Holy Spirit

Luke 24:45-49

The New King James Version Chapter 24

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

The Ascension

Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9

49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Jesus promises that He will send the Holy Spirit, and He asks His disciples to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit comes. He says that when this happens, they will be “clothed with power from on high.”

We all know when we are clothed and when we are not. The Greek here literally means “to be clothed.” This indicates that we will have the Holy Spirit covering us, protecting us, making us look good, empowering us. Just like we would not go anywhere without our clothing, so as Christians we should not go anywhere without the Holy Spirit covering us.

Without the Spirit, we are incomplete and unprepared for public ministry, but with Him, we are able to witness “to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (verse 47).

Again we see this promise made by Jesus in Acts 1:7-8.

The New King James Version Chapter 1

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

At this time, Jesus was leaving His disciples and ascending into heaven. In His last words He again says to them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Note that here again the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is referred to as including the gift of power for witness.

The Holy Spirit Baptism

What was the waiting period like?

One can only imagine what it was actually like to wait for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. For one thing, the disciples did not know how long they would have to wait. (Fifty days from Easter and ten days from the day Jesus ascended into heaven.) Did some of them, like impetuous Peter, perhaps , want to go on out and start preaching? What was it really like to spend days, not just hours, in a long prayer meeting? They did not even know how long they would have to wait. Did some of them get tired and go home, missing the Baptism in the Holy Spirit when it finally arrived days later? If I called you to an indefinite prayer meeting that ended up lasting ten days, would you wait and hold in there? Those who were willing to wait and tarry in the presence of the Lord ultimately were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Characteristics of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)

The New King James Version Chapter 2

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When the Holy Spirit arrived, He did not do so quietly. Talk about The power of a great wind. Talk about the tornado at Fort Hood, TX. A mighty wind blows away so many things that are not tacked down. Likewise, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit removes things out our lives which do not belong there, making room for the fullness of the power of God!

Talk about the fire and what that must have looked like and Refiners in people in the people. It was like a blast from heaven. God wants to set us on fire so we are bold to proclaim the good news and step out in faith to heal and change people’s lives.

Pentecost did not entail a slight breeze blowing back the curtains, nor was it a tiny little flame, but rather a licking blaze. Something powerful and distinctive happened when these people were baptized in the Holy Spirit!

The Results of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:5-12)

The New King James Version Chapter 2

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

Speaking in tongues allowed witness to take place because those who were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost were able to hear the good news preached in their own language. It was an incredible sign!

Furthermore, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit provided Peter with the ability to preach in a mighty way (Acts 2: 14-40).

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

21 And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord

Shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,

For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

He was bold to proclaim the good news. From this one sermon preached with the power of the Holy Spirit all over him, about 3,000 were saved and baptized in that one day alone!

The Power of the Holy Spirit Results in Signs and Wonders

Acts contains many more verses which indicate the distinct link between the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and power to witness and work in signs and wonders that effectually draw hundreds of people to God.

In fact, in Acts 2:22 Peter talks about Jesus being “accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” Universities and colleges go through a lot of trouble to be accredited by their regional accrediting associations, and here Peter points out that Jesus Himself was accredited by no less than God Himself! Furthermore, this accreditation was obvious because of the miracles, signs and wonders Jesus accomplished through the power of God. Being clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit is an act of accreditation!

Acts 3:1-10

The New King James Version Chapter 3

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Note how it happened. Bring the story alive…..how the crippled beggar was expecting only money but he got something far better. Discuss how the Sanhedrin didn’t know what to do with Peter and John. They wanted them to stop preaching and ordered them to do so.Today we might say, “Sure, whatever you say” and after they stopped berating us, we would probably tone it down a bit. But note what Peter and John said in Acts 4:19-20: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”Basically, they shrugged their shoulders and said, “Sorry, we can’t help it! We have to keep speaking about this. We will, because we just can’t keep quiet.” Surely the Sanhedrin was thinking, Well, of course, you can. Just keep your mouths shut. But when we are clothed with power from on high, we literally can’t keep our mouths shut. We will speak about it! We just can’t help it!Note that in Acts 4:13 it states, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” God uses ordinary people to accomplish His work. He makes them bold and uses them to demonstrate His power and grace.

Application to us

This message is for Scobey Assembly and all people. What does it mean for us? How can we be more effective in witness? God does not expect them to witness and do signs and wonders on our own. He wants to clothe us in the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants to set us on fire.

Call the people to the altars to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and be “clothed with power from on high.”