Text: Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Story: “Our Best – Nothing, Without Him”
Mr. Spurgeon once preached what in his judgment was one of his poorest sermons. He stammered and floundered, and when he got through he felt that it had been a complete failure. He was greatly humiliated, and when he got home he fell on his knees and said, “Lord, God, Thou canst do something with nothing. Bless that poor sermon.”
And all through the week he uttered that prayer. He woke up in the night and prayed about it. He determined that the next Sunday he would redeem himself by preaching a great sermon.
Sure enough, the next Sunday the sermon went off beautifully. At the close the people crowded about him and covered him with praise. Spurgeon went home pleased with himself, and that night he slept like a baby. But he said to himself, “I’ll watch the results of those two sermons.”
What were they? From the one that had seemed a failure he was able to trace forty-one conversions. And from that magnificent sermon he was unable to discover that a single soul was saved. Spurgeon’s explanation was that the Spirit of God used the one and did not use the other. We can do nothing without the Spirit who helps our infirmities.
------------------Christian Digest
We can not do God’s work without the help of the Holy Spirit’s. You might say this is not true. You might say that you can do anything you want to do. That may be true, but you cannot fix your frailties, your sickness or you ill-health using your own power.
Spurgeon thought that his first message that came from his heart was not too impressive and wasn’t worth much. He was disappointed because his presentation was unacceptable according to his standards.
Spurgeon thought he would prepare a really good message based on his way of thinking along with what he thought people wanted to hear. He did this and his presentation was flawless. He was proud of himself.
After the message people crowded around him and spoke many complimentary words to him. I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to him giving him the idea to wait and see how many souls were saved by each message.
To his surprise, forty-one people accepted Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior after hearing the first message that Spurgeon thought was not well-done while no one accepted Jesus upon hearing the polished message.
Why was this? What happened? The polished message brought many positive comments from people while the first message seemed to be unworthy. Spurgeon asked God to bless the first message which He did. The Holy Spirit stirred the souls of the people and they saw the need to accept Jesus, trust Him, obey Him and let Him control their life.
God can take what little we have and make it work miracles. Our speech does not have to be elaborate to tell others of Jesus. Our knowledge does not have to be that of a Harvard scholar. Our presentation need not be perfect according to speech techniques.
If our heart is sincere, God will take what we have to share and through the work of the Holy Spirit will move those people who are searching to fill the empty place in their heart. We are merely vessels spreading the Gospel message that will give God the glory and honor which is His.
Today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is fifty days after Passover. Jesus was crucified during Passover and rose after Passover which we call Resurrection Sunday. He remained with the disciples for forty days and then ascended to Heaven.
The Holy Spirit appeared ten days after the ascension. So, the Holy Spirit was made available to people fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection. This is what we know and celebrate as Pentecost Sunday.
Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He said to his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).
The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying and Jesus knew that just by the question they asked. He told them “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
As the disciples watched Jesus ascend into Heaven, there was no question in their mind that He indeed was Almighty God. Jesus knew that the disciples had to see this phenomena if they were to truly believe in Him.
Now their leader, the One they had been with over the last three years was gone. As they looked up into the sky, there were undoubtedly questions in their minds as to what was coming next. What were they to do? Then something strange happened.
Two men dressed in white appeared to them and said, “Man of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? The same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
I believe this gave them some assurance this was not just a dream or a vision. After the men finished talking to them, they returned to Jerusalem just as Jesus had told them to do. They recalled what Jesus told them about being baptized by the Holy Spirit, so they went into prayer.
It is interesting to note that Jesus did not tell them exactly the day or time the Holy Spirit would appear to them. He said in a few days. In the meantime the disciples waited and prayed. While waiting and praying, the disciples chose another disciple to replace Judas who had betrayed Jesus.
There were two candidates for the disciple position; namely, Justus (Barsabbas) and Matthias. After prayer, the disciples cast lots and the winner was Matthias. The number of disciples was now back to twelve. They remained together in Jerusalem as instructed.
Each of the disciples had a great love for Jesus. Jesus was first in their heart. Since each one of them possessed the love of Jesus, each showed love for one another. This was a very close-knit group of men. Their mission was to carry forth the work Jesus had started when He was present upon the face of the earth.
The disciples set the example that each of God’s children is to follow. The example of loving one another in the name of Jesus is exactly what we are supposed to do. The disciples were in one accord or in agreement concerning their mission and we, who profess to be disciples should also be in accord or in harmony with God’s other children.
The day came when the Holy Spirit was going to arrive. The disciples were gathered together in a room praying when a violent wind came through the house. “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2).
Why do you suppose God sent a violent wind? I believe Jesus wanted to be sure that He got their attention. The disciples did not know this was going to happen at this time or even what was going to happen.
When Jesus talked to Nicodemus about the new birth, He said to Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). This was probably difficult for Nicodemus to understand and it was probably difficult for the disciples to understand, but Jesus had His reason for this way of entrance.
This mighty violent and powerful wind is an indication of the mighty power of the Spirit of God. The wind did not just blow over the disciples like a breeze, but it filled the entire house where the disciples were gathered. God wanted the disciples to realize the importance of His Spirit so the wind prepared their mind for what was about to come forth.
