Empowered

Acts 2:1–21 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

I. Introduction

Opening Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day of Pentecost, when You poured out Your Spirit upon all flesh. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your Word today. Fill us anew with Your Spirit so we may live lives that glorify You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Greeting and Introduction:

Good morning, church family!

Today is a special day in the life of the Church—Pentecost Sunday.

This is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church, and the empowerment of believers to carry out God's mission in the world.

For those visiting us today, welcome!

We're glad you're here as we explore what it means to live Spirit-filled lives.

I was speaking with a friend the other day about his experience with Lasik surgery.

In one day, he went from having poor vision to seeing the world with 20/20 clarity.

No longer did he need contact lenses or glasses.

His eyes were, quite literally, healed.

Pentecost is that day for Christians.

No longer do we see spiritual realities with fuzziness or blindness.

With the gift of the Holy Spirit, we see the world with 20/20 vision

We begin today with verses 1-4.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Unity and Expectation

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In military terms, the concept of “hurry up and wait” resonates with the apostles’ experience.

They had been told to wait in Jerusalem, and their patience was rewarded with a powerful encounter.

Picture being in a room, waiting expectantly, and suddenly experiencing the powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit.

Imaging the mighty rushing wind…

Divided tongues as of fire…

Your friends speaking in other tongues…

Impact

Acts 2:5–8 ESV

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

The Gathering Crowd

The sound of the Holy Spirit’s arrival drew a large crowd, curious and bewildered by what they were witnessing.

The apostles spoke in various languages, a miraculous ability granted by the Holy Spirit.

This enabled them to communicate the gospel to people from diverse backgrounds, breaking down language barriers.

One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to break down barriers to faith.

It should drive us to consider how the Holy Spirit meets people where they are, thereby removing the barriers to repentance and faith.

It’s also important for us to consider how God removes barriers in our own lives.

Where do you need the Spirit’s leading and empowerment in your own life?

Perhaps it’s a sin you struggle with.

Maybe a life situation.

Maybe it’s fear of witnessing to others.

Whatever strongholds you struggle with, you can always know that the Holy Spirit is doing the heavy lifting.

Just this week I led a house blessing.

I’m always aware, when faced with the cleansing portions of the blessing, of just how weak I am.

There’s nothing in Adam Roe that has the power to do anything or drive out anything.

But when you bring the Holy Spirit into the home, God does all the doing.

Let’s jump down to verses 14- to see how Peter is now emboldened to preach the Gospel.

Peter Emboldened

Acts 2:14–16 ESV

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

Friends, this is the same Peter who just weeks before denied that he even knew Jesus.

That is not the Peter we see here.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter stands up to address the crowd.

His boldness is a stark contrast to his previous denials of Christ, showcasing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter explains that what they are witnessing is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

But it’s also a prophetic realization on something Jesus said, and we heard it a couple weeks ago in our reading.

Matthew 16:16–18 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Pentecost is a fulfillment of the Prophet Joel, which we will read in just a moment.

It is also prophecy fulfilled by Jesus through the witness of Peter.

Peter points out that, indeed, this is the long awaited Holy Spirit as prophesied in Joel.

Old Testament Promises

Acts 2:17–21 ESV

“ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

1. Inclusive Empowerment:

Notice that the Holy Spirit empowers ALL flesh, not just a select few.

Not just for pastors.

Not just for people with Bible degrees.

All flesh, and that includes you.

The Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit

Friends, the Day of Pentecost is a powerful reminder of the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of the believer and the church.

It highlights the importance of unity in the church, the miraculous power of the Spirit, and the boldness to proclaim the gospel.

As we think about how we can live out Pentecost in our daily lives, I encourage you to the following:

Foster Unity and Prayer

Just as the disciples were united in purpose and prayer in that early church, commit to fostering a sense of Biblical unity in our own community.

May we always boldly and unequivocally confess what Scriptures confesses.

Perhaps someone is called to organize regular prayer meetings, or small groups, or fellowship events.

By prioritizing unity and prayer, we can create fertile soil for the Holy Spirit’s power.

Seek the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit

The apostles were transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill their mission.

They expected it.

They couldn’t create it, but they were always open and because of their willingness, the empowered them to literally change the world.

Dedicate time to personal prayer and Bible study, specifically asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and empowerment.

Being open to the Holy Spirit’s work will enable you to overcome personal limitations, boldly share the gospel, and serve others with greater effectiveness.

Proclaim the Gospel Boldly

Peter’s sermon at Pentecost was bold and inclusive because he know KNEW God.

He didn’t just know about God.

God, through the Holy Spirit, was living and breathing, and speaking through him.

Do you ask God’s Spirit to give you such boldness?

Do you trust God to give you the words, the wisdom, and the abilitiy to speak to those who wish to know Jesus?

Look for opportunities to share your faith with people and trust in the gift of the Holy Spirit to work through you.

You possess unique gifts and talents to communicate the message of Christ in ways that resonate with someone.

By proclaiming the gospel with boldness , you help fulfill the Great Commission, bringing the message of salvation to all people and growing the church as a diverse and unified body of believers.

Going Forward

Friends, as we move forward, let us commit to…

fostering unity and prayer in our communities,

seeking the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives,

and boldly proclaiming the gospel to all people.

By taking action, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit…

We become effective witnesses for Christ and instruments of His grace.

May we be filled with the same Spirit that empowered the apostles…

The Spirit that emboldened them to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world in desperate need of His love and salvation.

Let us embrace the promise of Pentecost, living each day with the expectation that the Holy Spirit will work through us to accomplish God’s purposes.

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the powerful reminder of Pentecost and the transformative work of Your Holy Spirit. Unite us in purpose and prayer, just as the apostles were united, and fill us with the same Spirit that empowered them to boldly proclaim Your gospel. Equip us to break down barriers, reach diverse communities, and share Your message of love and salvation with all people. As we seek Your presence and guidance, may we be emboldened to live out our faith with courage and authenticity, reflecting Your grace and truth in all we do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn of Response: Spirit Song (vs 1, 2 – UMH # 347)