Acts Part 3

The DAY OF PENTECOST is the day when the HOLY SPIRIT came upon the disciples of Jesus to EMPOWER them. An accurate understanding of what happened on the day of Pentecost is essential to our understanding of the Book of Acts. Jesus told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the power to carry out the Great Commission of reaching the entire world for Jesus.

UNDERSTANDING WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME:

Fulfillment of the PROMISE.

The Holy Spirit came not because the believers prayed but because He had been promised by Jesus. Luke 24:49 – “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven (NLT).” When God makes a PROMISE, He FULFILLS it.

Fulfillment of PROPHECY.

The coming of the Holy was prophesied in the Old Testament. Joel 2:28-29 – “28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike (NLT).”  Ezekiel 36:27 – “And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations (NLT).” Pentecost is actually the Feast of Harvest.  Fifty days after the feast of the first fruits came the feast of the Harvest. Pentecost means fifty. God chose the day of Pentecost (Feast of Harvest) to empower His disciples and to initiate the worldwide harvest of souls.

Providence of POWER. 

The power promised by Jesus in Acts 1:8 is a supernatural power. Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (NLT).” I believe it is our duty to pray for fresh seasons of the extraordinary outpouring of God’s Spirit — to awaken and empower the church in reaching the world for Christ. And let me dissect Acts 2:5-11.

What is the significance of the power of the Holy Spirit? Why is it that Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the power?

When the Power of the Holy Spirit is upon us…

People are BEWILDERED

Acts 2:5-6 – “5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were BEWILDERED to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” (NLT)

People are usually PUZZLED when the Holy Spirit resides in our heart.  In this verse, people were bewildered because they can hear the disciples of Jesus speak a different language. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, the language of LOVE overcomes the language of HATE. Before having Jesus, we speak the language of DISSATISFACTION.  We always compared ourselves to others.  We keep on seeing what other people have and what we don’t have. But when the Holy Spirit came into our life, we speak the language of SATISFACTION. Before accepting Christ, we speak the language of HOPELESSNESS. But when received the Holy Spirit, we speak the language of HOPE.  We know that God will never leave us nor forsake us.  We know that God will turn our mourning into dancing.  We know that God has great plans for us, plan to prosper us and not to harm us.

People are AMAZED

Acts 2:7-8 – “7 They were completely AMAZED. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!” (NLT)

The people are so amazed because they can’t believe what they’ve been hearing.  They even said, “How can this be?”  In life, when the Holy Spirit is in us, people are amazed why they see significant CHANGES in our lives. People are astonished to see Christ in you because they’re used to see the devil in you. Your countenance changed because you know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Smiling is no longer an effort. It comes out naturally. Doing things with excellence is no longer for income purposes but for God’s purposes. When the Holy Spirit leads our life, everything changes.  When the Holy Spirit comes upon, people are astonished and they want to know your secret.

People are ENLIGHTENED

Acts 2:9-11 – “9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about THE WONDERFUL THINGS GOD HAS DONE!”” (NLT)

This is the main reason why Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples.  When the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon us, people are informed about a Savior that God provided for mankind.  Why do we need the power of the Holy Spirit?  We need the power of the Holy Spirit to give us the boldness and sincerity to share Jesus to others.

Evangelism is just like Selling so we need the power of the Holy Spirit.  You have to have the boldness to strike a conversation about God. You need boldness to share to them about the need of a Savior.  You have to have the courage to accept rejections because you know that you have planted the seed of God in their heart.  You have to have the persistence of sharing Jesus even if their words hurt you badly.  And even after they received Jesus, you have to take care of them by making them your disciples.

In life, we need the Holy Spirit.  In sharing Jesus, the more that we need Him so we can enlighten people around us.