Forgotten God

Intro

Summary of last week’s Sermon.

Fill in context - Matthias chosen to serve in replacement of Judas.

Today we look at the day that is called Pentecost. What does Pentecost mean?

Remember that our Christian Holidays intersect with Jewish Holidays. (Not currently calendar wise, but in history)

The Crucifixion took place during the week of the Passover celebration.

50 days following the passover, is the day that we know as Pentecost, which is literally the word 50 in Greek.

Acts 2:1–12 CSB

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Knowing the Holy Spirit

“From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is tragically neglected and for all practical purposes, forgotten. While no evangelical would deny His existence, I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can.”

Francis Chan

Lifeway Research 2020 State of Theology Study sponsered by Ligonier Ministries

Surveyed 3,000 Americans and asked them a number of questions.

Only 1 in 5 can be considered evangelical in belief. 1 in 4 self identify.

This means they strongly agree with the following statements:

The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.

It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.

Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

Despite agreeing with these statements, there were very concerning trends across the other things they believe.

96% say they believe in the classic doctrine of trinity: One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Yet 65% say Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.

30% say Jesus was a great teacher but was not God.

46% say the Holy Spirit is a force rather than a person.

18% believe the Holy Spirit can tell them to do something that is forbidden in the Bible.

These studies show that many evangelicals don’t understand very well who God is at all.

They don’t understand Christ.

They don’t understand the Spirit.

An understanding of who the Spirit is is ESSENTIAL to living a life that honors God!

It is only by the Spirit of God that this can be accomplished.

The Holy Spirit...

Is God!

was promised by Jesus.

John 16:7 CSB

Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.

lives within believers.

Ephesians 1:13–14 CSB

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Understanding the Holy Spirit

Supernatural Gifts

The gift of tongues as seen in Acts 2, and what it looks like in the rest of scripture.

Real languages.

We see a substantial number of believers in the world who actively practice a gift that they refer to as speaking in tongues.

Generally these are a language unbeknownst to the speaker. Generally they are spoken among large groups of people with no intention of translation.

This seems to be reminiscent of what was happening in the Church in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul lays out an entire framework of orderly worship and the role tongues might play in worship. Here is a summary.

Tongues are acknowledged, but are regarded as conversation between God and the speaker, because noone understands him.

Prophecy is regarded as the greater gift.

Tongues build up speaker, prophesy builds up the church.

Tongues are likened to an instrument that is made without a distinction of notes. Without distinction, how will it be understood?

All languages have meaning, but it is only beneficial when the hearer can understand the speaker.

Speaking in tongues should always come with an interpretation or it is without benefit to the congregation.

For an example if I were to say:

Arrepiéntase y crea que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios. ¡Él murió por ti y está vivo!

That would not be meaningful to most people here. Maybe you picked upon some of it because that is Spanish.

What I said has great benefit! But it is unbeknownst to those who hear it without understanding the language.

What I said was: Repent and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He died for you and he is alive!

These are words of salvation, but to the one who does not know the language I spoke in, it is meaningless. I should speak it plainly so that those who hear might have understanding.

5 words is better than 10,000 in a tongue.

Tongues have a purpose. To testify to those of another language, as we have seen.

So tongues should not be spoken unless they are edifying. Through one hearing who has understanding. And through translation.

This is seen in our passage in Acts 2.

Needs to be edifying.

Sanctifying work of life transformation

The more prevalent talk of the Spirit is His work in life transformation.

Becoming like Christ.

Going from works of flesh to fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19–22 CSB

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

The fruit of the Spirit - This is what the Spirit filled life will produce!

Ability to be an effective witness for Christ.

Boldness in witness.

Ability to speak the truth of God.

How do we discern the Spirit of God?

The Holy Spirit Will...

Lead toward order. Not Chaos.

Lead toward understanding. Not confusion.

Lead toward righteousness. Not debauchery.

Not Contradict Himself.

Glorify God. Not Man.

1 Corinthians 2:3–5 CSB

I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Living By the Holy Spirit

Leads to Holy Living (Romans 8)

Romans 8:11 CSB

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

This is a powerful proposition!

We will not be perfect.

Grieving the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 4:30 CSB

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.

Causing to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.

Leads to Witnessing

The very next thing that the disciples do is share the Gospel.

The Results of a Spirit-filled life.

Peter, filled with the Spirit, preaches a message to the people there and this is their response.

Acts 2:36–40 CSB

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

This is what I pray our response is today

That we will recognize the Spirit accurately.

That we will be filled by the Spirit.

That we will live by the Spirit.

That we will respond to the Spirit.

3 Things

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