Acts 2:1-13 Power to Witness Received

Introduction

Today in our series on the book of Acts we will be in Acts 2. I have entitled this message “Power to witness received.”

The title is in past tense because if you know Jesus you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to help you witness. Nevertheless, talking to others about your faith in Jesus Christ can be a bit intimidating. There is the fear of rejection or the question of did I say the right thing? Yet telling others of Jesus is something we are commanded to do.

D.L. Moody was an evangelist of the latter 19th century God used to bring thousands of people to Jesus Christ. However, it wasn’t some brave and bold soul winner that led him to Christ. It was his shy Sunday School school, Mr. Edward Kimball. In fact, the day the teacher talked to Moody at the Boston shoe store, he almost lost his courage to talk to him. Moody was at the time was 18 an enthusiastic shoes salesmen pursuing the American dream of wealth. When Moody received Jesus his goals started changing and he started investing his time to teach the poor children in the Chicago slums of Christ and later was an instrument of God to bring about revival in America and beyond. You might say D.L. Moody had power to witness, but the Kimball guy no so much. The truth is that since every Christian has the Holy Spirit they have the power to witness for Christ.

When Jesus ascended to heaven the disciples were about 120 and they were earnestly seeking God’s promise of the Holy Spirit, so they could be his witnesses.

Acts 2:1–13 KJV 1900

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

D. God gives the disciples the Holy Spirit so they can be his Witnesses.

P. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit indwelling them and therefore ought to be a witness for Christ.

T. My friend if you know Jesus, God wants to empower you to be his witnesses no matter your personality or how comfortable you feel sharing your faith. But what is the best part about this is God’s Word says he will give us the Holy Spirit to give us power to be the right kind of witness. We see this is possible because...

God Fulfills His promises.

God Fits us for His service.

God Favor’s all to hear in their own language.

1. God Fulfills His promises.

Acts 2:1–4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost...”

Explain:

The History of Pentecost:

The day after Passover started a feast called the feast of unleavened bread. This feast commenced with the offering of the firstfruits of barley harvest given to the Lord and a barley sheaf waved by the priest before the Lord. Then fifty days later Pentecost was celebrated with the waving of two loaves of bread and other sacrifices.

Pentecost is derived from the Greek word for fifty. The Jewish people commonly call this feast Shavuot. In the Old Testament when you read about Pentecost you will not find it by the name Pentecost since that is a Greek term. You will find it expressed in Hebrew terms. These terms in English are Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10 16; 2 Chronicles 8:13), Day of the First Fruits (Num. 28:26), and Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16). These feasts were celebrated with joy before the Lord. For the Jews Pentecost was a celebration of God giving them the law on Mount Sinai which by tradition happened fifty days after the Passover and exodus from Egypt.

For the Christian, Pentecost is a day to reflect on the completeness of our redemption not only in Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, but the empowering of the church with the Holy Spirit in a very special way. For the Christian the Passover sacrifice of Jesus on the cross bought redemption, and fifty days later the Holy Spirit’s coming marks his giving the Holy Spirit promise of the New covenant. It is a time to joyfully reflect beyond redemption in Christ to the blessings of the daily enablement to live like Christ afforded to us by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God given at salvation and the corporate blessing of being a part of a local church through faith in Christ and believer’s baptism.

Pentecost for the small local church of Jerusalem started out differently than they may have anticipated and most certainly ended differently. At the beginning of the day the believers were praying in an upper room in Jerusalem. They knew that Jesus would send the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. However, they did not know when the Holy Spirit would be sent. Jesus had been in heaven now for nearly a week. After His resurrection, Jesus had stayed 40 days teaching His apostles and disciples additional things they would need. Then he ascended. After his ascension, 120 disciples started a prayer meeting. They were united in fervently praying in an upper room in Jerusalem. At this point the embryonic church there in the upper room lacked God’s power. They prayed while they waited. They kept praying. It appears they prayed daily for 10 days as they waited to be endued with power from on high and receive the earnest of their redemption. They prayed through the night and early in the morning of the 10th day, then the Spirit came and they were empowered with boldness to preach the Gospel as Jesus had promised. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

That little Jerusalem church started at a membership of 120, and ended at 3,120 by the end of the day.

They were all in one accord in one place.

The one accord is a word that is derived from two words.

homo - meaning the same

thumos - meaning anger, heavy breathing, fervent

Combined they were fervently seeking God with one mind for the promise of His Spirit.

One place emphasizes location.

It is good to meet together for corporate prayer.

We ought to meet together in the church to pray.

There is some supernatural occurences that they see, hear, and feel: This is a gracious act of God as he lets his people know their request is being answered and He is fulfilling his promise.

Setting remind is that they have been earnestly praying together for God to send His Spirit.

They hear a rushing mighty wind.

Some have drawn parallels to the wind that came and brought the valley of bones to life in Ezekiel 37 to show how God brings life.

Acts 17:25 “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”

John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter comes to abide with his people forever. John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

They not only hear, but they see: Cloven tongues of fire.

The fire divides and they have a fire on each person in the upper room.

The fire is divided to everyone.

Argue

Why don’t we see this today.

We have the indwelling witness of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:15–16 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

He leads and guides us by giving us understanding of God’s Word. Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

The Spirit of God had not come upon the believers yet. His indwelling ministry was prayed for by the apostles on teh Samaritans as they believed the Gospel. His ministry came with power on the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house in Acts 10. God wanted to make it clear to the Jewish Christians that the church was not a Jewish institution, but one that combined both Jews and Gentiles as one in Christ. However, on Pentecost the Apostles and disciples did not yet fully understand this.

