Spirit Filled

Introduction:

Last week Bro. Brian preached a wonderful message on the ending of the Gospel of John, but we know from the gospel of Matthew and the book of Acts that this was not the last time the disciples would see Jesus. In the moments before he ascended to heaven, Christ spoke to his followers and gave them his last command:

“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.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

The great mission of all disciples of Jesus is to be his witnesses in all the ends of the earth. God’s calling for His church is to bring the good news concerning Christ to all peoples in all nations. Through his life, death, and resurrection; Christ has payed the price for our sins, defeated the powers of sin and death, and freed us from sin’s bondage so that we might once again live with God in perfect peace.

Notice, however, that the followers of Jesus did not have the power to do this in their own strength. Instead they were told that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”.  Then and only then could they truly fulfill the call of witnesses. I know many brothers and sisters here today may feel uneasy about stepping up in faith and doing the work of a witness. Like the men and women we will read about today, you are not able in and of yourself, but the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life not only equips you with all you need, but He also empowers you to go.

As these followers eagerly awaited for God to move among them, we see that they devoted themselves to loving one another and to prayer:

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 1:14 ESV

I hope that as we gather this morning we too can celebrate the finished work of Christ, that we would devote ourselves to one another and to prayer, and that God would pour out his Holy Spirit on us so that through us many would come to know new life in Christ as our Savior and Lord.

However, none of this is possible without the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. Because of this, we need to first examine what it means to be “Spirit Filled Believers.”

Spirit Filled Believers (2:1-12)

It is easy to forget that being filled with the Holy Spirit is a privilege that not all believers in all times got to experience. In the days of the Old Testament, God’s presence would dwell with his people, but there was always a sense of distance and separation that could not be breached. During the days of Moses and Joshua the Lord’s presence was symbolized by a cloud in the day and a fire at night which guided the people in the wilderness. When the people were at rest, the presence of God would dwell in the tabernacle tent at the center of camp, but only the set apart priesthood could enter this place to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people.

Eventually the people of God would enter the land of promise and during the reign of Solomon, God allowed for a permanent dwelling place to be built where His Holy presence could dwell among his people. This place was the Temple of the Lord. It was a constant reminder of God’s presence among His people, as well as a reminder of God’s holiness and the walls of separation between God and Man. For once again, no one could enter the Holy of Holies except the High Priest, and even then he could do so only to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.

Listen to how God’s word describes the dedication of the Old Testament Temple of God:

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire descended from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple.  ² The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s Temple.  ³ When all of the Israelis saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord resting on the Temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshipped, and gave thanks to the Lord, “Because he is good; because his gracious love is eternal.”

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 ESV

The Temple was dedicated through prayer, then the Lord’s presence came down as a fire that consumed their offerings and the glory of the Lord filled the temple so that even the priests could not enter. The glory of God was so great that sinful man could not stand in His presence. The result was an overflowing of worship among the people!

Now look to our passage today in Acts 2, and we see a similar (though far greater) work occurring among the earliest believers:

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.

Acts 2:1-4 ESV

Once again God’s presence moved upon a praying people. Once again fire and rushing wind filled the place where they were, but there was no sacrifice to consume. Instead the fire rested upon each of the believers. Once again God’s glory filled His temple, but this was not a temple of stone but one of flesh and blood. The division between God and man had been breached by the sacrifice of Christ. Victory had been won on our behalf at his resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God the Father. The veil of separation between God and man had been torn, and the Church was born.

Unlike the days of Israel, this new people of God would be a people of every tribe and every tongue:

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?”

Acts 2:5-12 ESV

“What does this mean?” No doubt this was a miraculous sign, a miracle by which those of many nations who had gathered in Jerusalem might hear the good news of Christ, but I believe this is also a foreshadowing of great things to come. The prophet Isaiah not only wrote of a coming Messiah who would die for the sins of the world, but also of a great gathering of peoples from all nations and tongues, who would experience the glory of God as a result of the testimony of the church.

The LORD has bared his holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:10

“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.

Isaiah 66:18-22 ESV

Brothers and sisters, we are living in these days!  The gospel has been going forth, and is going forth into all nations. Let’s take a moment just to realize how miraculous it is that we are gathered here today. If you were to draw a straight line from Vicksburg to Jerusalem, you would have to travel around 6,800 miles. For the good news to reach us here and now, it had to be translated and transported by people who risked their lives to take the good news of salvation to a lost and dying world. It was spread from village to village and from home to home by believers who were radically transformed by the gospel, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, were able to shine the light of the gospel into the darkness of their world.

Though, as we will see, some who were witnesses to the first disciples were quick to dismiss this message of hope. It is for those who are heard of heart that we need to be marked by a spirit filled witness.

Spirit Filled Preaching (2:13-36)

¹³ But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”  ¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 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. ¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; ²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day .²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Acts 2:13-21 ESV

The first critics of the newly formed church accused the believers of being drunkards, but Peter first quotes from Joel 2:28-32, arguing that this commotion had nothing to do with intoxication but was rather that a prophecy was beginning to see its fulfillment right in their midst!

I don’t want to bore you with Hebrew grammar, but in this passage in Joel there are actually three prophecies made, each one beginning with an inclusio verbal parenthesis which was used to separate units of discourse.  I only mention this because both Joel and Peter understood that this was an ongoing prophecy that would be fulfilled over time. Peter is going to argue that the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and the coming of Holy Spirit is the beginning of a new age. This age began with the disciples in that upper room, is continuing to unfold even up to this day, and will culminate with the triumphant return of Christ in the last day.

