The Comforter Has Come
Chuck Sligh
TEXT: Acts 2:1-13
I. THE SETTING OF THE COMING THE HOLY SPIRIT
In literature, it is important to understand the SETTING of a story.
The setting has to do with three questions—
WHO the main characters are
WHERE the story takes place, and
WHEN the story occurs
Before getting into the meat of the message today, let’s get a good picture of the setting of our text by answering those three questions.
First, let’s find out WHO the characters are and WHERE this story takes place? In chapter 1, we find the 120 disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem (verse 13) awaiting the promised baptism with the Holy Spirit – Jesus had told them in Acts 1:5 – “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Last, WHEN did the events in Acts 2 occur? Acts 2:1 says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” We see that the time is during the Feast of Pentecost, one of the three major festivals of the Jews, along with the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. More people attended the Feast of Pentecost than any other festival because it took place in the early summer, when weather and traveling conditions were optimal. So Jerusalem was filled with a vast host of Jewish pilgrims from around the then-known world for the occasion of the Holy Spirit_s outpouring. – Note:
Acts 2:5 – “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”
Acts 2:9-10 – “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,” (The countries mentioned in these verses form a circuit around the Mediterranean Sea.)
In all of this we can see both God’s timing and sovereignty displayed in this whole situation.
The Holy Spirit’s outpouring to indwell believers was timed to have the greatest impact possible by taking place at a time when people from around the known world would be in Jerusalem, the center of Judaism.
So that’s THE SETTING—120 disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost when there would be the greatest exposure of God’s happenings before the Jews.
II. NOTE SECOND WITH ME THE SYMBOLS DISPLAYED AT THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
When God does something, He always has a reason for it. As we read this passage, we note that there were three dramatic symbols that accompanied the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Why do you think He chose these three particular symbols? Interestingly, each one is rich in symbolic meaning.
Let’s look more closely at these symbols:
1. First, Acts 2:2 tells us they experienced the symbol of SOUND AND WIND – Acts 2:2 – “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
The sound and wind symbolize the awesome power the Holy Spirit possesses! The Holy Spirit fills every believer with the same force and strength that was evidenced that day at Pentecost.
Illus. – I have seen the power of the wind. I remember as a teenager in Okinawa, about once every couple of years we would experience a typhoon on that little Pacific island. A typhoon is essentially a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. I can vividly remember seeing firsthand the awesome, destructive power of the wind in a typhoon.
It’s hard to describe the force of the wind during such a storm. In a typhoon, the wind keeps increasing in intensity and strength. Just when you think it couldn’t blow any harder, that the windows couldn’t rattle any louder, that the house couldn’t shake any more violently—then the wind unleashes its greatest fury! Our concrete house in Okinawa would literally tremble and quake at the mighty wind around us. I recall going outside with a friend during one typhoon when it seemed at its greatest force. I could see huge boards, tree limbs, and various other debris, both large and small, blowing about everywhere. It was really incredible.
And the SOUND! During a typhoon, the sound of the wind swirling and crashing outside is deafening! Our text notes that there was a “sound from heaven” that accompanied the wind.
As I was reminded of the experiences of my childhood, I was able to see the reason for the symbolism of the sound and the wind. God’s power is often symbolized in Scripture with mighty, awesome SOUNDS and with WIND. For instance, in John 3:8, Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to the wind – He said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth (that is, “where it wills”), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cant not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
So the sound and wind speak of the Holy Spirit’s spiritual power and force. If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit gives you power for at least three things:
a. First—He gives you the power TO LIVE FOR THE LORD
You certainly cannot do that in your own power. If not for the Holy Spirit’s working in your heart, you would keep on sinning and keep on living in defeat. But when you’re a saved, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you, and He convicts you when you aren’t living like you should. He makes you feel guilty when you say that unacceptable curse word, or think that dirty thought, or keep the overchange the cashier accidentally gives you. It is He who gives you the will and the desire and the power to obey God and live for Him.
b. Second, the Holy Spirit gives you the power to SPEAK FOR THE LORD WITH IMPACT.
Jesus promised Acts 1:8 that, “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
One of the most exciting things in the world is to open your mouth and tell others of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to tell them what He has done in your life. Don’t get all worried about making a mistake, or not knowing a Scriptures we should if someone responds with a question, or just the fear of getting our “tangs tongled” (that, “tongues tangled”, if your not from the South!). Remember that one of the wonderful activities of the Holy Spirit in your life as a believer is to empower your witnessing. I guarantee that you seriously underestimate the Spirit’s power to work through your witness—IF you would just open your mouth and be used as a vessel the Holy Spirit could use! One way to start is just to invite friends to church. God help you to open your mouth for the Lord!
