… If you are in me… And I trust that you are...
o If you have given me power… and I trust that you have…
o If that power… is to be this kind of power – that I could bend this piece of steel – would you manifest yourself right now… through the strength of my arms!
You laugh… but I bet you couldn’t do it!!!!
(Bring up Jon – have him break it)
• On a serious note… What will be the power that the HS will bring?
o Again… we don’t yet know.
o But we do know that this power will somehow be related to their ability to live out their calling!
o In other words… The power from the HS, will somehow… enable them to be Jesus’ representatives to the world.
o Today we’re going to learn about 1 aspect of that power
Ok… Let’s wade in to Acts, Chapter 2… Cause we’re only going to read the first sentence…
AC 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Two things…
1. Who were they? Who were those people that were all together in one place?
• Flip back to Chapter 1… Verse 15…
• We skipped this portion of Chapter 1, but note this… Verse 15, says…
AC 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
In other words, when we begin to read Chapter 2, and it talks about a group of people being together in one place… it’s referring to the early Christians.
• All of them!
• Luke tells us, its a group of about 120 Christians!
• In other words… about as many… as we have in this room right now!
We can change the world!!!!
The second thing we need to talk about…
2. What is the day of Pentecost?
Luke says… AC 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
So, what is Pentecost?...
• Pentecost was a one-day, Jewish, festival
• It came at the end of a seven week period of grain harvesting
• And devout Jews, from all over the world (region), would come to Jerusalem to sacrifice an offering from that grain harvest
• This is the whole idea of Tithe – First Fruits!
Anyways, back to the text…
AC 2:1 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 as the Spirit enabled them.
So, let me ask you a question….
• Has anybody here ever seen a tornado?
o I have but not up close
Tell of experience
I was both scared and fascinated
o A friend once had a tornado pass very close to her house… And she described the experience by saying… It sounded like a freight train going through my living room!
o It was that loud! But it was just wind!
Well, that’s what it was like when the Holy Spirit arrived! Hhhhhhhhcccckkkk! There was this huge sound. And then, what appeared to be tongues of fire – not that it literally was fire – but it sure seemed like it… came down and touched each of them. And with that… they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Well, you can imagine… we talked last week about the journey of church being an adventure…
• Well, this is an adventure for sure!!!
• You got this loud wind… and tongues of fire!!!! And it scared the bajeebers out of them!
• Cause, you see, they can’t say the actual word – you know, for bajeebers – so they made up words… like bajeebers!
• And that’s what Luke’s referring to when he says, they were speaking in tongues!
Seriously!!!!
No, I’m just kidding!
Actually, that word tongues – there in verse 4 – is actually languages!
In other words, when the Holy Spirit came down, in this loud… fiery spectacle… Luke tells us that the Spirit enabled these early Christians to speak in all sorts of known languages.
• ILL – It would be as if suddenly the Spirit came upon each of us in this room and we started started speaking…
o Russian
o Spanish
o Swedish
o Chinese
o Even Canadian, eh?
This is an awesome spectacle! But check out what happens next… Verse 5…
AC 2:5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Why, again?… Because of the festival of Pentecost. Nonetheless…
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren’t all these men who are speaking… Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 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 languages!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
AC 2:13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They’re just drunk! "
You know, it’s interesting to me… that Luke is so honest. Cause he could just kinda left that part out of there… and then what he’d end up with is this amazing story… of the coming of the Holy Spirit… and the story itself sets up the BIG QUESTON:
What does this mean?
But, you know, instead Luke throws in this line…
They’re just drunk!
(pause)
You know, the biggest miracles of God… even when they’re witnessed first hand… they’re still met by cynics.
Some people simply choose… not to believe.
Verse 14…
AC 2:14 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…
Peter goes on from there and gives this brilliant and powerful sermon… in which he…
o Explains that they’re not drunk
That, in fact, what they had just witnessed, was the coming of the Holy Spirit
An event that was predicted by the prophet Joel, hundreds of years earlier.
o He then reminds them of all of the miracles, wonders & signs that they themselves witnessed had Jesus do… and he tells them that these occurred so that they could know Jesus was God’s messiah.
o He also explains that although crucified, Jesus rose from the grave… an act that had also been written about in their Scriptures… The OT pointed to Jesus!
o Finally, he tells them that Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God… and that it was Jesus, himself that sent this promised Holy Spirit.
o He concludes his speech… (passionately!) v.36
AC 2:36 "Therefore… let all Israel be assured of this… God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
(pause)
Now, think about this for a minute… You’ve got – what appears to an outsider – to be this big drunken party… and it attracts a huge mob of non-believers – cause apparently… non-believers are attracted to huge drunken parties – Nonetheless, Peter stands up and proudly proclaims… Jesus! (holding up beer… then moving to cross position)
You know, this is one of those situations were you’re just not sure what’s going to happen! People could either…
o Cheer passionately!
o Or, start throwing rocks!
I think that’s probably the reason… most of us never make such speeches.
Let’s see what happens… verse 37…
AC 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
AC 2:38 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.
So guys… Let me ask you… What is the power of the promised Holy Spirit? We see one aspect of it here… but what is it?
• Before you answer… Let me warn you, it’s kind of a trick question!