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

The pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit equips us with the power and the ability to fulfill the task God has called us to perform. This is not any one type of person but on all types of people of all flesh. Men and Women, Jew and Gentile, Rich and Poor… the Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons. Even here in acts, it was not just the apostles who received power from the Holy Spirit, it was everyone in the room which included all the believers in the upper room.

In the times of the Old Testament, we only saw the Holy Spirit empowering special people for special service. If the Holy Spirit was upon you, then you had been called to a special task in the Lord’s service.  But here, at Pentecost, we see that the Holy Spirit was falling upon all of the church. The power of the Holy Spirit was made available to all believers who placed their faith and trust in Christ.

We still make the mistake of thinking that ministry is the work of a select few, but listen to how Paul describes the role of church leadership:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds and Teachers; these are those who we might consider to have special gifts and callings from the Lord, but notice that God gave them to His Church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.”

Who are the saints? Each and every one of us who has placed their faith in Christ. Each of us is called and commissioned by God to do the work of ministry. Do not think that just because someone is more gifted than you, or someone has more experience than you, or because someone is better trained than you that you can or should opt out of the work of ministry.  The work of ministry can take on many forms but at the heart of it is the same mission. We bring people to Jesus and help them follow Jesus. That’s the mission. That’s my mission and your mission. And it is a wonderful mission.

“everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”

This is another way to say that everyone who seeks salvation in the Lord will find it. God turns no one away who comes to him with a repentant heart. The Holy Spirit empowers us, equips us, and commands us to call all who will come into this wonderful saving love of God. What began at Pentecost, is still happening even in this moment.

Listen to the rest of Peter’s message to the crowd:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 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. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; ²⁶ therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope ²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption ²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’“

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.“

³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:22-36 ESV

David wrote these psalms as a prophet of the Lord, knowing that God would raise Christ from the dead to reign forever in fulfillment of God’s covenant promise with David. David spoke not of himself because, as Peter pointed out, David died and his body returned to the dust. But his descendant, who was both God and Man, would die for David’s sins as well as for the sins of the world, and though he was buried he would not be abandoned to the grave and to decay, but would instead raise three days later eternally triumphant over sin and death! He would ascend to the right hand of God and send forth the Holy Spirit unto his people.

This was Jesus the conquering king! Jesus the Lord and Christ who shed his blood to save the world. As Peter put it “this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Had Peter’s message ended on that note it would not have been “good news” at all. But thankfully God is not in the business of leaving us where he finds us. No, He redeems us and restores us so that we might live as Spirit Transformed Sinners.

Spirit Transformed Sinners (2:37-47)

³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “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 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Acts 2:37-40 ESV

Peter’s words were said to “cut to the heart.” It is no coincidence that the Holy Spirit is compared to a “sword” on numerous occasions in scripture. Like a surgeon’s scalpel, it cuts in order to heal. The Holy Spirit can present the gospel to us in such a way that cuts through our armor and our man-made defenses, and reaches deep to our heart of stone in order to heal us and give us a new heart of flesh. The gospel may leave a wound, but there is healing for those who will come to the great physician and be healed.

Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives us the same call that we extend today.

“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.”

Listen to this offer. To repent is merely to turn to God. As Isaiah recorded:

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

Isaiah 45:22

Turn away from your sin and turn to God. He alone is God, and He alone can save. He has done everything necessary to give you new life. He paid your price, he fulfilled your righteousness, he will wash you white as snow and cast your sin as far as the East is from the West.

The baptism that Peter calls us to, and which we still observe and still celebrate today whenever anyone repents and turns to God, is itself a public declaration that we who were dead in ours sins have been raised to new life in Christ. It is a new birth. A new beginning.

We are told that if we will repent we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence will dwell forever with us, and will equip us and empower us to bring even more into the saving love of God.

“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Do not overlook that this is a promise. The forgiveness or sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit is not a mere possibility, but a guarantee, for all that repent and come to the Lord with sincere hearts. But this is not a promise just for you, but also for your children. And this is not just for you and your children, buy it is for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord calls to himself.

Brothers and sisters that is us. We were the ones who were far off. Like the prodigal son we have strayed far, but the moment we turn back to the Father he runs to us and welcomes us home. He cleans us off, and celebrates the return of his lost child. God’s love for you is such that you could not overstate it. There is not a soul in this room or outside of this room who is too far for the Lord to reach. There is no sinner so wicked that the blood of Jesus could not make them as if they had never sinned.

In light of this amazing love, how should we then live?

⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:41-47 ESV

As the gospel was proclaimed the Lord added to their number day by day. What an amazing testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit. These believers were not only saved, they were also devoted. They devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles, what would later become the New Testament which we are reading from now. They devoted themselves to fellowship, meaning that they loved and served one another. They were not passive participants who came once a week to hear a message preached, they got involved in one another’s lives and spurred one another on to greater faithfulness. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and prayer. They shared not only meals together, but also the Lord’s Supper by which they reminded one another of the great sacrifice that brought them together, and they prayed together. They sought the Lord together and served the Lord together.

None of this is possible, however, until we repent of our sins and turn to the Lord to receive salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this morning you find yourself in need of repentance or needing to re-devote yourself to the church and her great commission to the world. If either of those describe you please feel free to approach me after the service and I will be happy to assist you in whatever ways I can. But my ultimate hope and prayer is that as we leave this place we feel equipped, encouraged, and empowered to fulfill Christ’s calling in our lives, whatever form that takes. May God bless you as you go.