2. The second symbol we see in Acts 2 is FIRE – Acts 2:3 – “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
The word cloven means “divided” or “parted.” To Luke, it looked like cloves of fire hovered above each person in the room. This reference to fire reminds us that THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SET A PERSON ON FIRE FOR GOD!
Fire has many qualities:
a. First, fire WARMS
With the Holy Spirit living in you, your life should be such that it warms others about us. Illus. – There’s a man who comes into Burger King sometimes whom I know is a professing Christian in another church in the area. But he is one of the most unhappy looking, most surly acting, most joyless people I know. Every time I see him, I think Boy, he looks like he looks like he’s been eating persimmons! I hope he doesn’t tell anybody HE’S a Christian. He’s an AWFUL advertisement for Christianity. He acts detached from his wife and two girls, he’s impatient with his wife, he treats the cashiers like we don’t exit, and he acts like people without Christ have the plague. I can’t think of a better way to run people AWAY from Christ than by being an old sourpuss.
Listen, we saw last week that when you are saved the Holy Spirit starts to develop in you the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, temperance. Do those sound like the qualities of a sourpuss to you? No—just the opposite. Those are the qualities of a person infused with the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. Let God use you to warm others with the God’s presence in you.
b. Second, fire ILLUMINES
The Holy Spirit shines the light of understanding on the Word of God for you once you come to know Christ. But you must not to hide that light under a bushel basket, as Jesus said. No, Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” May God help you to show the light of the Gospel with both your life and your lips .
c. Finally, note this: FIRE HAS A TENDENCY TO GO OUT!
That’s why you must keep the fires of God’s Spirit alive and glowing in your Christian experience. How do you do that?
--First, by being FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Paul commands in Ephesians 5:18 – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
This means to be constantly yielding your own will to God’s will…
>Tempted to respond in kind to your mate’s unkind words?---The Holy Spirit says, “Nope; don’t do that”; and when He does, yield to that prompting and be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
>Men, tempted to look at those girly magazines by the computer magazines in the convenience store---The Holy Spirit whispers, “That’s not right. Stop that immediately”; and then obey the Holy Spirit’s promptings right then and there.
>Tempted to listen to a juicy morsel of gossip and share a little yourself?---The Holy Spirit says in your heart, “You know this would be wrong. Tell that person that if he has something negative to share about another person to go and tell it to his face, not to you”; and then obey that prompting and do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do.
Spirit-filling is synonymous with YIELDEDNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PROMPTINGS. So you should stay filled with the Spirit by staying yielded to His leading in your life.
---Second, you keep the fires of the Holy Spirit alive through HIS WORD.
As you camp out in God’s Word—reading it, studying it, applying it, obeying it—it will infuse you with Holy Spirit desire and dedication to serve God with all your heart!
Will James said, “Religion is always a dull habit or an acute fever.” God help you to have an ACUTE FEVER for God by being filled with the Spirit and the Word of God! God help you to be so filled up with the Spirit of God and the Word of God that you are consumed with a zeal for God!
John Wesley said, “If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and him crucified, I would set the world on fire.”
I like what a church in Kansas City has as its slogan: “Wake up, sing up, preach up, pray up, and pay up, but never give up or let up or back up or shut up until the cause of Christ in this church and in the world is built up.”
Amen to that!
3. The third symbol we see in Acts 2 is TONGUES – Acts 2:4 – “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
You say, “Wow, that’s weird! What in the world is THAT all about?” Now I need you to listen carefully for a few minutes here as I get a little technical. Supernatural tongues were a sign to the Jews that this whole series of events that was unfolding before their eyes was truly of God. Did you get that: Supernatural tongues were a sign to the Jews that this whole series of events that was unfolding before their eyes was truly of God.
The supernatural character of Old Testament Judaism required miraculous signs to convince the Jews that what they were witnessing was of God:
a. Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 1:22 – “…the Jews require a sign…”
b. Jesus saw this during his ministry on earth – John 4:48 – “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye [Jews] see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
c. In John 6:30 we read “They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?” These Jews wanted to see proof that Jesus was who He said He was and that His movement was not some man-made movement, but truly a supernatural moving of God in their midst.
d. There are several other similar references in the Gospels that talk about how God used signs and wonders to prove the validly of Christianity TO JEWS: Matthew 12:38, Mark 8:11, Luke 11:16, and John 2:18.
NOW NOTE THIS FACT: The purpose of the tongues on the Day of Pentecost was to validate to the Jews—NOT TO US GENTILES, BUT TO VALIDATE TO THE JEWS (who required a sign)—that Jesus Christ was indeed from God, and the Gospel message Peter and the disciples preached was from God!
