How many of us can relate to the following word . . . DISAPPOINTMENT?
["The Life You Always Wanted" — John Ortberg pg. 13,14 —]
"I am disappointed with myself. I am disappointed not so much with particular things I have done as with aspects of who I have become. I have a nagging sense that all is not as it should be.
Some of this disappointment is trivial. I wouldn’t have minded getting a more muscular physique. I can’t do home repairs. So far I haven’t shown much financial wizardry.
Some of this disappointment, I know, is worse than trivial; it is simply the sour fruit of self-absorption. I attended a high school reunion and can’t choke back the desire to stand out by looking more attractive or having achieved more impressive accomplishments than my classmates … I am disappointed in my ordinariness.
But some of this disappointment in myself runs deeper. When I look in on my children as they sleep at night, I think of the kind of father I want to be. I want to create moments of magic, I want them to remember laughing until the tears flow … I want to have slow sweet talks with them as they’re getting ready to close their eyes … I want to pray for them in a way that makes them feel cherished.
I look on them as they sleep at night, and I remember how the day really went: I remember how they were trapped in a fight over checkers and I walked out of the room because I didn’t want to spend the energy needed to teach them how to resolve conflict. I remember how my daughter spilled cherry punch at dinner and I yelled at her about being careful as if she’d revealed some deep character flaw; I yelled at her even though I spill things all the time and no one yells at me; I yelled at her — to tell the truth — simply because I’m big and she’s little and I can get away with it. I remember how at night I didn’t have slow, sweet talks, but merely rushed the children to bed so I could have more time to myself. I’m disappointed.
And it’s not just my life as a father. I am disappointed also for my life as a husband, friend, neighbor, and human being in general. I think of the day I was born, when I carried the gift of promise, the gift given to all babies. I think of that little baby and what might have been: the ways I might have developed mind and body and spirit, the thoughts I might have had, the joy I might have created.
I am disappointed that I still love God so little and sin so much . . . I am embarrassingly sinful."
Does anyone share the disappointment Ortberg writes about, or am I the only one? Not only have I found myself disappointed as a father, husband, friend, or neighbor, believe it or not I’ve even been disappointed in myself as a pastor. It’s not just the deacon or other church members who may have “roast pastor” for lunch on Sunday afternoon. I have “roasted myself” all week sometimes! (By the way if you should “roast the pastor” with your kids, then don’t be surprised when they don’t want to have anything to do with God or the church. You have sown weeds into their hearts choking out the good seed of God’s word. Don’t expect a harvest of righteousness in your kids . . . just add it to the list of disappointments you have with yourself because your children will be a reflection of who you are.)
This morning we continue the series “Living with Power” DISAPOINTMENT TO DYNAMIC: TRANSFORMATION POWER.
In Acts 2 t he upper room was filled with men and woman who realized they just didn’t have what it takes … they knew that their best efforts weren’t good enough! Each one could share a grocery list of self disappointments.
• Peter meant it when he told Jesus he would die for him … but when crunch time came … he caved!
• The disciples all pledged their loyalty to Christ … but when he was arrested they ran and hid … fearing for their lives!
Acts 2 describes what an appointment with the Holy Spirit can do to the disappointments in our lives … and by studying what happened to, in, and through the disciples … we discover how to go from being — disappointed disciples to dynamic disciples!
Let me ask you some personal questions. You don’t have to answer them for us. If we are all honest we would probably answer yes to all of the following questions. (Advance)
• Have you ever been disappointed with yourself? (Advance)
• Have you ever wanted to be a better person … a better friend … a better spouse … a better parent … a better Christian? (Advance)
• Have you ever been disappointed because you really wanted to break a destructive or negative pattern or habit in your life … but you couldn’t? Have you ever been disappointed because you fall for the same old sin? (Advance)
• Have you ever been disappointed because you wanted to do great things for God and others … but you haven’t?
If you answered yes to any of those questions I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU. DISAPPOINMENT IN OUR ABILITY MAKES US A CANIDATE FOR GOD’S ABILITY IN US THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! It’s been called the gift of inadequacy. True spiritual maturity does not come with greater independence, but through dependence upon God’s power at work in and through us.
Well let’s look at Act 2 and discover how like the 120 gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost we to can experience the transformation power of the Holy Spirit and go from disappointed to dynamic! To do that we are going to look at 3 simple yet important questions:
[1] What happened, [2] Why did it happen, and [3] Can it still happen today?
1. WHAT HAPPENED?
Acts 2:1-16 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole place where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libia near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13Some however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (NIV)
So what happened? Luke describes four dynamics that took place on the day of Pentecost:
A. Dynamic Number One — The disciples heard the sound of a blowing violent wind!
B. Dynamic Number Two — The disciples saw a mass of fire settle over all them then separate into smaller flames that rested on each of them!
C. Dynamic Number Three — The disciples were filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never studied or learned!
