Charging Up

Let’s take that concept and move back in time to the earliest days of the church. We looked last week at Jesus’ final words of commission with his disciples. Included was to wait for the gift of the Spirit.

It is through that Spirit that these men and women would be able to spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.

10 days later, that power falls upon them and they begin their public ministry.

But consider all the diversity of people, cultures, languages, customs in the their world and the even greater amount of diversity in the world today.

How does the message about a Jewish carpenter who lived over 2,000 years ago and located in a specific region of the world connect with such a vast audience?

It takes a universal power source - the Holy Spirit.

Powering Up Through the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1–4 NLT

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

God’s Spirit shows up in ways that made sense to them.

Sound of wind - ruah (breath of God), flames/fire (reminiscent of the burning bush).

Real languages, not an ecstatic utterance.

For the mission to have any chance of success, the conduit for God’s Spirit is His disciples.

A broken plug prevents the power from reaching its potential.

What happened on Pentecost was God preparing spiritual power to flow into His creation through Jesus’ disciples.

Realize: Nothing has changed. The power we utilize in our lives (for everything) is this same power that came upon the disciples so long ago.

Putting the Power to Work

Presentation of the gospel message:

Acts 2:14–18 NLT

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

This Spirit is for everybody! No distinction based on race, gender, etc.

No cultural barriers.

Acts 2:22–24 NLT

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Acts 2:32–33 NLT

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

Acts 2:36 NLT

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

In order for this message to “hit home” it needed to be empowered.

Electricity won’t flow unless there’s a complete circuit.

We are the conduit that helps to plug people into that power source.

When that happens, what will we ask them to do?

Plugging Into the Power Source

Acts 2:37–39 NLT

37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Customer support - 1st question: Is it plugged in?

It’s our opportunity to ask people, are you plugged in to true power?

We have the opportunity to share the power with anyone.

We’re not putting the “charger” in a closet for only certain people to use.

Some are reached and plugged in like the early days through a supercharged message that hits between the eyes.

Some are reached by a creative application of God’s Spirit through our love and good deeds.