The Father's Promise

The Father’s Promise

Text: Acts 2:1-13 (NIV)

1When 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 tonguesa 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 them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own 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.b”

[1]

I.        Introduction:

II.      The Promise Sent: The Mighty Coming of the Holy Spirit

A.      The Set Time

1.       A Special Day

2.       A Special Gathering

B.      The Sudden Arrival

1.       Audio Signal: Wind of the Spirit

2.       Visual Symbol: Fire of the Spirit

C.      The Spiritual Experience

1.       Spirit Filled

2.       Spirit Enabled

III.   The Promise Spread: The Miraculous Communication of the Holy Spirit

A.      The Wonder of the Communication

1.       Drawing a Crowd

2.       Resulting in Amazement

3.        Creating Questions

B.      The Outreach of the Communication

1.       The Origin: The Disciples

2.       The Object: The Dispersion

C.      The Content of the Communication

1.       Speaking of the Wonders of God

2.       Speaking in the Languages of Men

D.      The Perception of the Communication

1.       A Search for Meaning

2.       An Expression of  Mockery

IV.    Conclusion:

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a Or languages; also in verse 11

b Or sweet wine

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.