The Spirit Gives Utterance
Acts 2:1-13
It has been said that communication is one of the biggest problems within relationships.
Misunderstandings can strain relationships, cause conflict, damage trust, lead to poor decision-making, and decrease productivity.
Misunderstandings can also cause missed opportunities and severely impact a team or group.
Some communication problems happen when someone hears something different than what was said.
Misunderstandings may come from distractions, background noise, someone mumbling, brain misinterpretation, or hallucinations like hearing voices or sounds that aren't there.
Please open your Bibles to Acts 2, as continue in that study.
Last week, we learned how the Disciples decided who would become Judas Iscariot's replacement, for the Twelfth Apostle.
Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and led an armed force to arrest Jesus.
Peter said the twelfth Apostle had to be present during Jesus’ whole earthly ministry, beginning at John’s baptism, be an eyewitness to the resurrection, and be a witness to the Ascension
So, the Apostles cast lots to select the new man, but this was the last time casting lots was used in scripture, which happened before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2.
We said, “If it was not His will for Matthias to be the twelfth Apostle, the LORD could have stopped him from being chosen”.
We ended with some practical steps to make decisions based on God’s will for our lives. Faithfulness and obedience are so important to Christians because they demonstrate we trust Him.
The LORD knows the future, so He tells us what actions on our part lead to His abundant life. Obedience and faithfulness happen as we trust what He says as truth and show Him our love
Today, the portion of scripture we will cover is about when the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples on the Day of Pentecost.
I. Pentecost.
Read Acts 2:1
There were three main annual feasts the Israelites were instructed to observe during the Old Testament times.
1. Passover is the holiday celebrating the Lord sparing the firstborn children from the plague of death in Egypt.
The Hebrews went to Egypt, where Joseph had become second in command under Pharaoh, due to a famine in Canaan.
Eventually, the Pharaoh who knew Joseph died, and then the new Pharaoh placed Israel into slavery.
The LORD heard the cries of Israel and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a command to release the Children of Israel.
After denying their pleas, Pharaoh hardened his heart against the LORD and refused to let the Hebrews leave Egypt.
The LORD sent ten plagues as Pharaoh refused. But the final plague was the death of every firstborn in the land of Egypt.
The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb.
Then the LORD spared the firstborn from the angel of death of every home that obeyed and had blood on their doorposts.
The Holiday of Passover was celebrated to remember the Children of Israel being freed from slavery by the LORD.
When the Israelites left Egypt, they left in such a hurry that they did not wait for the bread dough to rise so, in remembrance of this, during Passover only unleavened bread was eaten.
Leaven or yeast is a picture of sin in the Old Testament.
There are two observations for Christ-followers from Passover.
a. When we accept the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ as a substitute for our sin punishment, we escape death as well.
b. We are set free from the bondage of Egypt within our lives as well. Egypt represents the World.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. NKJV
Once saved, we are no longer slaves to sin, so we should remember all the LORD has done for us!
2. The Feast of Tabernacles was a harvest celebration also known as the Feast of Booths or Feast of Ingathering.
This feast was a very important holiday for the Jewish people.
The LORD wanted to remind them of the tents they lived in for 40 years, as they wandered through the desert.
The LORD allowed them to remain in the desert for 40 years to remind them of their disobedience and lack of trust in Him.
3. Pentecost was celebrated at the beginning of the harvest.
Last week we said, “There were ten days between the Ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost when the 120 followers of Christ received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
Notice Acts 2:1, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come”.
Pentecost is a Greek name used for a Jewish Feast, first introduced in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. It was sometimes called the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks.
This feast, (Pentecost) was called the Feast of Harvest because it was at the end of the grain harvest. It was called the Feast of Weeks because it happened seven weeks after Passover.
Pente means 50 and there were 50 days between the holidays of Passover and Pentecost.
The Day of Pentecost celebrates the Firstfruits of the early spring harvest. As Christians, we are to give to the LORD the Firstfruits of our time, talents, and treasure.
This Day of Pentecost was the birthday of the Church. The Disciples had received the remission of sin by the Cross, and now they received the filling power of the Holy Spirit!
Joel had prophesied in Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. NKJV
This Day of Pentecost was a partial fulfillment of that Prophecy!
Jesus told His Disciples in Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
The Day of Pentecost is often called the hub of the Bible because it was the fulfillment of many of the Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus Himself!
