Easter 2024: Acts 2:1-41: Fueled By the Spirit

Main Point of Text (MPT): Jesus fulfilled His promise to send His Spirit so His disciples would be empowered to make disciples.

Main Point of Sermon (MPS): I want you to live in the power of the Spirit so you might be a disciple who makes disciples.

Introduction

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/11/nebraska-woman-stole-gas/72932785007/# - Unlimited fuel until she gets caught!

What fuels your life? Coffee? That summer vacation that keeps you motivated to keep going day in and day out because you know it’s coming? What motivates you day in and day out to keep you going?

Is your life fueled by God? God desires to fuel your life with His Spirit for a very specific purpose: to make you into a disciple fully conformed to the image of Christ.

For 15 months we studied Luke’s Gospel. Luke’s Gospel ends with Jesus promising His disciples that He would send His Spirit (Luke 24:49). Acts 2 is story of what happened after resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

On this Resurrection Sunday, if you are a follower of Jesus, you need the reminder that the Spirit of God lives in you to make you more like Jesus and to empower you to live for the mission of Jesus (Luke 24:48). We can’t live for God on our own! We need the Spirit at work in us! (John 15:5)

If you are not a follower of Jesus, the Spirit of God desires to open your eyes to the truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Spirit of God desires to give you new life in Christ this morning.

Acts 2 = one of the most important moments in Christian history. In Acts 2, Jesus fulfills His promise to the church to send the Helper. In Acts 2, the church is born.

Acts 2 helps us to understand why we need the Spirit of God and how we can live fueled by the Spirit of God.

Transition: This morning, two challenges from the text to help you to live a life fueled by the God who loves you.

Be filled with the Spirit

Explanation:

After ascension, 120 disciples gather and wait like Jesus told them (Acts 1:4).

vs. 1 - Pentecost - Old Testament Festival celebrated 50 Days after Passover - Agricultural celebration that celebrated the firstfruits - the first of the harvest looking forward to what God was going to provide. A reminder that God gives in abundance. Like Passover, Jews who were dispersed all over the empire would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast.

But, this Pentecost celebration would be different. Instead of celebrating the what God would provide from the land, celebrating the grace-filled, life giving power of the Spirit that would give an abundance of life to all who believe.

Vs. 2 - A sudden sound like a wind filled the house where the believers waited. Maybe the sound was not only heard in the house but around the area. Maybe people walking the streets of Jerusalem heard the sound and rushed to the source of the sound.

In OT - wind and breath same word. Breath/wind of God gives life (ruah). E.g., Adam (Gen. 2:7); Valley of Dry Bones (Ez. 37); Jesus to Nicodemus. The Spirit is like wind. (John 3:8 - “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”) Wind coming to give life to believers.

vs. 3 - Believers saw tongues flaming like fire. Fire is symbolic of presence of God. E.g., Abraham (Genesis 15); Burning bush (Ex. 3); Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19) At Sinai - touch the mountain and die. At temple, continual fire burned on the altar (Leviticus 6:13). Reminder of presence and power of God.

Fire invokes awe and fear. You want to come close and see, but at the same time, you know if you get too close you’ll be burned. OT…. Can’t come close to God (fire) unless a sacrifice. Now, Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Fire resting on believers and they don’t die! (Matt. 3:11 - John said Jesus would baptize with fire.) Because of Jesus atoning death and resurrection we can finally come close to God. The presence of God rests not in a temple in Jerusalem but on every believer!

vs. 4 - Began speaking in different tongues (known languages). The nations represented in Jerusalem - Jews born in different nations growing up learning the language of country where born instead of Hebrew. When multitude gathers to see what has taken place they hear native Jews speaking to them in their own tongue! Rich symbolism:

Jews exiled/dispersed - far from the land of God now hearing God is bringing them back not to a land but to Himself.

Reversal of Babel - People scattered into different languages are now brought back together hearing the same language. Acts 2 = Preview of heaven when we will not be divided by culture and language but will be one people.

In a sense, Luke 24:48 and Acts 1:8 being fulfilled at Upper Room - God drawing the nations to Himself to hear the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit has come to draw people from every nation to the Savior.

Application:

The Spirit of God has come to draw people to Jesus, and He wants to draw people to Christ by using His church to proclaim the message of Christ.

Ephesians 5:18 - Paul tells us to be filled with the Spirit. You have the Spirit who seals your salvation (Ephesians 1:13), but Paul calls us to continually submit to the work of the Spirit in our lives. You can resist the Spirit’s work or you can yield to the Spirit’s control and cooperate with His work in you.

You will fill your life with something. - Desire for wealth? Climbing the corporate ladder? Sexual sin? Addiction? Self-seeking pleasure?

Whatever you fill your life with will control you. Whatever you determine to fill your life with you will pursue at all costs, even at the expense of a relationship with God and others. You’ll do whatever it takes to get what you want, and if you are filling yourself with anything other than the Spirit of God, you will end up empty.

Whatever controls you will affect your heart. Your heart will grow more in love with what you’re trying to fill it with. You may grow bitter with others who stand in the way of you getting what you want. You may grow more self-centered, etc.

