A Transforming Presence

Holy Spirit  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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The day of pentecost simply means 50 because it is 50 days after passover/Easter. But the Day of Pentecost changed the world. It is the day that the PRESENCE of God came into His people.

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The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1–13 ESV
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. 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?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Pentecost simply means “50”
It falls 50 days after passover, a Jewish ceremony remembering the final plague that finally led to Pharaoh releasing the Jewish people from slavery.
The “Day of Pentecost” was for the Jews of the time a day to commemorate the giving of the Law and to recommit themselves to it.
It is significant that the Spirit of God would come on that very day.
The Law represents our separation from God—> it REVEALS OUR SINFULNESS
Romans 7:7–8 ESV
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Romans
Without the Law we would not know what sin was/is
Because of my sin I am separated from God - my unholiness separates me because He is Holy and the law highlights that separation.
But Jesus was crucified for my sin, and He rose to defeat sin and death— to bridge the divide between my sin and God holiness.
The closest I could ever get to a holy God before Jesus was the outer courtyard of the Temple.
Only one day a year did anyone ever enter the Holy of Holies (the presence of God’s Spirit with man) and only 1 man was chosen.
The Day of Pentecost we read about changed EVERYTHING.
No longer did God dwell in the inner part of the temple where no man could tread
He now lived in His people, those who would trust in the work of Jesus, those that would be saved.
From this moment on, God was not just WITH His people, but IN His people.
God was POWERFULLY PRESENT with His people in His Spirit.

The POWERFUL PRESENCE of a PERSONAL God.

This presence was transformative in the life of believers we read about in the NT.
It led to some pretty incredible experiences that some have mistakenly taken to be the norm rather than the exception.
THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL!!!
What happens in is not what we should expect when someone comes to Christ.
The Spirit came in power on His people, but we don’t see that in every circumstance in the rest of scripture, nor is it taught elsewhere in the Epistles.
There are 4 mentions of the HS coming on people and those people speaking in tongues
There are 8 other circumstances of conversion where tongues aren’t mentioned.
Any time a few verses are plucked out to make a point red flags should pop up.
What we can learn is the the Spirit’s presence is powerfully transformative.
When someone receives the Spirit of God they will be transformed.
There are some Specific ways we see this transformation in Scripture.

The PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit...

1) Transforms our IDENTITY ()

Romans 8:14–16 ESV
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Those led by (walk in or live their life by) the Spirit are Children of God.
I was with my family yesterday and inevitably the comments about family resemblance come up.
Though I may look a lot like my dad, when you spend time with me and my parents, you will realize I talk and think and act like them in a lot of ways. It is because I am their son and their identity rubbed off onto me.
That is what it means to have the Spirit of God in you, the identity of Christ rubs off on you.
Though it is a constant struggle to remember, the Spirit of God “bears witness to your spirit that you are a child of God.”
And it is not like biological children you are stuck with, God chose us that we might be adopted into His family. HE CHOSE YOU AND ME
Do you have a confidence you are a child of God?
If you do why?
If you don’t the invitation is clear, “You are lost and broken without Christ. You can’t do enough good or bad to earn or forfeit your salvation.

2) Transforms our CHARACTER ()

Galatians 5:22–25 ESV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
He produces Love- A love for others and for Him.
The New American Commentary: Galatians (4) The Fruit of the Spirit (5:22–26)

The result of the transforming, sanctifying ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is just this: that we are enabled to love one another with the same kind of love that God loves us.

Sacrificial, servant-hearted, selfless kind of Love flows from the transformed heart of a believer.
He produces Joy-
That lasts even in the midst of trials and sufferings.
That isn’t dependent on things “going your way” but it dependent on our never-changing God
He produces Peace-
He produces Peace- That surpasses all understanding
That surpasses all understanding
That isn’t fighting for justification and contentment in temporal things.
That promotes peace
He produces Patience-
As we do not get anxious, but rather pray and wait for God.
As we recognize God’s patients toward us.
He produces Kindness-
As we humbly serve and care for others, not seeing our needs as more important that other’s
He produces Goodness-
As opposed to evil.
Righteousness, as our spirit is transformed to be like God’s Spirit.
He produces Faithfulness- as we stand firm in our faith and stay close to Jesus
He produces Gentleness- as we care for those in need.
He produces Self-Control- as we do not let our bodies be our masters.
The Spirit of God in us will bear fruit in our lives.
Your roots are different having come to know Jesus as Lord.
And the fruit your life bears should show it.

3) Transforms our AFFECTIONS ()

Acts 1:8 ESV
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.”
Romans 5:3–5 ESV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
God pours His love into our hearts through the Spirit.
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Peace and Hope (5:1–8)

God’s Holy Spirit, who enters our life in response to faith, is at work helping us grasp the reality of what it means to be encircled by the love of God

The presents of the Holy Spirit send us out to make the name of Jesus known to the nations.
And as the Holy Spirit helps us grasp the Love of God, our affections for God and others are stirred.
This was always God’s desire, that His people would represent His name and His fame throughout the world.
1 John 5:19 ESV
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 jn
When a person, moved by the Holy Spirit, makes his entire life a response to the demands of love, the things God may ask of him are no longer seen as renunciations and sacrifices, but as opportunities to find God and unite himself more closely to him. Christian maturity is attained precisely through the victory of love, which overcomes fear and selfishness

4) Transforms our PURPOSE (, )

We are going to dive into this deeper next week.
But the presence of the Holy Spirit in you transforms the very purpose for your life.
Your personality, your skills and talents, the place you live and experiences in life are all meant for a purpose…to be used by God for His Glory.
1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:27–31 ESV
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
You were saved for a PURPOSE that is BIGGER THAN YOU,
and GOD intends to equip you for that Purpose through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:3–5 ESV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 John 1:7 ESV
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Romans 5:5 ESV
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 John 2:27 ESV
27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Your gift is not for your fulfillment or your recognition, it is for the good of the Church and the Glory of God.
1 jn 1 27

5) Transforms our MISSION ()

Acts 1:8 ESV
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.”
The presents of the Holy Spirit send us out to make the name of Jesus known to the nations.
This was always God’s desire, that His people would represent His name and His fame throughout the world.
Does your heart break for the lost in our community?
Does your heart break for the lost in our country?
Does your heart break for those who have never heard the name of Jesus?
You were saved by God to be a witness.
1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 cor 12
1 Corinthians 12:27–31 ESV
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Does the Spirit Live inside you?

1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
You are not to be perfect and have mastered any of these things.
The Spirit is still fighting our flesh and often our flesh wins.
Our sin, our bitterness, our envy, our greed, our selfishness… Keep us from experiencing the fullness of the Spirit in our lives.
Many of us have confessed to know Christ, but
We do not live in confident assurance as sons or daughters of God.
We do not see a growing, fruitfulness in our character
We do not see a growing humility that is shown in love for God and others (we can be intensely self-focused).
We do not see a sense of divine purpose that God has given us and gifted us for.
We do not see a brokenness for those who do not know Jesus.
Oh that we may see the transformation of the Spirit of God in each any every person in this room today.
Trust in Jesus, receive the Spirit
You were saved for a PURPOSE that is BIGGER THAN YOU,
Live with the knowledge of the Spirit’s presence in you.
and GOD intends to equip you for that Purpose through the Holy Spirit.
Surrender your life to the Powerful Presence of our Personal God.
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