Birthday Gifts: The Holy Spirit

Warren Brosi

August 11, 2024

Dominant Thought: The promised Holy Spirit empowers us to live and speak for Him.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to know the descriptions of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.

I want my listeners to feel empowered to live and speak for Jesus.

I want my listeners to respond to the Holy Spirit with repentance.

Focus question: What do we need to know about the Holy Spirit?

Our bicentennial memory verse is Hebrews 13.8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

As we prepare for our 200th birthday celebration here at Berlin Christian Church on September 29, 2024, we chosen to look at some of the birthday gifts given to the church in the book of Acts. Before we get to those gifts, what are some of the memorable birthday gifts you have received? I still remember the cake my mom made for me when I was ten or twelve. It was a white cake with mini chocolate chips topped with chocolate chip ice cream. I actually requested something similar for my birthday this past week.

Around that same time, I remember attending a baseball game at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City watching Bo Jackson play.

Gifts tell us about the giver and the relationship between the giver and the receiver. Over the next few weeks, we’ll read some of the first recorded Christian sermons. These sermons were given in locations where the church was born. In some ways, these sermons helped give birth to these churches. As we listen to these sermon summaries, we’ll identify some birthday gifts for the church to stay on mission.

Before looking at Acts, I want to give us a 2 minute Bible overview with simple symbols to help us understand where were are in the story of Scripture. In Genesis 1-2, we draw a down arrow to represent “CREATION.” In Genesis 3-11, we draw an “X” to remind us of the "FALL” or sin entering the world. Genesis 12-Malachi 4, the remainder of the Old Testament, we draw a horizontal arrow to remind us of the “PROMISE.” God promised to bless the nations and one day that blessing will come in Jesus. Then, Matthew-John, we draw a cross to remind us of the “GOSPEL” or good news of Jesus. Jesus fulfills the promise of God. He died on the cross, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven as king. Acts - Revelation, we draw another horizontal arrow to remind us of the “MISSION” of the church to make disciples of all the nations. We are in the mission part of the story of God today. Finally, Revelation 21-22 and other places in Scripture are signified with another down arrow to represent “NEW CREATION.” One day, Jesus will return as king and will make a new heave and new earth and we will live and reign with Him forever.

So, as we turn to Acts 2 today, we find ourselves in the MISSION part of the story of God where God’s people are called to make disciples of all the nations.

As we look at Acts 2, the people ask two questions: 1-What does this mean? (Acts 2.13) 2-What shall we do? (Acts 2.37).

The first question, What does this mean (Acts 2.12)? The people living in Jerusalem saw and heard the spectacular sights and sounds during the Pentecost Feast. Pentecost was 50 days after Passover. About 50 days after Jesus died and about 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven as King. they saw tongues of fire. The heard and may have felt the blowing of the violent wind.

The Holy Spirit fill the disciples and they began speaking in different languages. People from the different nations were present and recognized them declaring the wonders of God. They were confused and bewildered and asked the question in Acts 2.12, “What does this mean?”

Peter responds to this question in Acts 2.14-36. He begins by address those who were making fun of the gathering and said, “These people are not drunk. It’s only 9 in the morning.” Then, he quotes from the Hebrew prophet, Joel. Joel is on of the Twelve. Sometimes called minor only because they are shorter not because they are less important. In Joel 2.28-32, we read the source of Peter’s quotation. Joel says, “Afterward...” Peter says, “In the last days...” From Peter’s perspective we’ve been in the last days for nearly 2,000 years. Joel says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved...” (Joel 2.28-32).

Then, Peter shares the simple gospel story (Acts 2.22-33). The story of Jesus life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection is the key theme for these early Christian sermons. Twice Peter will address his audience as “Fellow Israelites” (Acts 2.22, 29). Peter shares that Jesus was a man accredited by God by miracles, wonders, and signs. Then, he says, “This man [Jesus] was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge” (Acts 2.23). The arrest and crucifixion did not take God the Father by surprise. Peter continues, “and you [you all, plural] with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2.23).