On the Day of Pentecost in the Old Testament, Israel received the Law. On the Day of Pentecost in the New Testament, the Church received Grace with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. NKJV
The Holy Spirit enabled the Disciples to go and do ministry.
II. An early form of witnessing.
Read Acts 2:2-4
These Disciples spoke about the wonderful works of God.
Remember Jesus told His followers (Acts 1:8) they would become witnesses of Him, and here the LORD begins to use these people as loudspeakers of His grace and wonders.
Think about who these Disciples were. Many of them were uneducated fishermen, there was a heathen tax collector and even a fanatic religious zealot.
Yet once filled with the Holy Spirit, these men were preaching the Gospel, and people from different language groups were coherently hearing the Gospel, in their own language!
R. Kent Hughes said of Pentecost, “It was the best-attended of the great feasts because traveling conditions were at their best.”
How many people were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost?
We don’t know how many people were in Jerusalem during this Pentecost, but the Jewish historian Josephus spoke about the attendance at the Passover feast during the days of Nero.
Josephus said there were roughly 2.7 million people eligible to celebrate that Passover, but there were others who were unclean and could not participate.
There would have been over 3 million people in the city when these Disciples began speaking of the works of God.
When used by the Spirit to speak for Him we should know that the Holy Spirit will give us utterance as needed, and sometimes it doesn’t matter how eloquent our speech is.
Jesus said in Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. NKJV
The LORD can deliver His message to an open heart regardless of our human frailties and He can give us the message He knows the hearer needs to hear.
The Two things that are needed to hear from the Lord:
1. An open heart ready to receive a message from the LORD.
2. A speaker who allows the LORD to use them as a vessel.
People often approach me after a sermon to say the LORD convicted them of something that I didn’t speak on that day.
The most memorable time was when a very close friend of mine came up to me after a service and was mad because he thought I had spoken to his wife and taught on their specific marital issues
The ironic thing is I hadn’t spoken to his wife in over a month at that time. The Holy Spirit is capable of speaking to us in different ways.
The question is are you open to hearing His voice today?
You see, when Jesus promised His followers that the Comforter would come, He also explained the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: NKJV
a. To convict the world of sin.
Before we can authentically repent, or seek forgiveness, we must first be convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 3:23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
The LORD sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin and reveal the offer of forgiveness from Jesus. The role of the Spirit is to glorify Christ and reveal our need, of God's forgiveness.
Jesus said in John 6:65, "No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father"
Without the Holy Spirit, all our efforts to witness are in vain. We cannot persuade or argue with someone into eternal life.
b. To convict the world of righteousness.
The LORD planned to give us His righteousness through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.
c. To convict the world of judgment.
Before I could receive God’s righteousness, my sin had to be judged. Our LORD is a Holy God so He cannot just wink at sin as if it had never happened.
There is a penalty for breaking the Laws of God, and so there had to be a judgment for sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV
If you accept the gift of Jesus Christ, the judgment for sin was laid on Jesus as He took the punishment on the Cross at Calvary.
We now have a choice: our sins can be judged by our deeds, but we will fall short and have to pay the death penalty ourselves.
Or… our sins can be judged and paid in full through the Cross by Jesus and get to go to heaven where He is currently seated.
And then…John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth NKJV
d. The Holy Spirit leads in all truth
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV
When we want wisdom or try to discern scripture, it is impossible to learn the real Truth without the Holy Spirit!
How many of you here this morning have had trouble understanding the Bible at one time or another?
This is why it is so important to pray before studying and to ask Him to reveal the truth to us! We need the whole truth, and the only way to discern the truth is as a gift from the Holy Spirit!
In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples as tongues of fire, and the same men who previously turned their backs on Jesus during His arrest suddenly became bold soldiers of Christ.
Here we see the Disciples speaking in other languages, which the visitors in Jerusalem that day all heard in their native tongue.
III. The Gospel was preached in many languages.
Read Acts 2:5-12
During the Day of Pentecost, there was a miracle of the first Disciples speaking in foreign tongues which then enabled people from various language groups to understand the message.
Notice, “Devout men, from every nation under heaven”.
People who were converted Jews from different nations gathered in Jerusalem because of the Feast of Pentecost, and some of these people had remained there after the Passover holiday.
When the crowds heard the sound of the Holy Spirit they gathered together confused about what was happening.
While the crowd was amazed and perplexed some asked, “Whatever could this mean?” The crowd also asked, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?”
