Sermon Notes 6/8: Pentecost = Power

Pentecost = Power

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1.  The word power is the Greek word dynamis and it means power, deed of power. Literally, it describes the ability to perform an activity; by extension, it refers to someone in a position of power or the force of a person’s action.[1]

2.  It is God who empowers His people to be a witness

3.  The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost brought forth the birth of the church

a.   It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be witnesses

b.  It is the Holy Spirit who empowers and makes possible the gifts of the Spirit

c.   It is the Holy Spirit who produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives

4.  Jesus makes it clear that the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit was that the gospel would go forth in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth

Jesus said this in Matthew 24:14

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

1.  God’s plan and purpose for the church is to take the gospel to the utter most

2.  That every heart and life would be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ

3.  But is this only done by those who are called to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers?

a.   The answer is no

b.  They are called to equip the Saints for ministry

c.   That is every person who calls upon the name of Jesus

Acts 2:1-4

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 and began to speak in other tongues x as the Spirit enabled them. [2]

1.  When the Holy Spirit came, He came with the sound of a blowing of a violent wind

2.  Tongues of fire came to rest on all those in the upper room

3.  They were filled with The Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues

a.   All of these were outward signs that the Holy Spirit had come

b.  He not only came but He remained on all the believers

c.   The blood of Christ made it possible that every believer could receive the coming of The Holy Spirit

d.  To fill their lives and empower them

Acts 8:12-19

12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” [3]

1.  Philip came proclaiming the gospel

2.  Those who listened were water baptized and came to faith in Christ

3.  They had seen great signs and wonders performed through Philip

a.  Verse 13 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

4.  But when the apostles came they laid hands on the Samaritan believers

a.   Simon must have saw something outwardly that caused him to want to purchase the power for himself

b.  Many believe what he saw was that those believers spoke in tongues

c.   Again we see the coming of the Holy Spirit is evident by and outward sign

Acts 10:39-48

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” [4]

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues o and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. [5]

1.  These gentile believers as Peter preaches the gospel place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ

2.  As He preaches the Holy Spirit falls on them

a.   No one lays hands on them

b.  Most likely the Holy Spirit did it this way because of the divide between Jew and Gentile

3.  This showed that the way of salvation was open to the gentiles

4.  The coming of the Holy Spirit once again resulted in believers speaking in tongues

a.   An outward sign of an inward reality

5.  Peter refers to the coming of The Holy Spirit as a gift

a.   It is not earned or worked for

b.  We don’t work ourselves up to receive all the Holy Spirit has for us

c.   We respond in faith

Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues j and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. [6]

1.  Paul encounters those who seem to be disciples

a.   But His question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” makes it seem Paul was seeking clarification

2.  These had never heard of the coming of The Holy Spirit

3.  They only knew the baptism of John

4.  Paul brings correction and each of these disciples is baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

5.  When Paul places his hands on them they not only speak in tongues but also prophesy

6.  It is an outward sign that something has taken place concerning the coming of The Holy Spirit

In each of these cases The Holy Spirit fell upon believers

We have an outward sign of an inward reality

Is the fullness and baptism of The Holy Spirit important in the life of the believer today?

I believe the answer is yes

Paul writes this concerning the work of The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer

Galatians 5:16 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.[7]

Galatians 5:18 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [8]

Galatians 5:25 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.[9]

Ephesians 5:16 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,[10]

Paul says we are to walk by The Spirit, be led by The Spirit, Live by the Spirit, be filled with the Spirit

The word filled here means fulfill, complete, fill, make full, be filled

It is an ongoing work in the life of the believer

At salvation every single one of use receives the Holy Spirit and we are sealed by The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13-14 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.[11]

But Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. [12]

1.  He calls us to desire the greater gifts

a.   Desire means to be jealous for or strive for

b.  To pursue after them

Paul tells us this concerning The Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8[13]

1.  The key in all of this is The Holy Spirit

2.  On the day of Pentecost the promise of the Father came

a.   The Holy Spirit came and the church was birthed

3.  It is The Holy Spirit who empowers us to be a witness

4.  It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to operate in the gifts of the Spirit

5.  Do everyone have the same gifts? No

6.  But should we desire and seek after the greater gifts? Yes

7.  We see in the book of Acts the Holy Spirit moved at the laying on of hands and without the laying on of hands

a.   But the common denominator for all those who encountered His power and His presence is they were hungry

b.  They were desperate

c.   They sought after and were drawn to Jesus

8.  Every gift given is for the greater good of the body of Christ

9.  Do we desire the boldness of The Holy Spirit?

10.                Do we desire the gifts of The Holy Spirit?

11.                Do we want all that the Holy Spirit wants for us in our lives?

[1] Eric Lewellen, “Miracles,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

[2] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 2:1–4.

[3] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 8:12–19.

[4] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 10:39–43.

[5] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 10:44–48.

[6] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 19:1–7.

[7] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ga 5:16.

[8] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ga 5:18.

[9] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ga 5:25.

[10] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Eph 5:18.

[11] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Eph 1:13–14.

[12] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 12:27–31.

[13] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 12:4–8.