This evening I want us to look at Acts 2. We’re going to read a passage of Scripture that has started a movement. For it’s in this passage where we find the story of the day of Pentecost. Probably one of the most divisive issues within the general church today is the topic of tongues. Now, I want you to be put at ease right now. I’m not going to even attempt to jump into that debate this evening. There are people who are far more qualified than I to get into what was meant when the Bible tells us that one of the spiritual gifts is speaking in tongues. And for another thing, I don’t think that it’s really what this passage is all about. One of my pet peeves, if you will, in the church today is the tendency of many people to get caught up in things that are not so important and missing the main issues. I don’t want to do that this evening. I want to try to talk to you about what I feel the main message of this passage really is. Let’s read the chapter together.
This evening I want to talk with you about something that has been weighing on my mind for a while now. Through a couple books I’m reading, as well as a series of messages that Pastor Keaton has preached recently, the Lord has been speaking to me about the importance of the presence of the Holy Spirit. I don’t know about you this evening, but I am desperate for the presence of the Holy Spirit. I need His presence in my ministry. You don’t know how hard it is to get through a worship service when it doesn’t really seem like I’ve sought the presence of the Spirit. It is so difficult to do ministry when you leave the presence of the Holy Spirit behind. Equally as important, I am needful of His presence in my home and in every aspect of my life. Is anyone with me? We need His presence.
And tonight I feel like Acts 2 shows us in a powerful way exactly why we need the presence of the Spirit. And I want us to look through this chapter together and see three things that I believe come when the Spirit is here. Let’s look at them together.
I. Where the Spirit is there is Power
You know, one thing I love about Jesus is the fact that He takes ordinary men and women and uses them in extraordinary ways. Looking back through the Gospels you don’t find Jesus probing through the resumes of Peter, James, and John looking for which priest they were fortunate enough to study under. You don’t find Him drilling them about their knowledge of theology. You don’t see Jesus putting out want ads for those who were well educated or gifted orators or men of high social status. He didn’t look for the rabbi or the scholar. No, Jesus chose lowly fishermen, a hated tax collector, and even a former political fanatic as His closest followers. Jesus chose ordinary men. You would think that if Jesus really understood the crucial responsibility these men would have in the near future of leading His church, we would have chosen a little more wisely. These would be the last people you would think of picking to launch a religious movement. But somehow, these men were here as the core group of believers on the day of Pentecost.
Do you ever wonder why Jesus chose these ordinary men to be the leaders during such an important time in the life of the church? Do you ever wonder why it was to them that He said, “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you”? I think I have an idea. I think Jesus knew that it would be extremely difficult for these men to depend upon their own human ability to fulfill the calling He had given them. Instead, they would have to reach out to His command and the promise that went along with it, to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until they be endued with power from on high.” Because of their ordinariness these men would have to depend completely upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
One thing that I think we can learn in this chapter is that where the Spirit is there is power. For the verses of that chapter tell us that these men were filled with the Holy Spirit and they were filled with His power. They began to speak in languages they did not know. The immediate result of their infilling with the Spirit was that they began to do something they couldn’t normally do. God, by His Spirit, enabled ordinary people to do and say things far beyond their natural abilities. Later, in verse 14 we see Peter, a man who just a little time before had denied that he knew Jesus, a man who had cursed enthusiastically in order to prove that he was not a friend of the Lord; but we see him stand up now and boldly preach the word of God and as a result the church grew from 120 members to over 3000 members. What made the difference? What was it that caused such a drastic change? It was the infilling of the Holy Spirit that empowered Peter to do what he did. God, the Holy Spirit filled an ordinary Peter with an extraordinary power. For where the Spirit is there is power.