Galileans were not known for being eloquent of speech, so the crowd began to realize that this was a work of God.
John Stott said, “Ever since the early church fathers, commentators have seen the blessing of Pentecost as a deliberate and dramatic reversal of the curse of Babel.”
Jesus can reverse any curse that sin has caused if we trust Him.
The biggest disagreements within the modern church originate about the gift of tongues, which is ironic because Paul taught there are more important things than tongues.
Some people believe the gift of tongues was given as a sign to unbelievers to communicate the Gospel back then and that the gift stopped after we received the written New Testament.
Others believe the gift of tongues can be a sign to unbelievers, but it can also be a way to communicate with the LORD, which is still available today.
We will learn more about the gift of tongues later in our series, as we continue in the Book of Acts.
What we should glean from this passage is that these Disciples spoke and people from all these different language groups understood the Gospel in a clear and powerful way.
IV. Some mock when the LORD moves.
Read Acts 2:13
In the Old Testament, Nehemiah, after the Babylonian captivity, was the cupbearer to the King of Persia who defeated Babylon, and he heard that the wall in Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Nehemiah prayed to the LORD and repented of Israel’s sins as he recalled the LORD’s promise to restore Israel after 70 years.
Nehemiah asked Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls and the king helped the mission and allowed him to go.
Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, with letters from the king authorizing him to rebuild the walls.
Soon, some of the enemies of the Jews plotted to attack Israel, but with the help of the LORD, the wall was completed.
Soon, Nehemiah assembled the people and had Ezra read the Law of Moses to them and then he reinstituted the feasts.
There are basically three categories of people when God moves:
1. Some are moved to action by a need being revealed.
Nehemiah heard of the destruction that had taken place during the captivity of the Jews, and he mourned over the loss.
Notice, that Nehemiah didn’t wallow in his self-pity, instead, he fasted and prayed for instruction from the Lord.
2. Some catch the vision and join in.
The person on whom God laid the burden, then should share their vision of how to accomplish the work of the Lord.
Have you ever been to a church where God is obviously moving and had it take your breath away?
Have you ever driven across a massive bridge and been in awe that people were able to build it?
Well, nothing of significance can be accomplished without first someone having a vision.
While we may not feel qualified, worthy, or equipped, the LORD says that we are all of things through His strength.
It is time for us to believe in Him and begin to have His vision for the things He wants to accomplish through us.
Dr. Michael Youssef said, “The key to recognizing and fulfilling God's vision is simple — we see a need set before us and we meet that need.
God has promised to give us everything we need to meet the needs around us.”
All we need to do is trust Him and share His vision that is focused on the glory brought to His name in the outcome.
3. Some see the LORD moving and doubt or ridicule Him and His people.
Like these people in Jerusalem in Acts 2, the enemies of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time ridiculed the work of the LORD.
They also mocked those who were doing the work.
Not only did they question the ability and motives of the workers, but they also questioned the LORD Himself.
Discouragement is such a powerful weapon because it is the opposite of faith and trust in the LORD.
Faith believes in the LORD and trusts His love and promises.
Discouragement looks for and believes the worst as it tends to forget about who God is and what He has promised to do.
V. Conclusion.
The Holy Spirit came upon these believers for the first time, on the day of Pentecost. But the work of the Holy Spirit does not end for the Christian with Salvation when you accept Christ.
First, He adds you to the body of Christ as a member, but then, as you grow in your faith, the Holy Spirit gives you power.
His power is given for living, discernment, learning, and comfort as we walk in this world.
He is called our counselor in John 14 which is the Greek word paraclete, which describes someone who comes alongside us as a companion to guide and counsel.
As we surrender to the Holy Spirit who is in us…
• We become more like Christ every day (2 Cor. 3:18)
• He will guide you into God’s Truth (John 16:13)
• He will assist us to pray God’s will for our life (Rom. 8:26)
• He gives you Spiritual gifts (1Cor. 12:7)
• And empowers you to be a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8)
The Apostle Paul commanded us to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18, which means controlled…but he also said…
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. NKJV
When a believer does something empowered by the Holy Spirit, it is a gift, and it is not forced. It will bring fulfillment and fruit.
Who are you surrendered to, the flesh or the Spirit? Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
When you walk according to the flesh, there is bondage!
The question is are you open to hearing His voice today?
Jesus promised His followers the Comforter would come and now we can walk in the Spirit and share His love with others as He gives us utterance.
