God at Work

Acts 2:1-13

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.”

Introduction

Holidays are always fun. The family moves to this pinnacle event, with anticipation and with preparation. Then the day of the event arrives, it is fun-filled, there is family there, there is a celebratory atmosphere ‘It’s a celebration’. Then the day is over as my mom used to say ‘Welp that is Christmas’ or ‘Welp that is Thanksgiving’ and as much as you want to stay at that place, stuff goes on. There is a next day, a day after that, a day after that.

Well sometimes I think believers think like that about God. They think that once Easter hits, we celebrate and that’s it. Well we know that is not the case. Because even afterward we know that:

God the Father did not stop working the following days

Jesus did not sit down at the Right Hand of the Father and put His feet up and say ‘I’m Good’ after His Resurrection

The Holy Spirit did not say I have given enough life, there is nothing else for me to do, ‘I am done’.

We are looking at the continued works of the Triune God. God is still at work, Jesus is still at work the Holy Spirit is still at work. What happens afterward we see some of that as we look at the book of Acts.

God is Faithful

Acts 2:1 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

Pentecost

Pentecost a Jewish Feast (Leviticus 23:15-16)

Leviticus 23:15–16 ESV

15 “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.

Called the Feast of Weeks by the Jews

50 Days after the Sabbath of the Passover

One of 3 pilgrimage feasts

First of two Harvest Feasts

All Together

Jesus told the Disciples ...

who was Coming (Acts 1:4-5)

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

what would happen (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.”

At Work

The Triune God at Work

Jesus Working (Acts 1:1-2)

Acts 1:1–2 ESV

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

Father's Provision (Eze 36:26-27, John 14:16-17, Luke 24:49)

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.

John 14:16–17 ESV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Luke 24:49 ESV

49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Holy Spirit Working (Acts 1:8, Eph 1:13)

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.”

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Takeaway

This is God's Plan (Sovereignty)

God's Deserves Obedience (Holy)

God does what He says (Faithful and Righteous)

God Performs Miracles

Acts 2:2–4 ESV

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.

The Sound

Happened Suddenly (Acts 1:3)

Acts 1:3 ESV

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Came from Heaven

Like a Mighty Rushing Wind

Filled the Entire House

Divided Tongues

As of Fire

Rested on Each One of Them

The Disciples

Filled with the Holy Spirit

πίμπλημι - ① to cause to be completely full, fill, fulfill; β. of a pers. inner life

Speak in Other Tongues

γλῶσσα - ② a body of words and systems that makes up a distinctive language, language, tongue; ⓐ of the language itself

Spirit Gave Utterance

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 813.

Takeaway

Miracle From God (Omnipotence)

Filling by the Holy Spirit (Omnipresence)

Utterance by God (Omniscience)

God is Unifying

Acts 2:5–13 ESV

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.”

Came Together (Acts 2:5-8)

The Nations (Acts 2:9-11)

God is Pouring out the Spirit (Acts 2:16-18)

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.

God is Universally Presenting the Gospel (Acts 2:23-24)

Acts 2:23–24 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

God is Inaugurating His Church (Acts 2:41)

Acts 2:41 ESV

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

Takeaway

The Gospel Still Works

The Holy Spirit Still Fills

The Church is Still Jesus'

Conclusion

God is immutable (unchanging), as He was, He will always be. Pentecost signalled the baptism of the Holy Spirit on those who believe in Jesus. Although not in the same means (no tongues, no sound, no seeing divided tongues) we are still indwelled by the Holy Spirit and empowered to share the Gospel today.

So when Jesus’ resurrection was complete, God, the Triune God, is still at work, even today. Let’s live, witness and evangelize with that in mind.