• And because most people don’t recognize that it’s a trick question… they answer it incorrectly…
• And because they answer it incorrectly… they don’t see the power of the Spirit in there own lives…
• And because they don’t see the power of the Spirit… trust the power of the Spirit…
• And because they don’t trust the power of the Spirit… they don’t fulfill their calling!
By show of hands… right now… be absolutely honest with me… How many of you feel you have fulfilled your calling of:
• Going into this city
• Making disciples
• Baptizing those people
• Teaching them
(Wait for hands)
We don’t trust the power of the Spirit.
What is the power of the promised Holy Spirit?
• Let’ me give you a hint…. It’s not…
o The flames
o The tongues
o The wind
• Or even the fact that Peter stands up & gives this bold sermon… It’s not!
Cause… that’s just Peter being Peter!
• Peter’s the one that jumped out of the boat to run to Jesus… and then sank!
• Peter’s the one that pulled out his sword to defend the Christ… Only to have Jesus chastise him!
• Peter’s the one that boldly declared that he would never deny Christ!!!... and then he did it three times!
You see… Peter standing at the drunken party… and boldly proclaiming Jesus, is just Peter being Peter!
• But the result is different
AC 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart…
(again) The result was different
You see, Jesus told his disciples before he went to the cross…
I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…
John 16:7-8
You see, guys, I think… that we think… that we’re supposed to do that.
• That we’re supposed to use these wise and persuasive words to convict the world & win them to Christ
• But because most of us don’t have wise and persuasive words…
• When we face a non-Christian… we get freaked out… and scared… and we tremble!
• And then we don’t do it… We don’t share our faith!
You know, Paul led a whole lot of people to Christ… We tend to think of him as a hero of faith….
Well, listen to the words of Paul as he writes to some people that he led to Christ…
1CO 2:3 I came to you in weakness… and fear… and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s POWER… 5 so that your faith might not rest on my wisdom, but on God’s power.
BI – Do you want to see the power of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? Use words!
You know, this last week I was at a leadership conference and multiple times throughout that conference I heard it said…
Preach the Gospel… and if necessary… use words!
But I don’t like that saying… and here’s why…
• I don’t know any people that became Christians without words…
• But I know… a whole lot of people that became Christians because weak… scared… trembling people… shared a few – seemingly foolish – words…
• But then the Power of the Holy Spirit stepped in and…
o Cut those people (Slayer)
o Pierced their heart
o And beat the Hell… out of them!
BI – Do you want to see the power of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? Use words!
Acts, Chapter 2, verse 37…
AC 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
AC 2:38 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
Guy’s… Don’t you think you could handle it if you told somebody about Jesus…
• And they were cut to the heart…
• And they said… What should I do?
• Could ya just tell em - Hey, just accept Jesus… and then get baptized!
AC 2:40 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.
Now note… not everybody accepted the message…
• There were some that didn’t – We don’t know how many???
• POINT: Don’t expect 100% results!
• But there were many that did! – 3,000!
Guys… we can do this!!!!!
BI – Do you want to see the power of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? Use words!
Well, what about Peter’s sermon… What can be said of Peter’s sermon?
Well, that’s an example of the Holy Spirit working in the area of someone’s specific calling!
• Remember how I said that each of us has a calling (general)…
o And that calling is to Go into the world…
o To preach the gospel
o To baptize those that would respond
o And teach them to follow Christ
• But if you we’re here a few months back I said that I also believe that each of us has a specific way/place that we are to live that out that calling!
o And it’s in the area that we are gifted!!!
o It may be as a Doctor… Lawyer… Teacher… It may be as a Business Person…
o For Peter it’s as a pastor!
o Now let me ask you (raise hand)… how many in the room feel called to be a pastor (raise other hand)…
o Then it looks like only one of us needs to worry about preaching powerful sermons
But you do need to go… in fear & trembling… to that place where God has called you…
• And you are to share – with words – the gospel!
• Oh, they don’t have to be wise and persuasive words… Just the truth!
• Because the power of the Spirit is here!
BI – Do you want to see the power of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? Use words!
Guy’s we can do this!!!! We can bring light… to those dark places…
Listen to the words of Nelson Mendela (??? Check this ???) – I think they apply here….
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous (to lead others to Christ)? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. (There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t find Christ!)
Nelson Mandela
Guys… this is what the vision of our church is all about…
• It is about people…
• Scared and trembling
• Experiencing the power the Holy Spirit
• Because they use their words… it that place that god has called them!
• Cause this isn’t church!
• This is worship – Christians come together to worship
• Saying that worship is church is like saying that an engine is an automobile!
• But you can’t go to church… you do church!
• And you do it outside these walls!
I have met people that have lived out their calling (& done church)… doing mathematics
I have met people that have lived out their calling… playing the drums
I have met people that have lived out their calling… in a cubical
I have met people that have lived out their calling… as a comedian
And this morning… I met someone – for the very first time – that has lived out his calling… bending bars of steel.
Jon… Would you come back up here…
• Would you share with us how you became a Christian
• And how it is that you have figured out a way to use your physical strength – and your words – to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in a very real and tangible way.
© 2007 Eric Bain
