This morning I want look at what the Spirit does to transform us. Today, we are looking at a famous account inside the New Testament, called Pentecost. Let me set up our story for those of you who may have missed earlier messages. The miracle of “speaking in tongues” had worked liked shooting a flare up into the air. Now, a large crowd had gathered around the disciples and there’s all this confusion because of the incredible phenomenon. It is still the Feast of Pentecost and Peter explains why everyone has heard people speak in foreign languages that had not previously learned. Peter’s speech is on the longest in Acts coming in at 429 words in the Greek text. “No,” Peter swats away the critics by saying, “they are not drunk because it is just 9 a.m.” Essentially, Peter tells everyone the Holy Spirit has just arrived.
Look inside today’s story for two items the Spirit does in your life: 1) The Spirit makes you bold (see the second point); and 2) He makes your conscience tender to His touch (see the third point). My hope this morning is simple: I want you and I to hunger for life-changing power the Holy Spirit brings.
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He is Here
He is Alive
You Can be Alive
1. He is Here
Peter says in effect, “The Holy Spirit has arrived.”
“But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:16–21)
This is an incredible turning point in the history of the world for the arrival of the Holy Spirit is a game-changer.
1.1 The Spirit’s Arrival Is Included in God’s Plan
“What you just witnessed”, Peter says in effect, “was God fulfilling His promises.” The following was omitted in the interest of time: Jesus Himself had promised this very thing: “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). In fact, Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 in a series of three Old Testament scriptures that include Psalm 16:8-11 in verses 25-28 and Psalm 110:1 in verses 34-35. They work like pavestones you would place in your backyard to lead you on a path. He’s connecting the dots of all three to show that all you’ve see today is part of God’s plan from the beginning. Peter begins by asking everyone to remember a prophecy from the Old Testament prophet, Joel. The reason you’re seeing “tongues of fire” appear & the reason you’re hearing all these languages is because the Holy Spirit has arrived.
Did you know God has a plan in this chaotic world? Halftime in a game is a great time to evaluate how things are going and make adjustments. You may in the second quarter of life and you’re behind – way behind. Do you know how many teams have come back from big deficits at halftime? You can too. Yes, your clock is ticking but there is plenty of life left for you to adjust your game plan. As long as you are still here on planet earth, it is not too late to adjust your life to God’s plan.
1.2 The Spirit Is Spread to Everyone
We are told, “…God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…” (Acts 2:17b). The Holy Spirit is distributed to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (verse 21). And when Peter says, “everyone,” he means “EVERYONE!” Your sons, and your daughters will receive the Spirit (verse 17). Yes, women receive the Spirit as do men. Young and old receive the Spirit. Even the servants among us, the lowest on economic food table, will receive the Spirit. This isn’t a privilege just for the “have’s” but the “have-not’s” also have the Spirit. He is available to the religious and the non-religious, to the upper class and to the lower class. No discrimination here; every single one of you will receive the Spirit. We are told every believer is given the Holy Spirit when you turn to Christ: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). “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” (Acts 2:38).
1.3 There’s Unity
Think of this … young and old coming together as one. Rich and poor coming together as one. The economic classes come together and the races come together. There’s unity among God’s people when the Spirit is present.
Don’t forget God has a plan.
1. He is Here
2. He is Alive
When the Spirit arrives, He transforms Peter. Listen to Peter as he explains what’s happening: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:22–36)
Now, we’re listening to the first recorded sermon in Christian history (other than Jesus’ sermons). Acts is filled with sermons, speeches, & talks just like this one – fifteen sermon in total. Peter alone has eight recorded sermons alone inside the book of Acts. Did you know of the approximately 1,000 verses in Acts, around 300 verses are speeches. Luke rarely gives us all the sermon in their entirety, but summarizes it for our sake. Now, there’s a lot to like about Peter’s sermon.
2.1 There’s Plenty of the Spirit to Go Around
For the second time we are told the Spirit is “poured out” on us (verses 17 & 33). At Christmastime, parents like to tell their children things like this, “You know, your grandparents and great-grandparents didn’t have it so good. The average Christmas gift for children like was a candy bar and some fruit. And maybe, if it was a really good year, you might receive some new clothes.” Of course, the children themselves are knee-deep in presents and are not listening to any of their parent’s lecture on gratitude. Such a Christmas cannot be imagined by many modern children because so many gifts are placed under the tree. Pentecost works much like this as well. Before our story, only certain people received the Spirit and then only for certain big occasions. Back then, the Spirit wouldn’t be “pour[ed] out” but given to select few. The Spirit comes in a flood where He used to come in a trickle.
Look at Samson for a moment as an example. He received the Spirit for special occasions to defeat God’s enemies. Yet, the Spirit didn’t stay with Him for His entire life. So the Spirit transitions here at Pentecost from visiting believers occasionally to staying on & in believer’s lives constantly. God has given you the Spirit when you’re down and out just as He’s given you the Spirit for Sunday mornings.