D. L. Moody was any ordinary guy. He never received the formal education or credentials to be ordained as a minister. He was short and stocky and not really that attractive. He mispronounced his words often. And yet Mr. Moody brought more people to Christ than anyone else in the 19th century. How did He do it? What was so great about him? Well, Moody said that the turning point happened as he was walking down Wall Street in 1871. He had come east to try to raise money to rebuild the buildings he had lost just a few weeks before in the great Chicago fire. But listen to what he writes… My heart was not in the work of begging. I could not appeal. I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York, oh, what a day, I cannot describe it. I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name… I can only say that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world. You see, an ordinary D. L. Moody was filled with the Holy Spirit that day, and with the Spirit comes extraordinary power.
We are living in a world today that is filled with need. Multitudes of people are dying each day without having a heart ready for eternity. Families are being torn apart at the seams by sin. Suicide rates among young people are out the roof. People are starving for the healing of an Almighty God upon their lives. And where has the church been in all of this? What have we been able to do about it? I think we Christians would have to concede that on a general basis the church hasn’t been able to do anything about it. Why is it? Why do you think we’ve been so helpless to make a difference? I would have to say that it is because we, the church as a whole, have quit depending upon the power of the Holy Spirit and have begun trying to do things in our own power. We have traded the presence and direction of the Holy Spirit for human wisdom and talent. A. W. Tozer said that if God were to remove the Holy Spirit from the world today, most of what the church is doing would go right on, and nobody would know the difference. We have gotten to the place today where we don’t need the Holy Spirit anymore, we think. We now have fancy gadgets. We now rely on great programs. A lot of great things are going on in our churches. We have a great religious industry whose machinery runs smoothly without any need of the Holy Spirit. And the result is services full of good doctrine, but nothing from heaven that grips the heart. The result is a message that is filled with cleverness and oratory, but vacant of a word that is set on fire by the Holy Spirit. The result is good theology with no experience. The vast majority of churches are not seeing much evangelistic growth or spiritual vitality. The majority of churches are lacking the power of the Holy Spirit. Much of church growth has simply been people moving from First Presbyterian to First Nazarene to First Baptist to First Assembly of God to First Wesleyan. What we need is not a more exciting worship service than the church down the street. What we need is not more organization than other churches. What we need is an outpouring of the Spirit’s power to make a difference in the world around us.
I don’t know about you, but I long to be a church where the Holy Spirit is moving in all of His power. I don’t know about you, but I long to be a person who is filled with the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to be a person who is utterly dependent upon the Spirit because, as Charles Spurgeon admitted, “without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless.”
I want the presence of the Holy Spirit upon my life. I rely completely upon it. If I were to trust in my human abilities I would be a utter failure. If I were to depend upon my talents or my personality I could get no where. There is nothing about me that is great. I don’t come from a wealthy family. I don’t have a fancy education. I’m just an ordinary man. But I want to constantly be filled with Holy Spirit because I know that where the Spirit is there is extraordinary power.
II. Where the Spirit is there is Conviction
The disciples of Christ were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to do things that weren’t possible in their own human strength. They spoke other languages they didn’t know. Peter preached a message that would have been impossible for him to preach before the day of Pentecost. And over 3000 people were added to the church. That’s some amazing power that the Holy Spirit brought that day. And that is also some amazing conviction.
You see, not only is there power where the Spirit is, but the Holy Spirit also brings with Him conviction. After Peter finished speaking, verse 37 tells us that the crowd was pricked in their hearts. Other translations say that they were cut to the heart or stabbed. They were humbled and broken in the presence of the Holy Spirit. There was no self-righteousness left. There was no, “Well, I’ll come back next time if you give me this or that.” But the crowd that day was brought down to its knees in humility before God.
In John 16 Jesus said before He ascended into heaven that when the Holy Spirit would come He would convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. You see, where the Holy Spirit is there is conviction.
Catherine Booth, wife of the founder of the Salvation Army, said once while preaching in London, “The greatest want in this day is truth that cuts- convincing truth- the truth that convicts and convinces the sinner and pulls off the bandages from his eyes.”
