Same God: A Journey through Scripture Week 5

Acts 2:1–18 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 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. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘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; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Introduction: The Promise That Wouldn't Let Go

Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1

Opening

Throughout this series we've watched the same God at work.

With Jacob.

With Moses.

With David.

With Mary.

But Acts 2 is the hinge of redemptive history.

God doesn't simply come near anymore.

He moves in.

Explain "Spirit"

= wind, breath, spirit. Ruach

= wind, breath, spirit. Pneuma

The Spirit is God's invisible presence that produces visible results.

Set the Scene

Four hundred years of prophetic silence.

Jesus promises the Spirit (Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jerusalem filled with pilgrims for Pentecost.

Everything is waiting for this moment.

Transition

Acts 2 isn't merely the birth of the church.

It is the fulfillment of God's promise to dwell within His people.

I. God Promised to Fill His People

Acts 2:16–18 ESV

16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘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; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Peter explains Pentecost through Joel.

God promised:

"I will pour out My Spirit."

"I will write My law on their hearts." "I will put My Spirit within you."

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Truth

Throughout the Old Testament...

God's Spirit came upon selected people.

Under the New Covenant...

God's Spirit comes to every believer.

God promised not merely better rules—

He promised His very presence.

Application

The Holy Spirit isn't for spiritual professionals.

If you belong to Christ...

God has given Himself to you.

II. God Fulfilled That Promise at Pentecost

Acts 2:1–13 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Luke records three signs.

A. Wind

The Spirit gives life.

Dead things live when God's breath comes.

B. Fire

Fire represents God's holy presence.

God's glory no longer fills only the temple.

Now it fills people.

C. Languages

Pentecost reverses Babel.

Sin scattered.

The gospel gathers.

The Spirit empowers God's mission to every nation.

Key Truth

The greatest miracle wasn't the wind.

The greatest miracle wasn't the fire.

The greatest miracle wasn't the languages.

The greatest miracle was that God moved in.

Application

Every believer is now God's temple.

God doesn't simply visit.

He dwells.

III. God Lives in Every Believer

Romans 8:9–11 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Paul explains what Pentecost means personally.

Three realities

1. The Spirit Dwells

Not a visitor.

A resident.

He lives in us.

2. The Spirit Identifies

Anyone who belongs to Christ has the Spirit.

The Spirit is not reserved for elite Christians.

He is God's gift to every believer.

3. The Spirit Empowers

The same Spirit who raised Jesus...

Lives in us.

His power is available for:

holiness

endurance

courage

witness

Illustration

baking it a skill

Israel had the recipe.

The church has the Baker.

The law showed what righteousness looked like.

The Spirit produces righteousness from within.

Application

Stop living like you're alone.

The resurrection power of God lives in you.

IV. Live Like God Lives in You

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Every believer possesses the Spirit.

Every believer is commanded to be continually filled.

Being filled isn't getting more of the Spirit.

It's the Spirit having more of us.

Ex: Driving lessons

Three Responses

Acknowledge Him

Walk in awareness of His presence.

Pray continually.

Yield to Him

Surrender control.

Let Him produce His fruit.

Rely on Him

The Spirit wasn't given merely for comfort.

He was given for witness.

God fills us so He can send us.

Conclusion: God Moved In

The God who hovered over creation...

The God who filled the tabernacle...

The God who filled the temple...

The God who filled the upper room...

Now fills His people.

Church...

The greatest miracle of Pentecost wasn't wind.

It wasn't fire.

It wasn't even tongues.

It was that God moved in.

So tomorrow morning...

You won't face temptation alone.

You won't suffer alone.

You won't serve alone.

You won't witness alone.

Because the God who once walked with His people...

Now lives within His people.

Same God.

Same Spirit.

Same Power.

Now go live like God lives in you.