Holy Spirit Transformation

Psalm 143:1-10

Psalm 143:1–10 NIV

1 Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. 7 Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Ezekiel 2:1–3:1 NIV

1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. 1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.”

Acts 2:1–13 NIV

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Sermon Introduction:

There is a day that comes to our children that we dread. It is called “puberty.” :-) It can seem like overnight our adoring, affectionate children become snarling, skulking preteens. Anyone who has raised a teenager will tell you it is a tough job. In fact, Mark Twain once said: “When a boy turns 13, put him in a barrel and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug up the hole.”

Those teenage years are tough. Self-confidence is low, yet a desire for independence is high. There is a battle going on within trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be.

It can feel like it happens over night, but it is a process. However, the change in our children can be like night and day. They can transform in a way that we feel we do know recognize them anymore. Sometimes that transformation is into a lovely young woman or a strong young man. Sometimes the transformation isn’t what we would hope and we see our young men and women struggling making poor choices to try to prove themselves and the results are devastating.

However, there is a transformation that can happen to all of us if we allow, that does bring an overnight transformation that is always for the good. It brings bold confidence of who we were created to be, complete peace regarding death, and an assurance of who we belong to and where we will spend eternity. It is the transformation of the Spirit when we allow Him final control of our lives.

I am going to read from Acts 2:14, taking off from where we left off earlier in the service.

Acts 2:14–21 NIV

14 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. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘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. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Pray

Sermon:

Peter is the subject of my sermon today, or more so, the work of the Holy Spirit within Peter. In the weeks past, we have found Peter to be a physically strong man. He seems to have the confidence that makes him a leader of men. It is something inbred in him, that men just naturally gravitate to. However, this did not mean that Peter’s confidence was in the right place or that he was a perfect man. Just the opposite. We find him impulsive and prone to act on his emotions. In one moment he pledges his full allegiance to Christ only to deny Christ a few hours later.

Peter was sincere in his pledge. In fact, he was the one to draw a sword and swing when the men came to arrest Jesus. But as I have shared before, it is easy to be brave in a moment of passion facing death than it is to quietly surrender when you know you are facing a death sentence.

When we last saw Peter, Jesus and he are having a heart-to-heart discussion in front of the other disciples. This had to be hard for Peter. A blow to his ego if you will. The elephant in the room, if you will, (of course, this room is outdoor around a campfire) is his denial of Christ three times while Jesus is standing before his accusers.

Despite Peter’s failure, God isn’t through with Peter. God has a plan for Peter and it is still what it always was, Peter is to head the church of Jesus Christ. As painful as it was for Jesus to address Peter before his peers, it is essential for them to understand that Jesus has not changed his mind on this subject. They needed to know that Jesus has forgiven Peter and intends for him to be their leader.

The next moment I want you to see, Peter is not distinguished from any of the other disciples, but it shows his mindset.

Jesus is on the mount preparing to leave. The eleven are with him. We find that they are still filled with doubt and seeking to know if Jesus is now ready to take up his throne in Rome. There is nothing to suggest that Peter feels any differently. The question reflects the mindset of them all.

But then something happens. Pentecost happens! What they had not understood or been sure about explodes around them and in them. Then we see a changed people. It happened to them all but we see it best demonstrated in Peter, the man we have become so acquainted with through the scriptures. This man who tried to keep a low profile during Jesus trial. This man who does not even seem to be present at the foot of the cross. This man who declared the love of a brother, but could not bring himself to the point of declaring the all encompassing love of agape love for Jesus, takes lead before the people of Jerusalem. And what does he declare.

With no hesitation or reservation, he declares the gospel of Jesus Christ before the crowd in Jerusalem. A crowd that would include some of who put Jesus on that cross and others who would quickly make haste to share with the Sanhedrin what has just occurred.

Can you imagine that moment? Everything in Jerusalem has gone back to the way it was. The Sanhedrin feels they have squelched the problem. Oh, it was an upset to hear that Jesus was being seen by various folks, but word has it He is now gone. They feel they have won and all will return to normal. But then, suddenly, a mass of people come flooding out of a house speaking in diverse languages and what are they declaring? The message of a risen Jesus!

You can imagine the different reactions in Jerusalem. A lot of people are curious about what is now happening? Amid the crowd, others are irate that the whole issue is coming up again and there in the middle are the eleven. The most prominent of Jesus followers. And in front is Peter. However, this Peter is not cowering or intimidated. He is bold and declares for all to hear, the truth of Jesus Christ.

No longer is He dependent on Christ to clarify scripture. now he has the Spirit of Christ indwelling him and giving him understanding. We see this as he lays open to the crowd scriptures they have all read, but never before understood. Words quoted from the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:17–18 NIV

17 “ ‘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. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

We often interpret that as being in the final days yet to come, but the truth is that we are not just now living in those last days. Those last days began when Jesus was raised from the dead. WE and the disciples of Jesus day are all part of those “last days.”

Not only is Peter declaring that the “last days” are come, but he is tearing down the cultural walls that have lived for centuries. The message is no longer declared by the Rabbi’s, but by all God’s people; sons and daughters, young and old, and even the servants. It is an equality that was never before distinguished in their day.

