The Holy Spirit Door

Acts 2:14–41 NIV

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Introduction: 6 different Gospels today (Article), but what is the Gospel the Early Church preached?

35-What is the Gospel?

1. Today we’re going to start a series called “Proclaim,” looking at some of the many public proclamations made by the early church, found in the book of Acts. Though different, these proclamations all had a central point in common: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. And all of them, if applied to the life of the hearer, could have a profound effect on their daily life and their relationship with God and with the world.

1. The first proclamation we’re looking at today is right at the start of Acts. It is Peter’s famous first sermon of the church, found in Acts 2, delivered on Pentecost. “Described in Leviticus 23, The Feast of Weeks is the second of the three ‘solemn feasts’ that all Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem to attend (Exodus 23:14–17; 34:22–23; Deuteronomy 16:16). This important feast gets its name from the fact that it starts seven full weeks, or exactly 50 days, after the Feast of Firstfruits. Since it takes place exactly 50 days after the previous feast, this feast is also known as ‘Pentecost’ (Acts 2:1), which means ‘fifty’” (“What Is the Feast of Weeks?,” Got Questions?, https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Weeks.html). Because this was a pilgrimage festival, when Peter spoke, he was addressing people from all over the Roman Empire (Acts 2:5). - May 23rd.

1. And the good news is that the story of Jesus isn’t a fairy tale. It isn’t a made-up story about someone whom we wished had lived, or an allegory for how we should live; he was a real person. He was born, he lived, and he was crucified and rose from the dead. That’s the next appeal Peter makes: to the historicity of Jesus. This is found in Acts 2:23–24, 32–33. He was handed over, was killed, was raised up—and we have seen it. The proclamation of the gospel is rooted in a firm point in history. It isn’t something we vaguely suggest may have occurred at some point in time: it happened outside of Jerusalem, when Pontius Pilate was governor and Rome was in charge of the known world. It really happened, and Peter makes that point clear. Why does this matter? What difference does it make if the crucifixion and resurrection are grounded in history? One reason it matters is this: it shows us that God cares about our world enough to enter into it, and he chose a certain time and place to do so.

Time Vink -

36-My seeing the 6/7 hinges of history as windows (accept Jesus' death), instead of doorways.

37-Have a slide that shows the 6/7 doorways and one which has someone looking into one of the windows of 5/6 windows & 1 door (Jesus' death).

What is the Hinge of Pentecost?

38-The Holy Spirit is a Door into the Gospel.

Please Note that now that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit, and we should be expectant that the Holy Spirit would be working among us. The Holy Spirit has stepped up his game since Jesus ascended. He has not ceased doing these things in the Joel passage.

From "Your Will Be Done." Tim Vink. & Explore South Blendon Class.

CHURCH & OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BY JESUS…”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.” (Acts 1:8)

* The Holy Spirit is given by Jesus to empower and guide believers to grow in faith, develop Christ-like character, and bless the world in Jesus’ name.

When people see believers doing things like Jesus by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the ask about it. That is an open door to explain the Gospel

* The Church is sent by the Spirit to proclaim and live the Good News before all creation.

Notice it is the Resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that emboldens the Disciples to speak. When people see us being bold, they may question that. That is a door that is being opened.

* The saving presence of God is in the world now, through the third person of the Trinity, in the born-again saints, to counteract the absence of God (sin) (John 14:16).

Thom Foisy coming to Christ. - Talked to him and his wife about what they believed, not a believer. Friends of Cindy and I, a couple of years later I find out that he was a Christian. He didn't exactly know what changed why all of a sudden he wanted to follow Christ but he did. He asked me how that can happen. - I explain the what Jesus says about new birth and the Spirit's work in that.

* The fruit and gifts of the Spirit for ministry formation (sanctification) continue and overflow (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

People may wonder, why do you serve so much, why do you do this when they see you using your spiritual gifts and that is a door that is being opened to the Gospel.

* The authority of Scripture rests in the agency of the third person of the Trinity (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:16-21).

Prophecy is speaking forth, not just speaking the future. Sometimes it is, but when The Spirit does not contradict scripture, and will call us to walk according to it, and empower us to do so. Or sometimes situationally the Spirit will ask us to do something a normal person would not. People notice and may ask. This is a door way into the Gospel.

39-Helping People Walk Through the Holy Spirit Door.

- God Guides

40-Application:

Wait…be still…listen

Write down what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Obey

Share Holy Ghost Stories.

41-Walk in the Spirit - This should be a daily pray for ourselves that we would be empowered by the Spirit. To Listen to the Spirit, to do what the Spirit says, to submit to the Spirit for Character Development, and to Serve according to the Spiritual Gifts the Spirit has and is developing in you.

Tell Holy Ghost Stories - Why we do Holy Ghost Stories? a number of reasons 1) to encourage each other, and 2) to train ourselves to look for the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. 3) to build the confidence to share what the Holy Spirit is doing so we can help others recognize the Holy Spirit's work. finally 4) So when someone who is not a believer sees the Holy Spirit at work you can help them walk into this door and explain the Gospel to them.

Share what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life, and how you received the Holy Spirit by sharing the entire Gospel. - Atheist Baseball Player - Explaining what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit - “You mean you are posessed?”

Or maybe they see the Holy Spirit do something inexplainable, and you can take them to scripture about how the Holy Spirit has worked in the past and can work today.

Conclusion:

Cindy praying in the power of the Holy Spirit in Uganda with a Lady.