Empowered

Ryan Tice

Tone-Setting • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Acts 2:37–41

Acts 2:1–6

Acts 2:7–15

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Transcript

Intro:

Good morning Parkside. I’m excited to announce that we will be re-opening Parkside on June 14th. We want you to know that we are operating according to the law. The law specifically states that churches can have worship services. You are more than welcome to wear a mask; however masks will not be required. Also, if you want to wear a mask please bring your own mask. We completely understand if you do not feel that it is not yet safe to attend. We will continue to provide services online on our Facebook page as well as post them on our website: parksideassembly.com. We will be recording the Sunday morning service so the service will be posted by 6pm each Sunday evening. Again I want you to know there is no judgment or condemnation if you feel that it’s in your best interest to stay home. When you enter Parkside we ask that you respect others and give them space in your best effort to practice social distancing. Sprouts and Parkside Kids will be available. I am looking forward to all that God has for us as we make this step forward. Would you continue to pray for God’s will to be done in each of our lives and for His will to be done in and through our church. I am so excited to have service together again on June 14th at 11am.

Also we have three easy ways for you to give. You can give online by going to parksideassembly.com under the give tab. You can also Text-To-Give by simply texting Give to (989)308-3353. Or if you are old school you can mail in your giving.

Today is Pentecost Sunday. This morning I want to continue our series “Tone-Setting.” Were going to look at the day of Pentecost in Acts. Were going to be discuss what the importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is different than being water baptized. The reason a person is water baptized is to publicly confess your relationship with Jesus. Also water baptism is symbolic of your participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When your are water baptized you are putting to death your old way of living, going down into the water, and coming up symbolizing that you are a new creation. Water Baptism is symbolic and is a seal of your relationship with Jesus. It’s like a wedding ring. I wear this ring on my finger as a symbol that I belong to Krista. Water baptism is a seal that symbolizes your belonging to Jesus. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is different than water baptism.

Last week we discussed being called. I said that to be Tone-Setters we needed to know that we are all called. Now that we know that we are called by God to minister, I want you to know that there is more good news. One of the awesome things about having a relationship with Jesus is that there is always more good news. So let’s discuss the first recorded Day of Pentecost which can be found in Acts chapter 2. Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 2.

So lets review. Up until this point in Acts chapter 2 we know that Peter has denied Jesus 3 times. He spent 3 1/2 years with Jesus and yet when Jesus was arrested Peter denied him 3 times. Peter was the one who first confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. He was the one who walked on water. He was also the one Jesus said that church would be built upon. We know of times while with Jesus the disciples doubted and feared. So now we come to Acts chapter 2 the disciples have been obediently waiting as in the upper room in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded them.

Read with me Acts 2:1-6.

Acts 2:1–6 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

Lets Pray.

Empowered

How amazing is that account in Acts 2. The disciples are being empowered as promised by Jesus. Let’s take note of a couple of things in our text.

1. Obedience

The disciples were being obedient. I said last week when we are obedient we create an atmosphere for miracles. The disciples were being obedient and an awesome miracle occurs. They are baptized by the Holy Spirit. Because of their obedience and they probably haven’t fully realized it yet but they are being supernaturally empowered.

2. Unity

The disciples were united when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Notice in verse 4 that they were filled with Spirit and began speaking in tongues that there was not a doctrinal debate. They recieved the miracle in unity.

3. Others Were Attracted

Just the sound of the miracle which we find in verse 6 attracts the attention of others. When the disciples are baptized by the Spirit or empowered by the Spirit it’s not exclusive just for them. This miracle that is taking place is not just for them it will also impact others.

I encourage you to read and study Acts chapter 2. Actually I encourage you to read and study all of Acts. Acts is our heritage. Acts records how the church came to be.

Our study of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit continues. Turn with to Acts 2:7-15.

Acts 2:7–15 NIV

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

But wait a minute isn’t this the same Peter that denied even knowing Jesus? Yes it is. Peter is standing up not just because today he decided to be bold but because he has been empowered. Peter has just become a Tone-Setter. Not just for the folks of that day, but for you and I as well. If you do a study on Peter you will find from this moment forward until the day he dies that he continues to preach the good news of Jesus.

So Peter goes on from verse 16-36 preaching the good news to the crowd. Read with me in Acts 2:37-41.

Acts 2:37–41 NIV

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Check that out, this empowered Peter preaches a message and 3,000 people gave their lives to Christ that day. Some may say well.....that’s good for the disciples and all but that was a long time ago. Those folks would be absolutely correct it was a long time ago. But what if I told you we have access to the same empowerment today? What if I told you had access to a gift that would empower you with wisdom, healing, discernment, amongst many others that would empower you to face your troubles and temptations? Here’s the great news, you do have access to that gift.

Application

As followers of Jesus, you and I have access to the same empowerment that Peter did. The Baptism is a gift that you and I can choose to receive. Back when just before I was baptized by the Holy Spirit I struggled with how it all worked. My mind created this baptism to be some mystical experience where the Holy Spirit would just start speaking through me. I was waiting for the Spirit to just take over. Looking back its almost comical in the way I thought of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I had pretty much created some fantasy film of what should happen. That is exactly why it is important for you and I to know what the Bible says. Exactly why the God’s Word should be informing our thinking. Again, our thoughts inform our beliefs, and our beliefs inform our actions. Faith is an action. Salvation is a gift receive through faith. The Bible says if you confess Jesus as lord with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Believe in your heart requires faith. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit requires faith. The confirming outward evidence in our lives of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in tongues. This requires faith on our part. The Holy Spirit is not going to force you to speak in tongues. One form of speaking in tongues is our prayer language. Praying in tongues is our spirit interceding on our behalf to God. Our spirit knows more about our needs than our minds. Yes it requires faith. Faith to step out of the boat. Faith to start speaking in an unknown language. No one can have the faith for either you or I to do it for us. Being baptized by the Holy Spirit is birthed out of our desire to want it and our ability to trust God even if others might think it’s foolish. However, I know that if you take that step of faith, to receive the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I know you won’t regret it. In fact, it will be just another awesome decision of faith you will have made on your journey with Jesus. And here’s the kicker, maybe, just maybe, someone else needs you to take a step of faith. You might be wondering what I mean by someone else needs you to take a step of faith. Look back at our text today. Peter has been baptized by the Holy Spirit and preaches this message of repentance and in Acts 2:41 the Bible says 3,000 souls were added that day. 3,000 people entered into a relationship with Jesus that day. Peter is no exception to the rule, what God did through Peter He can do through you and I. Do you know someone who needs Jesus, do you know someone who needs a miracle, maybe a healing? If you haven’t been baptized by the Holy Spirit I encourage you to go to the Lord and have a conversation with Him about your desire for the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Being empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit will give you more ability to face troubles and temptations. It will empower your spirit to intercede on your behalf to God. More than that it will empower you to impact lives for eternity. God only knows how you will impact lives. Maybe you will witness healings, maybe you will prophesy, maybe you will be part of miracles. I know that with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit you will be more likely to live out the calling of your life than you would without it. Again it’s a gift, its your choice. You will still have eternal salvation without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday I encourage you seek the Lord about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to be a Tone-Setter. For some of us today maybe we haven’t made a decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Would you allow me to pray for you? Maybe some of us realized our need for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I would like to pray for you as well. Maybe some of need a rekindling of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, can I pray for you as well?

Let’s Pray.

Again I am so glad you were able to join us today. I’m so excited we are re-opening on June 14th at 11am. I hope that you were blessed and are continuing to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Have a great day and a great week. God Bless You.