THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Acts 2:1-47

Disappointment in our ability makes us a candidate for God’s ability in us through the power of the holy spirit! True spiritual maturity does not come with greater independence, but through dependence upon God’s power at work in and through us. 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.

In Acts 2 3 simple yet important questions - [1] What happened? [2] Why did it happen? [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.”

Four dynamics as described by Luke at Pentecost 1. The disciples heard the sound of a blowing violent wind! 2. The disciples saw a mass of fire settle over all them then separate into smaller flames that rested on each of them!

3. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never studied or learned! 4. Peter proclaimed Christ and over 3,000 accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives!

The Dynamics of Pentecost provided EVIDENCE THE DISCIPLES NEEDED! 2. WHY DID IT HAPPEN? The Dynamics of Pentecost provided EVIDENCE THE DISCIPLES NEEDED! Throughout the Old Testament, WIND was a sign and symbol of God’s life! 2. In the Old Testament FIRE was used as sign and symbol of God’s acceptance!

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!"

B. The Dynamics of Pentecost provided the EMPOWERMENT THEY NEEDED! GOD WANTS TO DO A WORK IN US, IN ORDER 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.

2. FIRE: the Holy Spirit empowers a consistent Christ-like lifestyle! Hebrews 12:29 for our "God is a consuming fire." The fire of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer transforms us into the image of Jesus!

Matthew 3:11-12 11"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." Malachi 3:2-3 2For 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.

3. PROPHETIC SPEECH: the Holy Spirit empowers our communication with and about Christ! Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them They all spoke in a spirit-enabled language of praise

The Holy Spirit empowers a Spirit inspired praise - that’s communication with Christ The Spirit empowers the preaching or proclamation of the word of God - that’s communication about Christ

3. CAN IT STILL HAPPEN TODAY? Yes … it not only can happen … it must happen! How can we experience the filling the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost ?

A. The first key is our heart it’s an issue of — dedication! 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."

Luke 11:9-13 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

C. The third key is our habits it’s an issue of — dependency! Eph 5:18b 18 Instead, be filled with the Spirit Cultivate the habit of dependency … of being plugged into the power source … the Holy Spirit!

How can we experience a personal Pentecost? — Dedicated hearts! — Desperate hunger! — Dependent habits!