I am not going to take time on the rest of what he quoted from Joel, beyond saying that many tie this with the blood moons we see from time-to-time, one of which just recently happened. However, I believe this is more likely tied to what happens when massive fires cause smoke to rise that gives that blood moon appearance. The is a war coming that will cause such smoke to rise that the sun will be darkened and the moon turned read. So do not be mislead by those declaring that a Supermoon will signify God’s return.

Peter is noting that Pentecost is the beginning of all that Joel prophesied about. Peter has a new understanding about the scriptures he has read all his life.

But continue with me in Peter’s bold sermon before all Israel and we see further evidence of the new confidence and boldness of Peter.

Acts 2:22–24 NIV

22 “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. 23 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. 24 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.

Notice who Peter is addressing. There would be many Gentiles in Jerusalem, but Peter is addressing his kin, fellow Jews. They are the ones with the background to understand what he is talking about. They are also the very ones that could seek to impose death upon Peter as they had Jesus yet he boldly declares Jesus to be who He said He was. Peter shares how all Jesus miracles were evidence from God that He was the Christ. He then proclaims that God knowingly allowed Jesus to be put to death. And who put Jesus to death? Peter points his finger in their direction, yet his is not accusing them, but pointing it to be further evidence of the truth of Christ, verified by the evidence that He rose from the dead.

Here again, Peter uses scripture. He reveals another scripture that has seemed to not make sense and shows how it points to Jesus. It is a quote from King David.

Acts 2:25–32 NIV

25 David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 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. 31 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. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Peter declares that the resurrection that King David spoke of was not his own, but was the resurrection of the coming Messiah. This was a verse that had not made sense before, but now through the work of the Holy Spirit, Peter recalls it and understands it, declaring it to all his people in Jerusalem. It is further evidence of what has all taken place.

And then Peter wraps up his sermon before those in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:33–36 NIV

33 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. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter then points to what is happening among those with him, declaring that Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father and has sent His Spirit upon them and the result is what they are witnessing; people miraculously declaring the gospel of Christ in all languages.

Think about that a moment. This action of the Spirit is actually a reversal of curse upon the tower of Babel. At the tower of Babel, men wanted to assert themselves in the heavens as gods among God. God’s response was to divide them by setting upon them different languages making it difficult to communicate as it would only cause them to accel in their wickedness.

Now, God has removed the language barrier among His people so they could share the good news to all men and women; Jew and Gentile alike.

Peter quotes David further, noting that David could not have been speaking about himself sitting at the right hand of God, so David was prophetically speaking of his descendent who would do so; Jesus, God’s Son.

Then Peter declares, the very truth that Jesus was hung for; Jesus is God and Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! Insert drum roll here!

Now, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had changed in the course of minutes, yet he had no idea what the result would be of his sermon. However, the response was one that all pastor’s pray for. Look as we wrap up this passage.

Acts 2:37–41 NIV

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Peter declared the truth. The man who was humbled and a bit sulky around the campfire with Jesus, is now boldly declaring this truth to the very people who put Jesus on the cross, yet he did not condemn them, but instead offered them forgiveness and inclusion into the family of God, the very God whose Son they had hung on a cross.

We still live in a “corrupt generation.” If there is any illusion otherwise, just listen to the nightly news. People are still trying to stamp out the truth. They still are trying to shut those up who would declare this truth.

However, this should never stop us. You see, we can have the same boldness of Peter. The Spirit of Pentecost is still in our world today. He lives in many, but I fear the number who live without this fuller experience of the Spirit is greater than the number who live with it. Why? Because of fear! Where is the fear emanating from? Satan, sin, self-will. Each play a part. We are always afraid that if we allow God full control, His desires will clash with our desires. And so we yield only enough control so that we can say we believe. We yield only enough control so we can hopefully be safe from hell and yet still lead our life the way we decide. When we do, we short change ourselves. We never fully experience the full peace of God. We never fully experience the joy of living within the completeness of His Spirit. We never fully discover who we are and what we were created to do.

Now, this does not mean we are all meant to be a Peter. However, it does mean we all have a place of responsibility within the church.

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

We usually think it always means one of those listed in verse 11, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but the truth is the majority are those in verse 12 doing works of service. That service can be maintaining the church building, preparing meals, helping people in need, etc...

Each and everyone of those positions have a responsibility to share with those around us the good news of Jesus Christ. As we work, our passion for God and His Church is evident and it opens opportunities to share.

Dale has a class he started today to help give you experience in doing so. Can I share with you that when we are living filled with the Spirit, we do not need to make those opportunities happen, we just take advantage when they do happen.

Some people have the ability to just go up to strangers and start talking about Jesus Christ. Ann Kiemel was one of those. She wrote various books back in the 70’s. My dad used to read them to us kids as family devotional materials. She would just sit next to some stranger on a plane or bus and start talking to them about Jesus.

I can tell you, I cannot do that. I do not have that gift. What has worked for me is just loving people. Being concerned about the situations in their life and I find they start making comparisons between my life and their own and I can then share with them what makes my life different.

However, when we are filled with the Spirit, it is far easier. We have a passion to share and we should not be afraid of that. His Spirit fulfills in us, what God has already created us to be. So there is a satisfaction and a feeling of fulfilled purpose that we did not have before that day.

I am going to close our service with Communion today. As we do so, open your heart to hear what the Spirit would say to you today. How has God created and equipped you to serve in His church?

Communion

Pray

Blessing