Look at Acts 2:14-16 – “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Do you see what Peter did? He used the supernatural speaking in tongues—which were known, bona-fide languages, by the way—to PROVE that what the Jews were witnessing that day in Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy of the prophet Joel. It was a SIGN that this event was truly the work of God!
Later, speaking in tongues was used to prove the universal scope of the Gospel—that is, that it was not for the Jews only, but also for the whole world. We take the idea that the Gospel is for all people for granted because we have been conditioned by 2,000 years of Christian history. But this idea was inconceivable to these Jews who saw themselves as the center of the moral universe and Jerusalem as the center of the geographical universe. So to help the Jews to break out of the mold, so to speak, God used a supernatural means to prove that the giving of the Gospel to other ethnic groups was indeed of God.
Now, to hear our some of our brethren in the charismatic style churches tell it (and they are our brethren, by the way), you would think that the Bible is chock full of references about tongues. But did you know that in actuality, speaking in tongues is found only THREE OTHER PLACES in Acts, and EACH ONE was used to prove to the Jews that the Gospel was for a different group of people besides strictly Jews:
a. When the Gospel was brought to the despised SAMARITANS, the fact that they spoke in tongues was the clincher that convinced the Jews that the Gospel was for these half-breed Samaritans too.
b. When Peter took the Gospel to the GENTILE Cornelius, the Jews were astounded and appalled that Peter had done it! They called a big council because they couldn’t accept the idea that GENTILES could be saved—and certainly not without first converting to Judaism. But when Peter reported how the household of Cornelius had spoken in tongues—just as they had on the day of Pentecost—that settled all the arguments. It was then, and only then, that the Jews began to accept Gentiles into the church without being converted to Judaism.
c. The last group to speak in tongues in the book of Acts was a group of HOLDOVER FOLLOWERS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. When Paul first met them, he thought they were Christians. But when he discovered that, yes, they had been baptized by John the Baptist, but had not even HEARD of the Holy Spirit, he knew something was wrong. So he preached the Gospel and they were saved, and they too spoke in tongues, proving to every Jew who had been a follower of John the Baptist that Jesus superceded the message and ministry of John the Baptist.
Now—are you noticing a pattern here? You see, the purpose of speaking in tongues was to prove to doubting Jews that Christianity was indeed of God and that the Gospel was for ALL---Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, and any holdover Old Testament believers (John the Baptist being the last Old Testament prophet).
Tongues is NOT a special gift given to make you a super-Christian. There is no evidence that every believer, or even that most believers, ever spoke in tongues in the early New Testament church. Tongues was not given as a gift for personal benefit. It was a sign to the JEWS to prove that God had a much broader, more sweeping plan than their provincial little minds could conceive. His plan encompassed the WHOLE world! – John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
CONCLUSION
So that is the meaning behind the symbols seen on the Day of Pentecost. Well, this is all very interesting and informative, but what does it all have to do with YOUR life? When the Holy Spirit came, He manifested Himself in three amazing symbols:
1. SOUND and WIND, which remind us of the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you, believer, have the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life? Are you letting Him have sway in your life and in your decisions so that you are letting Him empower you to live the Christian life and to speak boldly your faith with impact?
2. The Holy Spirit also manifested Himself by FIRE
--Are you letting the Holy Spirit transform you into a WARM and loving person—or are you becoming a mean, cantankerous Christian? – Which you become is determined by your submission to the Holy Spirit and to His Word.
--Are you letting the Holy Spirit use you to shine the Gospel out and ILLUMINE those who do not know Christ? Are you a witness for the Lord? Are you regularly sharing your faith?
--Finally, are you keeping the fires of dedication burning by daily submitting to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and by spending time in God’s Word?
3. Finally, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself with the sign of supernatural speaking in tongues to those Jews gathered for Pentecost.
Once Christianity was validated by these kinds of signs and wonders, and the universal scope of the Gospel was accepted by the early church, signs and wonders ended---just as Paul predicted in 1 Corinthians 13, and as church historians verify.
So two thoughts on that:
--Christian, you don’t need to feel inferior because you don’t have this supernatural gift of tongues.
It’s not for today. Paul tells us it was for the infancy of the church. The key to victory in your life is not through tongues, but through submission to the Holy Spirit in every area of your life—day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, and year-by-year.
--My second thought is to those of you who are not yet believers in Jesus Christ: No matter who you are or what your background, Jesus is for YOU.
The Gospel is for every person of every background. It doesn’t matter if you’re a great sinner or a pretty good person. We ALL fall short of God’s standard of perfection and need Jesus Christ to save us. Why don’t YOU come to Christ today?