2.2 The Spirit Makes You Bold
It is the gift of the Spirit that makes your transformation possible. Peter is bold here – amazingly bold. A switch has turned on inside of Peter. Remember Peter could have been remembered just like Judas. Just fifty days before this, Peter denied even knowing Jesus: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:17a). The Spirit makes you bold for Jesus.
Whenever we baptize someone here, do you remember the words you hear from the baptismal waters? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16a). You might be asking, “Where do get this boldness?” The Spirit empowers you and emboldens you. The Spirit makes you bold.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20).
You’ve heard Jesus’ words where He commands us to “Go into all the world” but let me personalize these words for you. Go into all your house and make disciples. Go into all your workplace and make disciples. Go into all your neighborhood and make disciples. Go into all your school, your football team, your band room and make disciples. God’s people will be clothed with power. God's purpose is to empower His people again & again with extraordinary outpourings of the Spirit until the witness to His name has reached all the peoples — to the end of the earth. And the main effect of this power seems to be bold, prophetic speech. Believers of all kinds are going to be so gripped by the Spirit of God that they see the greatness & the purpose of Jesus with extraordinary clarity & speak it with astonishing boldness.
Someone says, “I’m a Christian and I don’t have this bold power. Where do I get it?” “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:14) This story is really a powerful worship experience. It’s even a song written nearly two centuries ago.
Lyrics to Brethren, We Have Met to Worship
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
If I told you I has a supernatural ability to play the harp and then … when you heard me play it sounded like cat scratching a chalkboard... … wouldn’t you question if I really had a “supernatural ability”? If it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us & that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple… …then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not? Without the Holy Spirit, living the Christian life is impossible.
1. He is Here
2. He is Alive
3. You Can Receive Him
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “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 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:37–41)
So thousands of people have been hearing Peter make sense of the miracle they’ve seen and heard. And all of sudden, a light comes on for many of them. Here, the Spirit works to make your conscience even more sensitive to His touch.
3.1 The Spirit Convinces You
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart…” (Acts 2:37a) The Holy Spirit felt like a knife in their chest. Their conscience was pricked.
Your conscience is your God-given inner voice that either accuses or excuses you. The reality is your conscience is fluid and it can be adjusted like the thermostat in your home. Nearly everyone you know is adjusting their conscience downward.
“Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit produces within us a feeling of guilt: ‘And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged’” (John 16:8–11).
There was a district attorney who was cross examining a woman who was accused of murdering her husband. “And after you had poisoned the coffee, and your husband sat at the breakfast table partaking of the fatal dose, didn’t you feel guilty? Or didn’t you feel the slightest bit of pity for him knowing he was about to die and was completely unaware of it? As you sat there, didn’t you feel for him at all?” “Yes”, she said. “There was one moment when I sort of felt bad for him.” “When was that?” “When he asked for the second cup.”
The Greek word for our word “convict” is an extremely interesting word. It means to cross-examine someone to show them their error. It’s the work of a prosecutor when she pokes holes in your story. It means “to show someone his sin and to summon him to repentance.” The Holy Spirit convinces us of our guilt despite all of our attempts to say otherwise. The only way for the Spirit to see us acquitted from the guilt of our lives is to convince us of the guilt in our life. You’ll know you are on the journey to Jesus when you have the sensation that Someone is dealing with you.
3.2 George Whitefield and the Coal Miners
Several centuries ago, both the American colonies and the people of England fell under the spell of one of history’s greatest preachers – a man named George Whitefield. Whitefield was only in his mid-20s when he felt the Holy Spirit telling him to preach the gospel in the open fields to the coal miners in Kingswood of western England. These men, women, and children lived outside of town in dirty coal mining villages that was fueling the Industrial Revolution. In February, Whitefield spoke to an estimated 10,000 people perched atop a small mountain. Onlookers even climbed trees to see and hear him. He recorded in his journal: “All was hush when I began; the sun shone bright, and God enabled me to preach for an hour with great power.” Just as with Peter in our story today, Whitefield preached to many and many people responded to the gospel. Whitefield saw some faces with “white gutters made by their tears, which plentifully fell down their black cheeks, as they came out of their coal pits.”
When the Holy Spirit is present, there’s a divine presence that cross-examines you. Conviction of sin has to happen before you can ever find Jesus’ salvation REAL. Conviction of sin has to come first. Conviction of sin is what makes Jesus’ death real for you a power instead of simply another religious theory. When anybody ever came to Jesus Christ to be healed, He always leads them to repentance.
3.3 He Cuts You to Heal You
Do you want to be healed? Some of you are sick and hurting and messed up and burdened, and you’re saying, “I want Jesus to heal me,” but you know what kind of physician He is? Do you know what kind of physician He is? He’s a surgeon. The Spirit is a surgeon; He cuts. His work is painful but like any good medical surgeon, the Spirit often cuts you open for surgery before He closes the wound up for healing.