The phrase — "baptized with the Holy Spirit" or "filled with the Holy Spirit" — simply means to be immersed … overwhelmed … saturated or overflowing! When the Holy Spirit filled them they began to praise and proclaim Christ in an unhindered, unrestricted way without limitations of vocabulary or expression!
D. Dynamic Number Four — Peter proclaimed Christ and over 3,000 accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives!
It’s interesting to note what is translated “Spirit enabled them” in verse 4 and “addressed the crowd” in verse 14 comes from the same Greek word. So don’t miss this . . . both the disciple’s praises in unknown tongues and Peter’s preaching to the crowd were both Spirit-enabled and Spirit-directed!
That’s a brief and simple summary of — 1. What Happened?
The next important question we need to consider is —
2. WHY DID IT HAPPEN?
A. The Dynamics of Pentecost provided EVIDENCE THE DISCIPLES NEEDED!
• Jesus had told his disciples to ’wait for the gift my father promised’ … but exactly what were they waiting for?
• How were they to know if they had waited long enough?
• What were to be the indicators that the promise of a partnership with a new parakletos (Divine Enabler) had really begun?
Key — God chose sounds and sights and speech that immediately registered with the disciples that indeed this was the promise they were waiting and praying for. let me show you what I mean …
1. Throughout the Old Testament, wind was a sign and symbol of God’s life!
• The same Hebrew word translated wind is also translated spirit — the Hebrew word is: ’Ruach’
• The ruach of God or breath of God was what God breathed into Adam that made him a living soul!
• The ruach of God or breath of God was what Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the valley of dry bones so that they could live!
• The sound of a rushing mighty wind said this is God’s life-giving presence!
2. In the Old Testament FIRE was used as sign and symbol of God’s acceptance!
• God proved He accepted the sacrifice of Elijah by consuming the offering with fire from heaven!
• On two occasions in the Old Testament God accepted the dedication of a new temple (a dwelling place) by sending fire from heaven!
• I have little doubt that … when the disciples saw the fire from above it was evidence to them of God’s acceptance
• It was as though God were saying — "I accept you as my dwelling place … as a group and as individuals!"
• That’s why the apostle Paul would tell the Corinthians — "You are the temple (the house/dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit!"
3. The Old Testament used prophetic speech was sign and symbol of God’s presence!
Numbers 11:25-29 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. 26However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!" 29But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" (NIV)
• Prophetic speaking … was an undeniable sign of God’s presence upon an individual … and as the disciples began to proclaim God’s greatness and mighty works in languages they had never learned it was an incredible confirmation that God was not only with them he was working in them and through them!
The dynamics of Pentecost did more than give the disciples the evidence they needed. How many of you know you can have all the evidence in the world and still remain disappointed. The disciples needed to be transformed by the power of God!
B. The Dynamics of Pentecost provided the EMPOWERMENT THEY NEEDED!
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not just about getting “Holy Ghost goose bumps!” It is more than just a good feeling. The dynamics on the day of Pentecost were more than a statement about the Holy Spirit’s presence with the 120, and it is more than just God’s presence in our lives. Each sign is a symbol to show us how the Holy Spirit empowers our lives! GOD WANTS TO DO A WORK IN US, INORDER TO ALSO WORK THROUGH US.
1. WIND: the Holy Spirit is the “breath of God” to empower our connection to Christ!
John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (NIV)
How do we “remain in Christ?” How are we connected to Him? We can’t do it with our own energy or strength. Only the Holy Spirit enables us to remain connected to Jesus so we can bear fruit.
I had to go buy a new refrigerator this week. It’s a new Kenmore side by side. It’s not the “top of the line,” but it’s doing a good job keeping our food at the right temperature. Hey it even makes ice! Now lets imagine we all go into Sears, and don’t settle for just any refrigerator; we pick out the very best. Let’s say it costs us $6,000, but money is no object we want a fridge that will do it all. On our way home with our new refrigerator we stop at the grocery store to buy all our favorite foods to put in our new fridge. Once home we put the refrigerator in its place, put the food away and after a dish of ice cream we go to bed. When we come into the kitchen the next morning, we are surprised to find a gooey mess dripping out of the refrigerator onto the floor. The milk is sour, and the vegetables are changing color! Being quick to solve problems we realize our brand new, top-of-the-line refrigerator isn’t working. Angry and disgusted we call Sears to let them know what happened. The salesperson who sold us the refrigerator is aghast at the news. He asks us to pull open the freezer door to see if the light come on. We do so, but no light. He then asks us to put our ear to the bottom of the refrigerator to see if we hear the low hum of the motor. We do, but there is no hum. Finally he asks us to look behind the refrigerator and see if the electrical cord has been plugged in. What do you think we find? The cord is lying on the floor!