In today’s society there is little concept of sin. We have painted it in such a way that the world doesn’t even recognize it anymore. We use terms like "sexual preference" or "alternative lifestyle" to refer to what God calls vile affections and considers abominations. We have substituted being "sexually active" for fornication and "chemical dependency" for drunkenness. We no longer lie; we embellish or stretch the truth. Children are no longer unruly or disobedient; they have either Oppositional Defiant Disorder Syndrome or Antisocial Personality Disorder Syndrome. We have colored sin so prettily that people don’t even realize that sin is sin. But when the Spirit comes He removes those bandages from the eyes of the sinner, and they see things the way that God sees them. When the Spirit comes sin is no longer a disorder or a weakness or a syndrome, but it is sin. When the Spirit comes the sinner is confronted with the dreadfulness of his wickedness and the righteousness of a Holy God and the gulf that spans between the two. He is met face to face with the judgment of hell that his sin so rightfully deserves and the grace of God that caused Him to sacrifice His only Son in order to make a way out.
In an Indian village a missionary was telling the story of Jesus by means of lantern slides showed on the white-washed walls of a village house. When the picture of Christ on the cross was shown a man stepped forward, and, as if he couldn’t help it, he cried, “Come down. I should be hanging there, not you.” I want to ask you a question. Why should the sight of a man crucified as a criminal in Jerusalem 2000 years ago tear the heart of that Indian man and the hearts of multitudes throughout the centuries and today? Is it the fancy programming or the deep theology? Is it the beauty of the music or the profoundness of our oratory? No, it’s none of those things. Then what is it? It is the powerful, convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
O how we need the presence of the Holy Spirit in every part of our lives. Without it there is nothing left but meaningless head-knowledge of the truth and a natural conscience that can be quickly and easily singed. Without it our preaching is nothing more than good theology. Without it our singing is nothing more than pretty music. Without it our lives say nothing more than that we are good people. It’s with the presence of the Holy Spirit that our preaching becomes powerful. It’s with His presence that our music becomes ministry. It’s with His presence that our lives become shining lights in the dark world we live in. The Spirit’s presence is what makes the difference.
A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don’t need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy a little rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn’t even mention religion."
St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach always. Use words when necessary.” You see, when the Spirit is present we don’t even need to say anything for Him to be able to speak. When we’re filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit it’s something that shines through and brings conviction to the hearts of those who are lost. You want to be a better witness? Seek to be constantly filled with the presence of the Spirit in your life. For that is something that will reach out and prick more hearts than the personality to walk up to strangers or the ability to memorize chapters and chapters of Scripture ever will. For it’s when the Spirit comes that there is conviction.
III. Where the Spirit is There is Revival
Not only does the Spirit bring with Him power and conviction, but where the Spirit is there is revival. As I’ve mentioned several times already, 3000 souls were added to the church that day. Something came to my mind as I was thinking of this that seems a bit remarkable to me. Doesn’t it seem strange that after three years of ministry Jesus left this earth with no more than 120 believers? Sure, He had more than that who followed Him for a time, but when it was all said and done, all that were really His disciples were 120. And yet in one afternoon, with Jesus already ascended into heaven, over 3000 believers were added to that first church through the ministry of His unproven followers. And not only that, but verse 47 tells us that the Lord added more believers every day.
Now, I don’t want that to sound like I’m belittling what Jesus did during His ministry, but maybe that’s what He meant when He told His disciples in John 14:12, He that believes on me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go unto my Father. Maybe that’s why He told the disciples in John 16:7, It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. As powerful as Christ’s earthly ministry was, He was telling His disciples that the true revival was going to come when the Holy Spirit was in their midst. He was telling the disciples and He is telling us tonight that when the Spirit comes revival comes with Him.
