“The Holy Spirit” Acts 2:1-21
1. The followers of Jesus were “all together in one place,” says the book of Acts (v. 1).
• Suddenly from heaven “ came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the house
• Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (vv. 2-4). The Spirit came as rush of a violent wind,
• It was like the wind from God that “swept over the face of the waters” on the first day of creation
• The Spirit danced in souls with divided tongues, as of fire, like the burning bush that revealed God to Moses — a bush that “was blazing, yet it was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2).
2. The Holy Spirit is like a Mighty Charger. That energizes us, that creates in us
• The Holy Spirit is available to us, and it is charging us the way that it charged those on Pentecost
• The Holy Spirit is a creative force in our lives, just as the wind of God was a creative power in the making of the heavens and the earth.
• The Holy Spirit creates, births a Church This birth has created great power, faith, fellowship,
• Pentecost came and the Spirit created something new and powerful: The Christian community.
3. This Holy Spirit lets us know God Is with Us
• The Spirit tells us God is in front of us, just as the fire of the burning bush told Moses
• Remember Holy Spirit Is fire, the Lord went in front of them “in a pillar of fire” (Exodus
• Then, “the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in” (Ex 24:17).
• When the prophets Elijah and Elisha were walking along, “a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).
• The prophet Isaiah promises, The Lord “will come in fire,” “and his chariots like the whirlwind” (Isaiah
• In the book of Revelation, John says that the eyes of Christ will be “like a flame of fire” (Rev 1:14).
• Holy Spirit is a Pillar of fire. Devouring fire. A chariot of fire. A flame of fire. All signs of the presence and power of God.
4. The Holy Spirit comes to us in the midst of human life
• Sometimes the Holy Spirit is delicate, squeeze of hand, an encouraging word, an expression of forgiveness, a statement of love.
• But whether God comes in blazing fire or in warm words, God is present and powerful.
• The promise of Pentecost is that God is with us, always with us,
• Holy Spirit is Emmanuel, which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). God helps an heals
5. The Holy Spirit enables us to communicate to others as did Peter
• The apostle Peter quickly discovered that the gift of the Spirit was a gift he could share God’s deeds of power with others.
• Peter announced to the people of Jerusalem, “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17). Yes, the Spirit was coming to fill not just Peter and the other followers of Jesus, but to fill all people. He fills us.
• The Holy Spirit breaks barriers Peter said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
• The Holy Spirit is Mighty rushing wind, dances in souls, energizes, creates,
• The Holy Spirit, fills us — and others — with the power of God. Comes in midst of human life
