The Comforter Has Come

Text: Acts 2

Title: The Comforter Has Come

Topic: Holy Spirit / Christian Living

Theme: Presence of Holy Spirit / Changed Lives

Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness challenging God’s people in my care to seek the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives in order to be changed.

Response: Individuals will pray at the altar rail seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Pattern: A deductive exposition of Acts 2 focusing on the changes produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Intro:

Pass out small rocks to several persons in the congregation. Ask them to examine their rocks closely, squeeze them, smell them, feel their shape, and notice the variety of colors and sizes of the rocks people received.

Ask them to remove their right shoe, place the rock in the shoe, and put their shoe back on their foot.

Ask, "When you tried to put your foot in your shoe, did you notice the rock?"

Then ask, "Suppose for some reason you decided to keep the rock in your shoe, do you ever think you would reach a point where you wouldn’t notice it? Could you ever get used to a rock in your shoe?"

Ask, "If we could never get used to a rock in our shoe, how on earth can we get used to the presence of the God’s Holy Spirit in our lives?" (Collect the rocks for use later.)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit… (Acts 2:1-4).

Thesis: When the Holy Spirit fills us, the focus of our lives changes.

1. When the Comforter comes we will CONFESS and TURN FROM our sins without a second thought.

…be assured of this: God has made … Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:36-39).

2. When the Comforter comes, we will become PARTICIPATING MEMBERS of a local congregation.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41).

3. When the Comforter comes, our lives are focused on KNOWING Jesus and HELPING others.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. … All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need (Acts 2:42, 44-45).

4. When the Comforter comes, those who know us will see GOD AT WORK signs.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43).

5. When the Comforter comes, we will see miraculous ANSWERS to prayer.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43).

6. When the Comforter comes, our attitude of GENEROSITY will run counterculture.

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need (Acts 2:45).

7. When the Comforter comes, our desire for WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP will drive us to meet with other Christians.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God… (Acts 2:46-47).

8. When the Comforter comes, everyone will KNOW IT IS AWESOME.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:43 & 47).

Conc.:

The Bottom line: When the Holy Spirit comes, He changes EVERYTHING!

Put two glass jars and a pitcher of water on a table on the platform. Make sure one is larger than the other is. Ask, “Which one will hold the most water?”

Place several of the rocks in the large jar and ask again about which one will hold the most water. (Fill the jars to show that the smaller jar without rocks will hold more than the large one with rocks.)

Ask, “If the Holy Spirit is like water and wants to fill you, then which jar are you most like? How do you know? What do you need to clear out so there is more room for the Holy Spirit in your life?”

Responding to God:

Today I want to encourage you to ask God for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. Please feel free to come to the altar rail and pray as we sing.