Encountering Gods People

What God’s people do

Bible Passage: Acts 1-2

Summary: Acts 2 describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, where the early church experiences a profound encounter with God that results in unity, empowerment, and the spread of the Gospel.

Application: This passage encourages Christians to seek genuine encounters with God and His community, reminding them of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and the importance of unity within the church.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that encountering God's people is not merely about fellowship but experiencing the Holy Spirit's presence, which empowers believers for mission and fosters deep spiritual connections.

How this passage point’s to Christ: In Acts 2, Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, who empowers His church to continue His mission on earth; this theme echoes throughout Scripture, pointing to Christ as the source of unity and empowerment.

Big Idea: Genuine encounters with God’s people through the Holy Spirit bring transformation, empowerment, revival, daily encounters, and a unified mission to spread the Gospel.

1. Gods People Posture

Acts 1:4 “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;”

Jesus instructed his people to wait.

The conclusion of Luke indicates that 500 people saw the risen Jesus. Yet after the ascension, only 120 remained in the upper Room.

Obedience brings forth outpouring.

Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”

They postured themselves in obedience according to what Jesus had commanded.

2. Gods people pray

Acts 1:14 “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

They returned to Jerusalem, and devoted themselves to prayer.

They walked in Unity, in one accord

(Honda joke)

3. God’s people press in

Acts 1:15 “In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,”

Only 120 remained from the initial 500.

The 120 people were devoted to following Christ in all his commands.

You cannot chose your supernatural encounter, but you can choose your daily encounter.

360 people fell aside. Did they have something more important?

Did they perhaps get distracted?

What could possibly have separated them from the instructions of Jesus?

4. God’s People Empowered

Acts 2:1–4 “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.”

Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house

The entire house was filled

Tongues of fire rested on each of them

They began to speak in other tongues and utterances

The filling of the Holy Spirit is to

Empower Believers to be a bold witness to Christ

Bring to memory all that Christ has commanded

Reveal the nature of God to believers

Intercede for the believer

Indwell the believer

Bring Conviction

Sanctify the believer

Edify the believer by praying in their heavenly language.

Bring about Fruit

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

The Holy Spirit also has gifts

Eph 4 APEST

Rom 12 Prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, Mercy.

1 Cor 12

Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues & Interpretation

Your gifts are not for you, they are for edifying the Body. Eph 4

5. God’s people prevail

Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

The transformative response of the people to Peter's call to repentance and the subsequent growth of the early church.

Three thousand people were saved on the day of Pentecost from God’s people walking in the fullness of the Spirit.

They were Postured, Prayed up, Pressing in, Empowered, and prevailed.

This is how Revival starts, this is where a move of God begins.

This is what God’s people do, and what it looks like the the world encounters them.

I have been in and around the church for my entire life. I have served in varying roles, in varying places, to varying extents.

The church has far too long been removed from truly pursuing encounters with God.

They look like the disciples in Mark 14:37–38

“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””

The three who were taken into the garden were Peter, James, John

The inner three

The Rock and the Sons of Thunder

These three alone saw Jesus heal Jairus’s daughter from the dead.

These three saw Jesus transfigured

Knowing the power of Christ, knowing the glory of Christ, while he was praying and they were instructed to pray and keep watch, they slept.

It is time for the Church to rise up in power as in Acts 2. Filed with the Spirit, filled with Zeal.

Postured, Praying, Pressing in, Empowered, and they will prevail.

Altar

Do you feel that you have been like the three? asleep?

Do you crave revival? is there something burning in you that is hungry for a move of God?

Do you want to be filled with the Spirit?