sf834 - THE ADVENT OF THE SPIRIT - 2 of 9 THE POWER OF PENTECOST(Acts 2 1-8)
Acts 2:1-8
Introduction
Historical context
Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-ff)
Ø Followed Passover by 50 days
Ø Celebrated for 1500 years
Ø Grain made into two loaves
Ø 10 animals sacrificed (7 lambs, 1 bull & 2 rams)
Ø The Loaves represent the church - Jew and Gentile
Ø The oil in the bread represents the Holy Spirit
Ø Ten is the number of completion & the blood shed represents the completed work of Christ.
Theological context
The word “Advent” means coming. When we speak of the advent of the Holy Spirit we must remember that He is the eternal Spirit of the living God. There was never a time when the Holy Spirit was not at work in all His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. In this sense, the Spirit of God had permeated every age and influenced every generation, right up to the very day of Pentecost.
Having conceded this, however, we have every scriptural justification for stating that something new and unique happened at Pentecost. From then on, the Spirit took up His residence here on earth.
He became a dominant reality in the life of the early church. Augustine calls Pentecost “the birthday of the Spirit.” Thus, just as Jesus existed before He lay in the cradle at Bethlehem, so the Holy Spirit, coeternal with the Father and the Son, became incarnate in the church on the day of Pentecost. That is what we mean when we speak of the advent of the Spirit.
Three truths we can learn about the Holy Spirit’s Advent.
1A. The Timing of the Spirit’s Advent (2:1)
Before the Holy Spirit could come at Pentecost:
1B. Jesus Must Be Crucified
John 16:7 (NKJV) 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Ø That “going away” meant nothing less than Calvary.
Ø Before the Holy Spirit could come historically or personally, the sin question had to be dealt with.
2B. Jesus Must Be Glorified
John 7:38-39 (NKJV) 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Historically following the ascension
Acts 2:32-33 (NKJV) 32This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33Therefore 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.
Experientially in each believer
Ø Jesus is glorified in our lives when He is made Lord of all.
Ø Then, and only then, does the Spirit fill us and flow through us to others.
Acts 5:32 (NKJV) 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
2A. The Meaning of the Spirit’s Advent (2-4)
God employs the symbols of wind, fire and tongues. While these outward phenomena of the Spirit’s advent passed away with the day of Pentecost, the essential lesson abides forever.
Three comprehensive ministries of the Holy Spirit are suggested by the wind, fire and speaking with other tongues:
1B. The Ministry of Regeneration (2)
Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV) 4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Invisible
John 3:8 (NKJV) 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Irresistible
Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV) 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 9:15 (NKJV) 15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Indispensable
John 6:65 (NKJV) 65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
2B. The Ministry of Purification (3)
Fire burns – God’s judgement on our sin.
Isaiah 4:3-4 (NKJV) 3And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,
Fire purges – God cleansing us of our sin
Isaiah 6:6-8 (NKJV) 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
3B. The Ministry of Communication (4; 6-8, 11)
They spoke in understandable languages (6-8)
The gift of tongues was given as a sign of God’s judgement on the unbelieving Jews.
1 Corinthians 14:21 (NKJV) 21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
The gift of tongues was as a means of evangelizing the lost.
1 Corinthians 14:22 (NKJV) 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
3A. The Blessing of the Spirit’s Advent (41)
1B. There was the Blessing of Revival in the Church (4)
They witnessed boldly (4-13)
Ø The same men that could not convince Thomas now were converting a city.
They worshipped freely (42-45)
2B. There was the Blessing of Repentance in the World (36-41)
The result of the coming of the Holy Spirit was the conversion of the lost.
Application
The timing of the Holy Spirit in your life…
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life…
Regeneration - wind
Purification - fire
Communication - tongues
The blessing of the Holy Spirit in your life
Revival
Salvation
THE ADVENT OF THE SPIRIT
The Power of Pentecost – Part 2 of 9
May 23, 1999 - Acts 2:1-8
1A. The _______________ of the Spirit’s Advent (2:1)
1B. Jesus Must Be _____________________
John 16:7 (NKJV) 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
2B. Jesus Must Be ______________________
John 7:38-39 (NKJV) 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
________________________ following the ascension
Acts 2:32-33 (NKJV) 32This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33Therefore 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.
Experientially in each believer
Acts 5:32 (NKJV) 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
2A. The _______________ of the Spirit’s Advent (2-4)
1B. The Ministry of Regeneration (2)
Titus 3:4-7
___________________________
John 3:8
Irresistible
Romans 8:29-30
Indispensable
John 6:65
2B. The Ministry of Purification (3)
Fire _______________ – God’s judgement on our sin.
Isaiah 4:3-4
Fire purges – God cleansing us of our sin
Isaiah 6:6-8
3B. The Ministry of __________________ (4; 6-8, 11)
They spoke in ___________________ languages (6-8)
The gift of tongues was given as a _______________ of God’s judgement on the unbelieving Jews.
1 Corinthians 14:21 (NKJV) 21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
The gift of was as a means of evangelizing the lost.
1 Corinthians 14:22 (NKJV) 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
3A. The Blessing of the Spirit’s Advent (41)
1B. There was the Blessing of ___________________ in the Church (4)
They ________________________ boldly (4-13)
They ________________________ freely (42-45)
2B. There was the Blessing of ___________________ in the World (36-41)