Pentecost: The Spirit Gives us Power
1
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, he appeared over a period of 40
days to about 500 of his followers (Acts 1:3). At His last appearance, before He
ascended to heaven, He gave the great promise of Spirit Baptism to His
followers (Acts 1:4-8). Then, about a week later, on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus
first baptized his followers in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Intro: When we speak about the Holy Spirit, we are referring to God’s
personal Spirit.
Some have misunderstood and think that the Holy Spirit is strange—
or even worse—dangerous. However, the words of Jesus are clear; the
Holy Spirit is to be trusted just as we trust Jesus
Listen to What Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit in John 16:5-15.
There are at least five major encounters with the Holy Spirit in a
person’s life; you have likely encountered many of them:
1) Convincing/Convicting (John 16:8)
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s
righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
2) Regenerating/Cleansing (Titus 3:5)
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of
his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life
through the Holy Spirit.
3) Indwelling: Assuring, Guiding (I Cor 3:16, Rom 8:9, John
16:13 )
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I
would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or
as though you were infants in Christ.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the
Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those
who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not
speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the
future.
4) Maturing/Sanctifying (Gal 5:22-23)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness23 gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against these things!
5) Empowering/Anointing (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)
49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay
here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from
heaven.”
8 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.”
Because the two major after-salvation Christian experiences both
share the word “baptism,” it is important to note the clear
differences:
WATER BAPTISM SPIRIT BAPTISM
Occurs after
salvation
Matt 28:19 Occurs after salvation Acts
1:5
For identification,
obedience, etc
Rom 6:3-5 For increased ministry
power/anointing
Acts
1:8
Commanded by
Jesus
Matt 28:19 Commanded by Jesus Luk
24:49,
Acts 1:4
Drenched in water Acts 8:38 Drenched in the Holy
Spirit
Acts
1:5
(Share part of your personal Spirit Baptism story, speaking of the desire and
hunger for all that God has for you, but stop short of the actual moment you
received.)
Theme: The Holy Spirit empowers us with supernatural ability through Spirit
Baptism.
1. What is Spirit Baptism? (Acts 1:8, NLT).
A. Spirit Baptism is a spiritual encounter different and separate from
salvation, empowering you with greater anointing for ministering
to others.
B. Spirit Baptism happens five times in Acts:
i. Acts 2:4 – Pentecost in Jerusalem
4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in
other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
ii. Acts 8:14-17 – Converts in Samaria
iii. Acts 9:17 – Saul (Paul) in Damascus
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me
so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
iv. Acts 10:44-47 – Gentiles in Caesarea
v. Acts 19:6 – Converts in Ephesus
6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and
they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.
C. Everyone who received Spirit Baptism in the Bible (Acts) was
clearly already born again believers
D. Jesus promised to take the same Holy Spirit (who has lived
inside of you since salvation), and drench you outwardly in His
person and power!
E. Illustration: Get a clear pitcher of water and a small, empty glass.
Explain that when you are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live
inside you, then pour water from the pitcher into the glass. Explain
further that when you are baptized in the Spirit, you are outwardly
immersed in the Spirit, taking the glass you just filled and placing
the entire glass inside of the pitcher. The Holy Spirit is now inside
and outside, surrounding your life.
2. Who Can Receive Spirit Baptism? ( Read Acts 2:38-39, NLT).
A. Spirit baptism is promised to every follower of Jesus by both
Jesus (Acts 1:4-5) and Peter (Acts 2:38-39).
B. Salvation is the only prerequisite; anyone who has been
saved is fully qualified to receive Spirit baptism now!
C. Young, old, male, female, new converts—even struggling believers.
D. God is not looking for you to become more spiritual before you
E. can receive; receiving NOW will help you become more spiritual!
3. How Can I Be Sure That I Have Received Spirit Baptism?
A. Scripture gives one consistent answer: you will begin to pray
in a new language as the Holy Spirit prompts you. (Acts 2:4).
B. In every reception account in Acts where any details are
mentioned, the recipients spoke in tongues (Acts 2:4, 10:46,
19:6).
C. This tongues speaking is not the public gift of tongues with
interpretation from 1 Cor 12:8-11, but rather personally
praying in the Spirit from Rom. 8:26-27.
D. Paul says that not everyone will speak publicly in tongues and
interpret (1 Cor 12:30), but encouraged all to pray in tongues
(Read 1 Cor 14:2-5).
E. Some logical reasons tongues speaking is associated as the
confirming sign of Spirit baptism:
i. Speaking is our chief means of communication.
ii. The main outcome of Spirit baptism is empowered
communication.
iii. All humans struggle to control our own tongues (Jam 3:3-8)
iv. The last thing we surrender is our freedom of speech
4. How Do I Receive Spirit Baptism?
Read Acts 2:1-4
A. The more detailed accounts in Acts (chs. 2, 10, 19) show an
emerging pattern in people receiving Spirit Baptism:
i. Draw near to Jesus in prayer
ii. Jesus will begin to pour out His Spirit upon you
• Jesus is the baptizer
“John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but
someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m
not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Luke 3:16 NLT
Peter: for call People
Acts 2:14-21
iii. You begin to speak out loud from the inner urging of the
Spirit rather than your known language and reason.
B. Like salvation, Spirit baptism is a free gift (Acts 2:38). Free
gifts are not earned, but simply received.
C. You must try to yield and offer your speech to God while the
Holy Spirit is upon you. Scripture is clear, you do the speaking
and the Spirit does the prompting (Acts 2:4).
D. As you sense the Spirit being poured out, you may be concerned
that you will make a mistake. Remember, this is the first time you
have tried to speak from your Spirit rather than your logic. It may
feel risky, but the Holy Spirit will help you. Jesus will fulfill His
promise to you.
E. The physical part of speaking in tongues requires your
yielding and participation.
F. The supernatural part of speaking in tongues is not our speaking,
but rather WHAT we are speaking!
Play Video
Conclusion: Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you as YOUR Baptizer in the
Holy Spirit today!
It will be deeply spiritual, deeply vulnerable and deeply
humbling.
This new language will be a sign to you that God will
supernaturally guide your speech in new ways as you try to
speak to others!
End with the second half of your personal story about receiving
Spirit baptism. Be transparent and cautious to frame this as
normal rather than exceptional.
Reiterate steps to receive:
1. Draw near to Jesus in prayer
2. Jesus will begin to pour out His Spirit upon you
3. You begin to speak out loud from the inner urging of the
Spirit rather than your known language and reason.
Response:
1. Salvation/Rededication appeal
2. Begin to lead general prayer time, inviting people to welcome Jesus to
begin to baptize in His Holy Spirit
3. Begin prayer time for Spirit Baptism