“But God..” Those are some of the best words in all of Scripture. “But God raised Him from the dead freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2.24).

Peter quotes a Psalm of David, Psalm 16. It closes with Psalm 16.11 that was the source of our Vacation Bible School memory verse.

Psalm 16 talks about not abandoning me to the realm of the dead or letting your Holy One see decay. It closes with, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2.28; Psalm 16.11). Peter says, David died and his grave is here today and they could probably go visit it. But Jesus rose from the dead. In fact, Jesus is the descendant the prophets talked about who would sit on David’s throne. He connects Psalm 16 to a preview of the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed King. King Jesus didn’t see decay in the grave. God raise Jesus to His right hand. Peter confesses to the crowd, “We are all witnesses of it” (Acts 2.32).

Peter then states boldly in Acts 2.33:

Acts 2:33 NIV

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

God has exalted Jesus to His right hand and has received the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

One of the images for the Holy Spirit is pouring out. I brought this pitcher and this glass. The Holy Spirit is described as poured out (Acts 2.17-18, 33, Acts 10.45).

Peter moves to the conclusion of His sermon by quoting the popular Psalm 110.1 to describe the kingly reign of Jesus. Then, he declares, “Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2.36). Peter states quite clearly to his audience, “You killed Jesus who is Lord and King.”

Our second question, “What shall we do (Acts 2.37)?” The people are cut to the heart or pierced to the heart. They recognize they are guilty and ask Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

These are two good questions everyone should ask of each sermon, “What does this mean and What shall we do?” Peter has preached this message and now the people realize they must respond.

Peter answers their question with two commands: “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2.38). To repent means to change your mind. It is like making a U-turn after going the wrong way. In this context and for us today, change your mind form killing Jesus to honoring Him as King.

The second command is, “Be baptized.” It is in the passive tense so while it is a command, it is not something we do for ourselves. It is done to us. To be baptized means to be submerged under water or to be immersed. We practice baptism by immersion here at Berlin Christian Church because we believe that is what the word means. If you have never been immersed into Christ, would you consider having a conversation with someone about baptism today?

After the two commands, Peter gives two benefits to responding with repentance and baptism. When you repent and are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, then you can expect two gifts: forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine I have an etch-a-sketch here with me or a dry erase board. I can write all my sins or all your sins, but then I can move this lever or erase them. They are gone. In Christ, our sins are gone. They are forgiven.

Not only are your sins forgiven, but we receive the Holy Spirit. He is a gift. This gift is poured out on us. This gift is a promise. This gift is powerful (Luke 24.49; Acts 1.8).

Peter says this promise is for you, your children, for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself (Luke 2.39). Peter urged them to respond with many other words. The sermon went on longer, but Luke simply summarizes with, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation” (Acts 2.40).

So, what did the people do? Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. About 3,000 souls were added to the body of Christ that day.

So, what’s this mean? Since Acts 2, we are in the last days. We are responsible for how we respond to Jesus. Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Jesus at His right hand. Jesus has poured out His Holy Spirit to speak and live for Him.

What must we do? We respond to King Jesus by calling on His name (Acts 2.21, 38). We respond by repenting or changing our mind to honor King Jesus. We respond by being baptized in the name of Jesus. These are examples of saving faith.

The result of those choices is forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter gave some clear responses to the good news of Jesus: Repent and be baptized. Recently, at Nationwide Youth Roundup, we witnessed several baptisms. Jack Wyatt, 7 years old, shared about the pond where he witnessed the baptisms, “There is a whole pile of old lives in that pond.”

That’s an example of Acts 2. People calling on the name of Jesus, repenting of their old ways, and uniting with King Jesus in baptism. The old is gone. The new has come. The lesson for us today is The promised Holy Spirit empowers us to live and speak for Him. The Holy Spirit may have been the first birthday gift the church received. As we move toward our celebration on September 29, we need to lean into this primary gift of God, His Holy Spirit.