The Holy Spirit - The Book of Acts

Jarred Pettijohn

Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Holy Spirit

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Introduction

Good morning!

I hope you are as excited as I am about this morning, as we get to talk about a topic that we often become very fearful or anxious about when we know we are going to talk about it.

I know for me whenever I’m speaking with someone and they bring up the miraculous gifts that we read about in the pages of scripture I automatically feel myself get more tense. Does that happen to anyone else?

Oh man I don’t like that feeling.

It’s like I know they have this belief and I don’t want to call them a liar because it’s so obvious that they truly are sincere in what they believe, and as they tell me that they healed their grandma or that they can speak in tongues I’m not sure what my body language should be.

Should I nod to show that I’m listening? Or would that be giving approval like I think what they are saying is Biblical?

Should I shake my head to show that I disagree, but that seems overly rude, which I try not to be.

And all the while I’m fearing that question that sometimes comes, “What is your miraculous gift?”

Now to be clear, I don’t believe Miraculous gifts exist today,

But if I had one I would say that it’s a miracle that I can survive the level of anxiety that I get when discussing miraculous gifts with those who believe in them.

And I don’t know, I haven’t spoken with each and every one of you out there this morning, you might believe that miraculous gifts are given to people today, and if that is you this morning I want to let you know that: First, I love you and everyone here loves you: so please do not feel like anyone here is attacking you this morning. Because 2: We are only interested in discovering the truth and making the truth known, and the only way that I know to do that is to study this book and to believe what it says.

And so as we look at the topic together today, I don’t want you to take my word for it, I want you to get out the word of God ans search it for yourself, because as I stated when we started out this series, I don’t know everything there is to know about the Holy Spirit.

And I pray that if you find something that contradicts what I say here today or any day that you come and show it to me in love so that I can repent publicly and correct my mistakes.

Overview

So far in our study of the Holy Spirit

We’ve identified the words used to describe the spirit as Ruach in Hebrew and Pneuma in Greek which convey the idea of Wind, Breath, or spirit and how all of those are somewhat mysterious.

We’ve identified Him as divine being with personal characteristics and properly placed him within the Godhead with the father and the Son.

We’ve look at the OT and noticed Him at work in creation and at work throughout the history of God’s chosen people through miraculous strength, wisdom, and prophecy.

Prophecy which included the renewal and rebirth of a spiritually dead Israel through the pouring out of the Spirit which would be ushered in by a spirit filled Messiah.

We talked about last week how the people were prepared and waited for this over the period of 400 years of silence and suddenly the Jesus the Christ came and fulfilled this prophecy and how he himself proclaimed the fact that he fulfilled the prophecy of

Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

And we saw how the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted, how he enabled him in His ministry to judge with righteousness, to heal the sick, cast out demons, give sight to the blind, and even raise the dead.

And we looked at the many things that Jesus said regarding the Holy Spirit and how He would lead the apostles in All truth, how he would speak through them even though they had not prepared, and how the HS would speak with authority the words of the father and of the Son.

And we closed last Sunday evening with

Acts 1:4–8 ESV

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 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.”

So the apostles have been told that what they have been waiting for, and what every Jew had been waiting for, the promise for God to pour out His Spirit on them, like that found in

Isaiah 44:3–4 ESV

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

That the time for that to happen was soon to come, but this was not the only time Jesus alluded to this.

Perhaps the best time was in Johne7 , where Jesus during the feast of booths pronounces on the last day of the feast as recorded in

John 7:37–39 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 7 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. 14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” 25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?” 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 53 They went each to his own house,

John 7:37–39 ESV

So Jesus had alluded to his fulfilling of this prophecy before, and even John the baptist said that Jesus was the one who would baptize them in the Holy Spirit.

So when we turn to the book of Acts, knowing that it has been some 50 days since the world at large had seen Jesus, there is going to be an event that takes place that no one can ignore.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy for the Jews in Acts

The book of Acts

Acts 2:1–21 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.” 14 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.’

You know, in our hast often times skip over the importance of what the HS is saying here through Peter in our rush to get down to verses 37-38 so we can say “See! This is how we are to respond! By repentance and baptism!”

And while that is most certainly important, we should stop and reflect on what the HS is telling the audience on that day.

He’s telling them that “Hey, you recall those things that your parents used to tell you about while they bounced you on their knee when you were a baby? You know, the same things that their parents told them, and their parents before them? Yeah you know all that about how a chosen one of God from the line of David would come and be filled with the Spirit and would usher in a new age.

An age where God will pour out his spirit on all flesh and bring back to life a spiritually dead Israel with His Spirit and as a sign of that taking place people will prophesy and dream dreams and see visions and do miraculous deeds?

You remember how Hosea said that the tribes of Israel would be united under one head someday and that God would be like a bride to them?

You remember all the prophecies of God being reconciled with his people?

You remember that?!

Peter is saying:

THIS IS IT! THIS IS THE MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR! AND WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AND HEARING IS PROOF OF THAT FACT!

The Fulfillment of Prophecy for the Gentiles in Acts

- Cornelius, Peter etc...

Peter in Jerusalem

- “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

Acts 11:16 ESV

16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 11:18 ESV

18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 11:18

Genesis 12:3 ESV

3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Gen 12

Miraculous Gifts

Received or was filled the spirit AND

Spoke with knowledge

Spoke in tongues

Healed the sick

cast out demons

raised the dead

prophesied

And while these things were certainly given by the HS, that doesn’t mean that everyone who has the spirit, has or had those gifts.

In fact, aside from the baptism in the HS events in and , it appears that the way people recieved these gifts was by the laying on of the apostles hands

Acts 8:14-

Acts 8:14–20 ESV

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Conclusion

Acts is a wonderful book. It’s value to us is beyond measure, but as with all history books we must learn to appreciate certain things about how we are to use it.

Imagine yourself as a person living in Thailand and wanting to become an American

And in wanting to do so, they go to the library and pick up a history book and begin to read it and by the time they get to the history of our country up to the year 1800, they decide that they can’t wait any longer and they want to go to america today.

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

1 Corinthians 13:8–10 ESV

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.