We have all been in windy weather. I remember being in such a strong winter wind that I thought I would be blown over or even carried away. Maybe some of you have been in or near a tornado.
We have probably seen the news that showed the violent force of the wind as it tore off house roofs, lifted and moved buildings, and overturned eighteen wheelers. Would this type of wind get our attention? It would get my attention.
This was a mighty wind that swept through the house where the disciples were gathered, but it was also a blessed wind that would prepare the souls of each of the men. As the wind touched disciple, it would become the soft breath of God breathing upon them.
Then, “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (v. 3). This was a visible sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:16 records the words of John as he said, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Joel also talked about the outpouring of God’s Spirit when he said, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…” (Joel 2:28). When he talked about an outpouring, he was indicating something big and abundant. Then notice that Joel said it would be poured out upon all flesh not just a few.
The separated flames of fire are symbolic of speech and would enable the disciples and all people who have been touched to communicate the gospel message to those who do not know it. Fire is a means of purifying certain metals by burning away the impurities and the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the heart of each person destroys the undesirable things in the individual’s life, and sets their heart aflame to continue Jesus mission of spreading the gospel message.
At the very moment the wind came through the house and the flames of fire touched the disciples, their entire life was changed. They now had the power of God within them. They now could do things for God that they could not do before because the Holy Spirit was now in control of their life.
After being touched by and filled with the Holy Spirit, they “…began to speak in other tongues” (v. 4). They did not take classes to learn other tongues nor did someone tutor them, but the Holy Spirit empowered them with this ability. When they spoke in tongues, they were speaking the Word of God.
At the time this event occurred, “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 them speaking in his own language” (v. 5-6). What a strange phenomena. This is something new. This is different. This is unbelievable.
What would you have thought had you been present at the time? Would you have thought you were dreaming? Would you have thought these disciples are out of their mind? Would you have thought they were drunk or intoxicated? I don’t know what I would have thought.
You might think you are not empowered with the Holy Spirit because you have never spoken in tongues or maybe you don’t even believe that this is relevant today. It is in Scripture and it is the Word of God. The method used by God toward the disciples is not the same for everyone. Listen to the following little story.
Story: “Not Always the Same Method”
The Spirit is like the wind. There is mystery, there is power, and we cannot chart the course of the Spirit. He is sovereign to do as He pleases, just as the wind blows where it lists.
He did not use the same method or manner with Knox and Luther and Wesley and Moody. Just as there are hurricanes and zephyrs or gentle winds or breezes, so the Spirit storms and soothes. He speaks in mighty tornado or gentlest whisper.
The Spirit did not work in the Reformation as He did in the Great Awakening. With Whitefield He blew in one fashion, with Moody in another. The great Awakening was not like the Welsh Revival.
From The Wind and the Spirit, by Vance Havner
The Holy Spirit empowered Peter to step in the forefront and address the crowd which misunderstood what had taken place. Up to this point in his life, Peter was not a real stable and trustworthy leader. For example, there was the time he denied knowing Jesus which indicated his inability to be honest and truthful in his relationship with Jesus.
Jesus did not hold this against Peter, because He knew what Peter was going to do. He even predicated when it would happen, so it was expected. Peter was forgiven and the denial was forgotten.
Since the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Peter is now not the same. He is a new person on the inside and it is showing on the outside. He is now humble, but because of the Holy Spirit, Peter is strong and bold. He wasn’t much of a speaker before, but the power of the Holy Spirit made him an energetic vibrant forceful speaker.
There is a lesson here for each of us. Before we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior and invited Him to take up residence in our heart, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, we, like Peter, made sinful mistakes.
We might have even denied Jesus with word. We might have used His name in vain. Maybe we even chose not to talk to others about Him because we were too timid, unsure, or afraid. Perhaps, even if we believed He was who He claimed to be, we were afraid people would think we were some kind of religious nut.
We might even have committed some other sinful act that we do not wish to share with others. Whatever sin or sins we have committed, we need not worry because they were deposited at the foot of the Cross. When we accept Him and ask for forgiveness of our sins, they are not only forgiven, but they are forgotten.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was released not only to the disciples, but to all God’s children throughout the entire world. Everyone today has the privilege and honor of receiving the Holy Spirit.
What is the cost of obtaining the Holy Ghost power?
Story: “Holy Ghost Power”
It costs much to obtain the power of the Spirit. It costs self-surrender and humiliation and the yielding up of the most precious things to God.
It cost the perseverance of long waiting and the faith of strong trust. But when we are really in that power we shall find this difference, that whereas before it was hard for us to do the easiest things, not it is easy for us to do the hardest things.
James Hervey, the friend of the Wesleys at Oxford describes the change which took place in him through his anointing by the Spirit: that while his preaching was once like the firing of an arrow, all the speed and force thereof depending on the strength of his arm in bending the bow, now it was like firing a rifle-ball, the whole force depending upon the powder back of the ball, and needing only a finger-touch to let it off.
----------------A. J. Gordon.
Jesus is telling us the same thing today that He told His disciples: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Holy Spirit enables us to carry forth the work that Jesus started when He was upon the face of the earth. We have the power to move forth because the Holy Spirit is within our heart.
Amen.
