THE DAY OF PENTECOST
Acts 2:1-4
GETTING STARTED:
- Think about what obedience on the part of the followers of Jesus led them to on this great day. They are in the right place at the right time to receive a powerful and amazing experience in the Holy Spirit. Obedience is the key.
- The feast of weeks (a week of weeks) is also known as the feast of Pentecost. Pente is the root word for 50. So on the 50th day after Passover – or after the passing of 7 weeks – there was the major feast of Pentecost. This major feast explains why Jerusalem was filled with Jews from every nation.
1. THE PROMISE IS FULFILLED. Acts 2:1-4, Acts 1:4&5
- Jesus had instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until they received the gift that the Father had promised.
- We are not sure where they are meeting. It could be the upper room mentioned in 1:13, or it could have been a place in the temple where they gathered for prayer since it was around 9 in the morning or the third hour. This would explain how so many people heard them praising God.
- There are 2 key supernatural signs – The sound from heaven that is like the roaring of a mighty windstorm and tongues of fire that settle over each person.
- The key takeaway is that the promise is fulfilled – all of them are filled and they all speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
LOOK WHAT OBEDIENCE LED THEM TO RECEIVE.
2. THE REACTION OF OTHERS. Acts 2:5-13.
- Supernaturally – they are hearing God praised in their own language – by Galileans – people who even if they knew the languages would not enunciate them with the correct accent. So they ask – how can this be? – The answer is of course, the power of God is present through the Holy Spirit.
- Others miss the miracle and put it off as the sound of loud drunks.
LESSON: Don’t miss the miracle because you have to explain everything from the lens
of human experience. Open up your heart to see a Mighty God at work.
3. PETER STEPS UP IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 2:14-21
- They are not drunk – what everyone is witnessing is what was foretold by the prophet Joel. Look at Joel 2:28-32
- Key points – This outpouring of God’s Spirit falls on male and female – rich and poor – young and old. They will all speak forth in boldness for God – they will prophecy. Then – this will lead to this great reality – Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Power to proclaim = witnesses. Acts 1:8