Pastor John W. Brown
Calvary Chapel Central Phoenix
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ACTS
Chapter 02:01-13
THE PROMISE RECEIVED
(Reminder quote)
One day in New York - what a day! I can't describe it! I seldom refer to it! It
is almost too sacred to name. I can only say God revealed Himself to me! I had
such an experience of love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand! I went to
preaching again. The sermons were no different. I did not present any new
truth. Yet hundreds were converted. I would not be back where I was before that
blessed experience.
--Dwight L. Moody
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.
In our study last week, we read that Jesus asked
the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for something the Father had
promised.
1.
He goes on in verse 5 to tell us that the
“promise” from the Father was the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2.
In verse 8 Luke explains that this “baptism”
will give them power = “dunamis” to “be” witnesses on a global scale!
a)
And we sit here today as a result of that power.
B.
At the end of the chapter, they get together and
select Matthias to replace Judas.
1.
It is believed among some commentators that this
was a premature decision.
a)
If they would have just waited, a man by the
name of Saul was being prepared to take Judas’ place
C.
This morning, we will look at the birth of the
church on the day of Pentecost.
II.
Act 2:1 NKJV When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place.
A.
“Pentecost” was the Greek name for the Jewish
“Feast of Weeks”.
1.
It was so called because it fell exactly 7 weeks
(a week of weeks), after the Feast of Firstfruits.
a)
It was 50 days after Passover and it celebrated
the completion of the winter harvest!
b)
The Jews were to bring 2 loaves of bread to represent
the 2 stone tablets that were given to Moses when the Law was instituted.
c)
I would like to point out that 3,000 people died
the day the Law was given according to Exodus
32:28, and 3,000 were saved the day the Holy Spirit was given according to Acts 2:41
2.
I would also like to point out that “they were
all together in one place”. In the KJV
it says, “They were all with one accord.”
a)
The word used is “homothumadon” = which means
that they were individuals but with one heart and mind and one purpose!
(1)
The “picture” here is like one of an
orchestra. Made up of many different
instruments playing many different notes, but because of the “unity” and
“purpose” of the music – the result is one beautiful song with many harmonies.
(2)
By-the-way, this “attitude of heart” is hard to
come by in anything and in any time frame!
(a)
I think it is only possible when you have people
seeking the Lord’s will and not their own.
III.
Act 2:2 NKJV And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were
sitting.
A.
The “noise” here is (2279 echos {ay'-khos}) –
from where we get our work echos!
1.
And it was the sound of a mighty rushing
wind! Why wind?
a)
In Greek the word for wind is “Pneuma” and it
means “breath” and “spirit”. We get our
word pneumatic from here. I have some
tools at home in my garage that are “pneumatic” – they run of air pressure from
a compressor!
b)
The Hebrew word for wind is “Ruach” and it also
means “breath” and “spirit”.
(1)
Joh
20:19-22 NKJV Then, the same day at evening, being the
first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." (20) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were
glad when they saw the Lord. (21) So Jesus
said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father
has sent Me, I also send you."
(22)
And when He had said this, He breathed
on them,
and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
(2)
Since the Greeks and the Jews each had one word
for describing this - and it meant the same thing, it is unmistakable that the
illustration here in Acts 2:2 is a reference to the Holy Spirit.
2.
I would also like to point out that these
born-again disciples, 120 in number, were “sitting”!
a)
They weren’t rolling around on the floor, they
weren’t barking like dogs, and they weren’t yelling. They were in one accord, waiting and praying
for the promise of the Holy Spirit, and He entered the room where they were
sitting.
IV.
Act 2:3-4 NKJV Then there appeared to them divided tongues,
as of fire, and one sat upon each of
them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
A.
Verse 2 was the “audio” (the “wind”) and in
verse 3 we see the “video” portion of this experience (the “tongues of fire”).
1.
In other words, they heard the “sound” of the
Holy Spirit before they “saw” the Holy Spirit.
a)
I believe we can make application here that we must
“hear” the Word of God, before we see the “affects” of God’s word!
(1)
Rom
10:14 NKJV How then shall they call on Him in whom they
have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
(2)
Rom
10:17 NKJV So then faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
b)
You may remember Thomas saying, “I will believe
it if I can see it.”
c)
But Jesus told him it was more blessed to
“believe it – then see it!”
(1)
So, the “word” of the Lord, will always precede
the “work” of the Lord!
B.
Now, least we think that this spirit is anything
but the loving Spirit of God, let’s take a look of His prediction.
1.
Mar
1:7-8 NKJV And he preached, saying, "There comes
One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to
stoop down and loose. (8) I indeed
baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
2.
Joh
7:38-39 NKJV He who believes in
Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water." (39) But this
He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
a)
So you see, we are not talking about “another”
spirit. We are talking about the Holy
Spirit of God - the 3rd person of the trinity.
C.
Notice they began to speak with “other” tongues.
1.
The Greek word used here is “het’eros” from
where we get our English word “heterosexual”.
a)
It means = “one not of the same nature –
different.”
(1)
As man and woman are “different” so was this new
language given by the Holy Spirit.
2.
Please also notice they spoke “as the Spirit
gave the utterance.”
a)
Meaning this phenomenon was directed by the Holy
Spirit!
(1)
1Co
14:39 NKJV Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to
prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
(2)
Jas
3:16 NKJV For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
(3)
1Co 14:33 NKJV For God is
not the author of confusion but of
peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
(a)
So, even in the midst of this wonderful day –
the Holy Spirit kept order.
V.
Act 2:5-11 NKJV And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, from every nation under heaven.
(6)
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were
confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled,
saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (8) And how is it
that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those
dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of
Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in
our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
A.
There were 17 different “dialektos = languages”
represented here, and the men speaking these languages were all Galileans. They DID NOT KNOW EACH AND EVERYONE OF THESE
LANGUAGES.
1.
1Co
14:1-5 NKJV Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not
speak to men but to God, for no one understands him;
however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
(3)
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to
men. (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,
but he who prophesies edifies the church.
(5)
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;
for he who prophesies is greater than he
who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church
may receive edification.
2.
I would like to suggest that on this day all 3
of these things were going on!
a)
Prophecy
was being given to all the men because they heard the message in their own
native tongue.
(1)
So, the message was clear and profitable for
them
b)
The gift of tongues
was being used because there were men there that heard these “strange” dialects
that they did not understand.
c)
And the gift of interpretation was also at work as we will see – when Peter stands
up and interpret what this event is all about!
VI.
CONCLUSION
A.
Act
2:12 NKJV So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying
to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
1.
As always, some got it – some missed it!
2.
For some, their hearts have been touched and
they want to know more.
3.
For others, they are content with simply writing
it off as drunkenness.
B.
I would like to point out one last thing before
we close this morning’s teaching. I
think it is “key” to understanding the Holy Spirit and what is going on
here. It is in verse 11.
1.
Act 2:11 NKJV “…we
hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
a)
It is very important that we understand that the
interpretation of the tongues these folks were hearing – was praise!
(1)
They were “speaking of the wonderful works of
God!”
(2)
It was not God speaking to the church, it was
the new church speaking to God and praising His name!