Now wouldn’t you think a $6000 refrigerator should work — plugged in or not! The salesman explains a very important principle: refrigerators are dependent appliances. They were never made to work on their own. They are built with certain specifications that can only be realized when they have been energized by the power of electricity. While all the necessary parts are there, they will not work until they get the necessary electrical juice to enable them to be and do what they were created to do.
Guess what. We’re just like refrigerators, are dependent creations. Without being plugged in we only have potential without power. We can do nothing apart from being connected to the source. Jesus is our source and the Holy Spirit plugs us in!
2. FIRE: the Holy Spirit empowers a consistent Christlike lifestyle!
John the Baptist foretold a day when Jesus would — "Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!"
Hebrews 12:29 for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
The fire of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer doesn’t destroy us; it transforms us into the image of Jesus! FIRE CHANGES EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES!
Key — The analogy of the Holy Spirit as fire is a study in itself … but let me offer you a few examples of the way the Holy Spirit uses fire to conform us into the Christlikeness!
• Matthew 3:11-12 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NIV) The farmer’s fire is used for a purging and cleansing purpose. The farmer uses fire to consume the useless chaff and safeguard the wheat; the useful is kept! That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives!
• Malachi 3:2-3 For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. [3] He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. (NIV) The refiner knows when the process is complete because he can see his image in the metal! Likewise, the Holy Spirit wants to empower our lives to reflect the image of Jesus.
3. PROPHETIC SPEECH: the Holy Spirit empowers our communication with and about Christ!
This is one of the most controversial parts of Acts 2 … and I’m going to deal more extensively with ’speaking in tongues’ (’spiritual prayer and praise language’) next week…
But for now let me share a couple of vital observations:
• Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)
They all spoke in a spirit-enabled language of praise … this wasn’t an experience or expression reserved for a select few or the super-spiritual!
On several other occasions in Acts … we see the same thing happen again … this is the only repeated initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit! The wind and the fire are not repeated, but the spirit inspired speech, speaking in an unknown language, this is repeated by others. It is the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Key — The need to praise and proclaim in an unhindered and unrestricted way isn’t a badge of super-spirituality … it’s a bridge to a built up life!
Paul writes that "The one who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies or build himself up!" That’s always the purpose of spirit-enabled praise to lift Christ up so that he might build us up, to equip and empower us to be effective!
• "As the Spirit enabled them" — means that praying or praising in a spiritual language isn’t something someone teaches us to do … it’s something the Holy Spirit enables us to do!
The Holy Spirit empowers a Spirit inspired praise, that’s communication with Christ. The 120 were heard speaking in other tongues giving praise to God. And the Spirit empowers the preaching or proclamation of the word of God, that’s communication about Christ. Again Peter didn’t speak to the crowd with his own ability; the Spirit empowered what he said!
As important as it is to consider —
1. What Happened?
2. Why it Happened?
Perhaps the most important question we can ask and answer is —
3. CAN IT STILL HAPPEN TODAY?
The short answer is — yes … it not only can happen … it must happen! Listen carefully: without the empowering partnership of the Holy Spirit we are destined for disappointment; we don’t have what it takes to live a dynamic empowered overcoming life!
Key question —
So how can we experience the filling the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost … how can we be filled up with the person and power of the Holy Spirit?
While there is no formula for fullness … there are some keys to spirit-empowered life — let me share 3 of them:
A. The first key is our heart … it’s an issue of — dedication!
Our hearts must be dedicated to Christ … because without forgiveness there is no fullness!
Acts 2:38 —
"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."
B. The second key is our hunger … it’s an issue of — desperation!
Matthew 5:6 —
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
In Luke 11:9-13 —
Examples —
• Story of Lloyd Olgivie … frustrated with inability to really communicate Christ in a life-changing way!
• Story of Baptist pastor … on the edge of getting out of ministry … spirit-filled couple would show up and pray … things would be better … he didn’t believe in their doctrine but he couldn’t deny their ability!
Listen carefully —
The desperation we need to be filled isn’t for an experience … it’s for Christ … it’s when we say — "Jesus I need all of you and your Spirit that I can get … I’m open and available and asking!"
C. The third key is our habits … it’s an issue of — dependency!
Paul wrote to the Ephesians and said literally commanded them to — ’Be being filled up with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18)
Cultivate the habit of dependency … of being plugged into the power source … the Holy Spirit!
Conclusion
Let’s go back to the questions I began this message with —
• Have you ever been disappointed with … you?
• Have you ever wanted to be a better person … a better friend … a better spouse/parent … a better believer in Jesus Christ?
• Have you ever been disappointed because you really wanted to break a destructive or negative pattern or habit in your life … but you couldn’t?
• Have you ever been disappointed because you wanted to do great things for God and others … but you haven’t?
Our disappointment with us is what readies us for our appointment with the Holy Spirit, because without Him disappointment is our destiny, but with Him, we can be dynamic people of incredible potential and power!
How can we experience a personal Pentecost?
— Dedicated hearts!
— Desperate hunger!
— Dependent habits!