2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Illustrate

The Holy Spirit is not enthusiasm. I have found enthusiasm that hummed with excitement, and the Holy Spirit was nowhere to be found there at all; and I have found the Holy Spirit when there has not been much of what we call enthusiasm present.7

A. W. Tozer

God fulfilling His promise does not necessarily mean a bunch of excitement.

Apply

Recognize and pray for God to fulfill what he has promised. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

Do not stop praying for what God has promised. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

God’s promises are yes for the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:19–20 “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

Be fervent in your prayers, not slothful.

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Hebrews 6:12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

God is faithful to do what he says. What are you asking God to do that he has promised? Don’t give up, persist.

Our prayer has been as a church that each win one and keep one. Let us keep seeking God to grant this request. Let us be in one accord, a fervency about having a bold witness to our friends, family, community, and world.

Perhaps God is calling you to something and you feel inadequate and unable to do it. Remember the first Christians probably felt the same way, but they put their trust in God.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

God is limited by a willing Christian. He will limit what he will do though among a disobedient Christian.

Be the best Christian you can be, so that God can freely use you because he is faithful to do what he has promised.

That faithfulness to do as he promises means he fits you to do what he calls you to do. What had the disciples been called to do? Be witnesses for Christ.

2. God Fits His People for Service.

Acts 2:4–6 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”

Explain

They began to miraculously speak in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.

Tongues are known human languages

Some have thought that it is heavenly languages. This is not the case in context. “Every man heard them speak in his own langauge”

Heavenly language tongues was common place among the pagan mystery religions at Corinth.

The original interpretation of tongues in the pentecostal movement was biblical as they believed they would speak in foreign langauges.

They sent out missionaries with this intent, but it did not succeed.

The tongues were for a temporary and special purpose.

Tongues are mentioned occasions in Acts: Acts 2:1-11;10:46; 19:6)

They were temporary. They are not a gift that continues today.

1 Corinthians 13:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

1 Corinthians 13:10 “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

They were a special sign to unbelieving Israel of judgment.

Deuteronomy 28:49 “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;”

Isaiah 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue Will he speak to this people.”

Isaiah 28:17 “Judgment also will I lay to the line, And righteousness to the plummet: And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding place.”

The disciples didn’t need to go to language school to speak in the 16 different languages they spoke that day.

They spoke in understandable terms with the proper dialect so that the people could understand what they were saying.

Argue

Why wouldn’t God use tongues today? They were a sign gift that passed away. They served to confirm the Gospel was to be to every nation under heaven.

God has given gifts to his church that are not sign gifts.

Every believer has a spiritual gift. Ephesians 4:7–8 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

God expects every believer to exercise their spiritual gift to the building up of their local church. Romans 12:4–5 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Some of the spiritual gifts are ministering, giving, pastor/teacher, exhortation, administration, and mercy.

Illustrate

The Corinthian church practiced tongues. But Paul elevated speaking in a known language that edifies the church as far more important than speaking in tongues for a long period of time. 1 Corinthians 14:19 “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

Apply

Take a spiritual gifts test.

Evaluate what you really enjoy doing to help and serve others. The answers are usually indicative of an area you are gifted.

God not only gave them the answer to their prayers, the Holy Spirit of promise, but enabled them with boldness to be the witness God wanted them to be.

3. God Favors all to hear in their own language.

Acts 2:5–13 “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

Explain

Devout Jewish men were at the feast out of every nation under heaven.

This refers to the Jewish Diaspora. The Jews were scattered all over the Roman Empire. The 16 nations mentioned are from throughout the Roman Empire.

The Jews still thought the Gospel was only for them. So the fact that they referenced “all nation under heaven” is reflective of possibly where the Jews had gone so far as to live and secondly is reflective of a cultural attitude that the Romans had as rulers of the world. Roman historians reveal this tendency.

Tongues were known human languages.

The gift of tongues that day was the ability to speak in a human language they had never learned. At least sixteen different languages with the possibilities of different dialects were spoken that day by the 120.

The content of what they were speaking glorified God. It caused those who understood them to glorify God.

There will always be some detractors to an obvious work of God: These men are full of new wine.

Argue

Illustrate

110   The loss of a soul! Christ knew what it meant. That is what brought Him from the bosom of the Father; that is what brought Him from the throne; that is what brought Him to Calvary. D. L. Moody Best Thoughts and Discourses of D. L. Moody (1876)

Dwight Lyman Moody (Evangelist)

AI is making it possible to witness across language barriers. Faith Bible Institute utilizes this technology so that they can share the Bible classes in 12 different languages.

Apply

God wants every person to hear the Gospel. Every Jew from 16 different nations heard the Gospel and praises to God in their mother tongue that day. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

We should seek to be able to share the Gospel in another language.

Are you willing to help foreign missionaries go to the field through faith promise giving or giving to missions.

Are you willing to learn another language so that you can tell others of Christ.

Giving the Gospel in the mother-tongue is a means of convincing those who do not Christ that this is not just a white-man’s religion or just for Americans. It is so important to God and I that I took the time to learn your language so you could understand it easily.

The detractors will always be there. It will be amazing how they deny the amazing work of God and attribute it to drunkeness or some other shamefulness.

Conclusion

The Power to witness was their for a shy school teacher as well as a bold D.L. Moody. My friend the power to witness is there for you as well. Take heart and fervently pray as the disciples for the power to be bold to be a witness for Christ.

God keeps his promises. He fits us for service, and calls all men to come to him in repentance.