Do not resist the filling of the Spirit. When you daily decide to yield to the Spirit, He will make you more like Jesus (character) and change your desires to align with His desires.

Fake jet set - Want you to believe something that’s not true… Influencers: “Look at me.” That’s what this world does - wants you to believe something not true… Peter stands to explain something that is true… NOT… “Look at me…” BUT… “Look at Jesus…” https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/jet-set-lie-social-media-influencers-hire-fake-private-jet-for-likes-followers

Be used by the Spirit.

Explanation:

vs. 12-14 - Multitudes gather and hear uneducated men speaking in their language. Many amazed, but a strange scene. Some accuse them of being drunk.

Peter stands to give explanation. Can’t be drunk! 9:00 in the morning! You don’t drink this early!

Peter’s sermon takes the crowd back to Scripture to interpret what’s taking place.

Joel 2:28-32: “Joel spoke of this day when God’s Spirit would be poured out on all flesh. We are in the last days! A new day has dawned!” Peter explaining that we’re in God’s final days of redemptive history. The Spirit drawing people to the Father through Christ regardless of male or female, race, social class, etc. It’s still happening today! God still drawing people to Himself! BUT - also judgment (vs. 20) for anyone who rejects the work of God.

vs. 21 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. Peter begins to explain the Gospel. This is NOT “feel good” preaching. Not, “3 ways God wants to bless you.” Or, “5 ways to have better relationships.” The Spirit of God has made Peter a bold witness just like Jesus had promised.

“You crucified and killed...” (Acts 2:23) The crucifixion is still fresh in the minds of the disciples. This is an offensive message! Peter goes on: “But you didn’t kill Him. God raised Him up. OT said this would happen but you missed it!” ( Quotes Ps. 16:8-11) (Messianic Psalm - This wasn’t talking about David! Acts 2:29-31)

vs. 32-36- Jesus alive and exalted. David not ascended at right hand of Father - Jesus is! (Ps. 110:1) Peter accuses the crowd of crucifying Jesus, yet Jesus is alive and exalted.

vs. 37 - People pierced to the heart when confronted with the truth. “What do we do?” Peter: “Repent!” Turn from rebellion against God and give your life to Him. Acknowledge Christ as Lord and receive forgiveness and receive the Spirit. This morning, some in this room need to respond to Peter’s Gospel message.

3,000 people saved! Significant number! Moses gave Law - Ex. 32 - People rebelled. Broke 1st command! Idolatry! Worshipped golden calf - 3000 died (Ex. 32:28)! When God comes in power at Pentecost - 3000 people find life. Why? Jesus! GOSPEL: We can’t keep the law and deserve death. Acts 2- reminder of a New Day! Jesus has done what we cannot do for ourselves, and in Him we find life!

Peter, an ordinary man, a fisherman, changed by the power of God. He preaches powerful sermon - 3000 people saved and go back to their countries taking the Gospel. Rest of Acts = Gospel on the move by ordinary people!

Church multiplies NOT primarily by Apostles - They stay in Jerusalem - but by ordinary, unnamed followers of Jesus empowered by the Spirit.

Church at Antioch - Acts 11:20-22 founded by unnamed followers.

Acts 28:15 - Paul arrives in Rome - Gospel already there! How did it get there? Ordinary followers of Jesus empowered by the Spirit.

Application:

God uses ordinary followers of Jesus, unknown to the rest of the world, people without platforms, notoriety, etc. - who have nothing BUT the Spirit of God - and He changes the world.

We don’t need bigger buildings, more money, fancy programs, entertaining music, etc. as much as we need a church filled with the Spirit. When we’re filled with the Spirit we will be used by the Spirit.

The world needs a bold church. Our tendency is to make people happy than help people become holy. When walking with the Spirit, we’ll be bold enough to have difficult conversations. We’ll talk about sin, and we’ll talk about grace. Not because we’re judgmental, but because we know there is a Judge. Are you bold?

The world needs a going church. Early church gathered, but it also scattered. Followers of Jesus move and this morning, the Spirit is moving you. He’s moving you to a neighbor, a family member, a coworker, to the ends of the earth. The church is not a building to go to but a movement of God’s people who grow together and go together. Are you going?

The world needs a sacrificial church. People who live open-handed lives and say, “Whatever I have belongs to God. Take what you want from me, and give me what you want to give me for the sake of your mission.” Are you sacrificial?

If you lack boldness, lack a desire to go, and lack a desire to live sacrificially, it’s likely that you’re resisting the Spirit. On this resurrection Sunday, follower of Jesus, you need to repent and ask the Spirit to help you yield to the work He wants to do in you.

If not a follower of Jesus, will you choose life or death? Today, Spirit is just as present as He was at Pentecost and He is still drawing people to Jesus. On this Resurrection Sunday, He’s calling you to Himself. Will you resist, or will you repent? Will you choose to find life in the One who died and rose again, or will you choose an eternity apart from Him. Right now, I know Spirit convicting, how will you respond?