HOLY SPIRIT FALL
Text: Acts 10:44-48
Introduction
1. Illustration: Many of you have heard my testimony of how I came to Christ at a Christian concert. However, you may not have heard the rest of my testimony of how I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was about a year after my coming to Christ, and I was at another Christian concert, and ironically, the group was named the Second Chapter of Acts. There was a time of worship during the concert, and I was raising my hands and praising God. I told the Lord, “If you have something more for me, I want it.” Suddenly, I began to sing in a language I’ve never heard, studied, or been taught. The mighty power of the Holy Spirit was poured out on me that night, and it transformed my Christian walk.
2. As I’ve told you before, there is a second work or experience of grace in the Christian life called the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Once you’ve experienced it, you will be empowered like never before. But how do you know you’ve received it?
3. Read Acts 10:44-48
Transition: The Gentiles in Cornelius’s house experience came with…
I. Evidence (44-46).
A. For They Heard Them
1. Last week we talked about Peter’s message to the household of Cornelius. Now, we are going to see the dramatic thing that happened while he was preaching. In v. 44 Luke tells us, “Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.”
a. Every preacher hopes there is a positive response to their message, but it is all preachers dream for the Holy Spirit to fall on his congregation while he is still preaching.
b. Well, that’s exactly what happens to Peter. The text says, “even as Peter was saying these things.” He didn’t even get a chance to have an altar call!
c. It was the same experience that Peter, and the other believers had at Pentecost.
d. It was a similar experience to what the believers in Samaria had experienced, except no one prayed over them, and there was no laying on of hands.
e. The Holy Spirit just fell upon them. It was a God thing!
2. This dramatic event not only had an impact on the house of Cornelius, but it also had an impact on the Jewish believers that came with Peter. In vv. 45-46 it says, “The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.”
a. The Jewish believers were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had fallen on the Gentiles.
b. Keep in mind that the Jewish believers weren’t even convinced that Gentiles could be saved at this point.
c. However, there was no doubt in their minds now because they Gentiles had the same experience they did.
d. These Gentiles had now been baptized in the Holy Spirit just as they were at Pentecost.
e. Now, I want you to notice why they knew the Gentiles had the same experience they did...for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God!
f. You see, three things happened on the day of Pentecost: 1) a mighty windstorm (and the Hebrew word for the Spirit means wind), 2) tongues of fire rested on them, and 3) they spoke in tongues.
g. However, the only one of those three signs that was repeated was speaking in tongues.
h. These Jewish believers recognized the Gentiles had been filled with the Holy Spirit because they heard them speaking in tongues, and the text clearly says it!
i. It is my personal belief, and, I believe, it is plainly stated in this text, that the initial sign of someone being baptized in the Holy Spirit is that they speak in tongues.
j. Nowhere else in the NT is there given any other sign of someone receiving this baptism of empowerment other than tongues.
B. Repeated Evidence
1. In the last year, I’ve read a book entitled From Aldersgate to Azusa Street, which shows the similar roots between Methodists and Pentecostals. For example, the man known as the father of modern Pentecostalism was Charles Parham. He opened Bethel Gospel School in Topeka, KS. He asked his students there to find the evidence of Holy Spirit baptism, and they all came back with the same answer, tongues. Now guess what denomination Parham was…Methodist. The first of his students to experience this was Agnes Ozman. Guess what denomination she was apart of? Methodist. The man who led the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles was William J. Seymour. He taught that tongues were the evidence of Spirit baptism, and you guess it, he was also Methodist. This is not just a Pentecostal thing; it is also a Methodist thing!
2. The only repeated sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts is speaking in tongues.
a. “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” (Acts 2:2-4).
b. “The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.” (Acts 10:45-46).
c. “Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:4-6).
d. There are a few other instances that doesn’t specifically say tongues, but I think they are implied. But certainly, there is no other evidence that I know of outside of tongues that are repeated when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit.
e. However, I want you to know that this is not just for Pentecostals, but rather this is for all believers in Jesus Christ, including Methodists!
f. Considering all the issues within our movement at this time, the Methodist church needs a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
g. We need a new Holy Spirit fire to fill this church.
h. Holy Spirit fall on us, like you did in the early church.
Transition: After this experience came a…
II. Response (47-48).
A. He Gave Orders
1. As the story continues, we can see that Peter had no doubts as to what had happened to the people listening to him. Look at v. 47, “Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
a. Last week we baptized Eli, and it was a true sign of what God had done in his life.
b. That’s what baptism is, an outward sign of what God has already done for someone on the inside.
c. So, Peter, having seen the evidence of their speaking in tongues, knew that God had done something on the inside of these Gentiles.
d. So, he says that is all the proof that anyone should need that they were believers in Jesus and been filled with the Holy Spirit.
e. Therefore, let’s not hold back any longer and let’s baptize them in water.
f. We should also notice that Peter in convinced that these believers had the same experience that he did because he says, “they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did.”
2. Since there was no doubt about the experience these believers had, Peter “gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.”
a. Two things happen here. The first is Peter gives orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
b. It was clear they had accepted Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit and so Peter ORDERED that they be baptized in water.
c. He didn’t suggest or say, “maybe we should baptize them.” No, he ordered them to be baptized, and therefore, welcoming them into the church.
d. The second thing that happened was that Cornelius asked Peter to stay with them for several days.
e. Why is this important? Remember it was forbidden for Jews to stay with and have fellowship with Gentiles.
f. It is implied in the text that Peter did stay with them. The reason he felt comfortable to do this was that he accepted them as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
g. The Holy Spirit had destroyed the walls that separated Jews and Gentiles.
B. Respond to the Fire
1. Illustration: N T Wright, the famous New Testament scholar talks about the task of Christians in the world. He says, "Many say, 'Oh yes, the Holy Spirit came in his place to live in us.' Yes, but for what purpose? The Holy Spirit came to empower us to be God's life in the world. We are to do the work of God in the world. We are to be God to the world. And we cannot do that alone. The church is God's redemptive community in the world. Without you, and without you joined with God's other children, God's work will not be done. He will not do it without us. He will not do it for us."
2. We need to respond to the Holy Spirit because we need his empowerment to fulfill our mission of leading the world to Christ.
a. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
b. Christ left us with a tall task, that of preaching the Gospel to every living creature.
c. But he did not leave us ill-equipped. He left us his Holy Spirit to enable to complete this mission.
d. But like God the Father and God the Son, God the Holy Spirit is gentleman. He will not go where he is not welcomed.
e. Will you ask the Lord to baptize you in his Holy Spirit?
f. Will you say, “God if there is something you want me to have give, it to me!”
g. Lord, I am here and willing to receive the power you promised me.
h. Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God” (Acts 2:38-39).
Conclusion
1. The believers at Cornelius’ house experienced…
a. Evidence of Spirit Baptism
b. The other believers responded.
2. What’s the point preacher? The point is will you respond to the Holy Spirit? Will you seek this baptism of power? If I offered you a million dollars, you’d take it. So, why not take this promise of spiritual power?
