Speaker: Pastor Neil Lindwall

Key Scripture (Acts 2:47): 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 1:6-8 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” 

Note: The Disciples Already Had received the Seal of the Holy Spirit:

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. They were told to Wait for the Promise, 

Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

Waiting On God Is Faith At Work.

Global Future: All Creation Waits and Groans For The Day When Everything Is Made Right, New and Holy. When Evil Is Done Away. Rom 8:18-39, Rev.

Local Reality: People In Our Sphere Of Influence Are Waiting Too. For: Something Real, Hope, Power To Overcome The Darkness, Truth, Love, Forgiveness, Redemption.

Acts 2:2-4 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.

At Pentecost Jews Spent 50 Days Counting & Remembering The Giving of the 10 Commandments Out of a Storm Theophany,. We’re Meant To Notice! God Is At Work!  

All God’s People Can Be Filled!

Acts 2:5-13 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.”

The Holy Spirit Is Extraordinary Not Goofy!

How Do We Test for Genuine Holy Spirit Activity?

Check The Message

• Does It Contradict or Confirm God’s Word? 
• Does It Reveal God Presence? 
• Does It Point People To Jesus? 

Inspect The Fruit

• Was It Orderly?
• Did It Distract From What God Was Already Doing? 
• What Did It Spur On? 
• Was There A Miracle?
• Did It Build Others Up?   
• Who Got Glory? 

Acts 2:14-24 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.’ 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. 

Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter Was Filled with Boldness! Supernatural Insight! Word-Wisdom! He Was Motivated to Proclaim the Truth of Christ and He Was Just Getting Started.

Acts 2:37-41 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.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

At The giving of The Law The People Had Went Into Idolatry and 3,000 Were Killed.

Exodus 32:28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.

At Pentecost People Entered Into Obedience and 3,000 Were Filled!

Notice the Disciples Went From:

WAITING & PRAYING To WITNESSING with POWER

A Church Full of the Holy Spirit Is a Church Focused On Mission.

Acts 2:42-47 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.

Be Willing For God’s Filling. 

A WORLD AT IT’S WORST NEEDS A CHURCH AT IT’S BEST!

A Church At Its Best Is A Church Filled With God’s Best.

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Imagine:

A Church Filled With and Led by The Holy Spirit, Empowered To Do His Will. We Loved, Shared, Served, Worshipped, Prayed, Witnessed, Studied and Grew Together. We’d Be Weird, Not Crazy. Holy Not Worldly. Fruitful Not Spiteful. God Would Be Lifted High and He’d Add Daily To His Church!