You see, unless the Spirit comes with His power and His conviction, revival is not possible. We can bring the greatest evangelists in the world to preach at our church, but if the Spirit isn’t present revival cannot happen. We can go door to door and preach from every street corner, but if the Spirit isn’t present true repentance will not break out. We can learn all the etiquette of effective witnessing, but if the Holy Spirit doesn’t come and do His work, our efforts are meaningless. Because it is the Spirit that brings revival. It is the Spirit that brings lost souls to a place of repentance. It is the Spirit that takes a person running straight to hell and whips him around in a 180 degree turn. It is the Spirit that changes lives.
Willie started off badly in junior high school by getting his girlfriend, the 12 year old daughter of a NYC cop, pregnant. The parents did their best to forgive until he got her pregnant again a year later. This time his girlfriend’s irate father had him arrested for statutory rape. Somehow he managed to get off with only a suspended sentence. By his junior year of high school, Willie had dropped out and begun working as a street hustler and stealing cars. He just couldn’t seem to stop going to jail. He kept getting 90 day sentences and 60 day sentences for things like trespassing and disorderly conduct and shoplifting. Finally 21 counts of armed robbery led to a 10 year sentence. More time was added to his sentence when he was charged with attempted murder after he got in a fight with another inmate.
When Willie finally got out of prison in 1976, surprisingly his girlfriend and two children were waiting for him. They finally got married, but he was still out of control. His wife found out that he had fathered another child. He almost lost his finger in a fight with a man with a knife. After losing a daughter to diabetes he became all the more violent. He stole $20,000 worth of drugs from a supplier and sold them, using the money to enter the prostitution business. Before long that supplier found him in a phone booth and after the meeting Willie was in the hospital with a bullet in his jaw and one in his back. Somehow he survived. But Willie wasn’t ready to change yet. He met another girlfriend who bore him two more children. Her mother tried to have him killed as well, but some how he managed to escape. He was sentenced to another year in prison and five years of probation after being caught doing a drug deal.
And it was at this point, at age 39, that his wife finally got him to go to church at the Brooklyn Tabernacle with her. When the pastor began to speak, Willie remembers, it was like of all the people in that building he was talking right to him. Turning to his wife he said, “Did you tell him about me?” She hadn’t. But before he knew it, and invitation was given and Willie found himself moving forward with eyes full of tears, as he cried out to God for mercy.
That was the beginning of a new life for Willie. During his year in prison, Willie was delivered from his addiction to drugs. His marriage was mended. His children began being able to have respect for him. His father, seeing the change in his life, gave his heart to the Lord. His sister, who had been a prostitute, came to Jesus as well. His brother in law, who had been molesting his daughters was brought to God through his life. God turned Willie’s life inside out.
Did that transformation come about because of man’s ability? Did it happen through the powerful speaking of an individual? No. It was the power of the Holy Spirit to convict and to change a life. The Holy Spirit is the one who brought Willie to the place of repentance. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings revival.
This evening, I don’t think there is any of us who would say that the church does not need to see revival. We need to see souls coming to the place of repentance. We need to see families being restored. We need to see relationships healed. We need to see Christians getting off the fence and committing their lives completely to God. But all of this is only going to come about as the Holy Spirit comes. We need His presence to see these things accomplished. We need His presence to see lives changed.
What’s my point tonight? My point is this… we can start all the right programs, we can sing all the greatest songs, we can bring in all the greatest evangelists, we can spend every Saturday calling, we can even hand out tracts at Wal-mart, we can do all the right things, but if we don’t seek and if we don’t experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, all those things are going to be meaningless effort. It’s the Spirit’s presence that we need. Because it’s with His presence that comes the power to do things that are beyond our abilities. It’s with His presence that comes the conviction that pricks the heart. And it’s with His presence that comes true, life-changing revival.
I want to be completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit. I want to be completely filled with the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to waste my time trying to do things in my own power. I don’t want to ever again experience the failure that comes from doing it myself. I want the Holy Spirit to come and make the difference in my ministry. I want the Holy Spirit to come and make the difference in our church’s ministry, don’t you?
