2. Ordinary people: extraordinary God
Joining God in his work God’s powerful tools Pentecost: empowered by God’s spirit Father’s Day How to hear God Does God heal today? Living a kingdom life

3. Evening Celebrations this summer
Doing the Stuff: how to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit
Ask questions, watch demonstrations and have a go.

4. Pentecost in context
It seemed to the Jews that God had been silent for 600 years. Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah had spoken but promises weren’t yet fulfilled. Disturbing times – Jews still subject to the Romans. But there had been talk of the Messiah’s return…

5. The disciples had heard & believed the prophetic voice of Jesus
The disciples had heard & believed the prophetic voice of Jesus. They’d seem him taken up to heaven. His promise to them: I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:49 This is where we find them…

6. Acts 2:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

7. and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they

8. asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans
asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and

9. converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’

10. 14 Then 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. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

11. 17 ‘“In the last days, God says,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your young men will see visions,     your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women,     I will pour out my Spirit in those days,     and they will prophesy.

12. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above     and signs on the earth below,     blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness     and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls     on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

13. Why is this important for us?
Trying to do ministry without the spiritual gifts is like…
God invites us into a divine partnership with him – using the toolbox of spiritual gifts.
We need an understanding of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our faith needs empowering!

14. Pentecost marks a personal turning point for Peter
Pentecost marks a personal turning point for Peter. An extraordinary few weeks… Here we see him preaching with boldness. Marked difference in authority and courage.

15. Turning point for the church… Early church had its problems – but is filled with confidence that God was with them. This brought unity – to trust him to do powerful things in their community.

16. What happened when the spirit came
What happened when the spirit came? Jesus said You will be baptised with the Holy Spirit…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Acts 1: 5-8 The disciples were waiting with expectancy. And God showed up!

17. But weren’t they already baptised with the Holy Spirit
But weren’t they already baptised with the Holy Spirit? He breathed on them and said, “Receive the holy Spirit” John 20:22 Baptism: To immerse one object in another. i) Like fabric being dyed. Body of Christ – 1 Cor 12:13 New covenant - Romans 8:9

18. Baptism: To immerse one object in another.
ii) The overwhelming of a boat by mighty waves.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit… v4
This was a different type of experience.

19. We need both. One: We surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus
We need both. One: We surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. He lives in us by his spirit. Transformation to holiness. Two: An ongoing filling by the spirit. An expectation of increased boldness, courage and authority. Equipped to minister.

20. So how do we get empowered?
The divine zap…?
Gary Best
“God didn’t seem to be noticing me. Had I missed the inaugural zapping?”
We seek the presence of the Holy Spirit not his power.
Every time we are in the presence of the Holy Spirit we are changed.

21. For the early church – and so for us:
Assurance they were not alone.
Confidence grows.
Propelled into mission.
Key to boldness.
And the Holy Spirit always empowers us for a purpose not an experience.
The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. v47

22. For us… and for each other
We live in the age of the individual. This can have a negative impact on the release of the spirit’s power. When the spirit came it filled the whole house. v2 When God visits the church we are all built up. God doesn’t have limited provision. I will pour out my spirit on all people. v17

23. Early church needed reminders of his presence
Early church needed reminders of his presence. In Acts 4 …the place where they were meeting was shaken; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 4:31 We do too. We leak! Our eyes are so easily pulled away from Jesus. We need God to visit his church.

24. Our primary purpose in life. To give glory to God
Our primary purpose in life? To give glory to God. To do the stuff – participate in the expansion of his Kingdom. The church’s primary purpose in life? To model what the kingdom looks like when God has his way with a bunch of people.

25. It’s his presence that makes the church an unstoppable force.
So Come Holy Spirit…
God loves our prayers for empowerment in the church.
We long to know that God is powerfully with us.
It’s his presence that makes the church an unstoppable force.