They were sitting in the house patiently waiting for who-knows-what when it hit them: (Acts 2:1-12)
· A unexpected tornado, a sudden cyclone, a terrifying wind
· As they gasped and reached for each other in terror and the wind howled, out of nowhere, a ball of fire materialized in the center of the room
· It splintered into smaller blazes which floated over each individual’s head pulsating with energy which seemed to work its way down through their bodies
· and shockingly they began to speak out loud – each in a foreign language they had never known before.
· In their confusion and joy they group spilled out of the house into the streets of Jerusalem where a crowd gathered around them startled by the sound of the wind and the craziness.
· there Libyans, and Romans, Egyptians and Arabs shocked at hearing their own languages wondered aloud “What does this mean?”
Good question!
What does this story in Acts 2 mean not just in its historical context but to us 2000 yrs. later?
Luke, the writer gives his take on what happened in Verse 4: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4
· I ask again…what does this mean? Not so much historically, but personally?
· the answer to that question may change your life.
o the answer will add to the rock of truth upon which you stand
o the answer could give you even more courage as you move into your world.
What exactly does it mean to be filled with the holy spirit? Now before we dive into this Acts 2 story I want to back up to January of this year.
On the weekend of January 21-22 I gave a message on the baptism of Jesus in which we spent a good deal of time on the topic of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s review what we learned that weekend…and let’s call that Holy Spirit 101 (and let’s call this message Holy Spirit 201)
1. When an individual determines to surrender to God, place their trust in Jesus Christ, and follow him, the Holy Spirit takes up residence and thus brings all the resources of heaven to bear on that transformed life.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth…he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17
2. The Spirit acts as an internal mentor
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. John 16:13
3. The Indwelling Spirit helps us live with moral integrity
The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:2
4. The Indwelling Spirit prays for us
…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
All of those truths are so comforting…beautiful. Early 20th century author John Baillie captured the wonder of the presence of the Holy Spirit in this prayer…
Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until the eventide. Inspire all my thoughts. Pervade all my imaginations. Suggest all my decisions. Lodge in my soul's most inward citadel, and order all my doings. Be with me in silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and the weariness of the evening. Give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship.
John Baillie
Baillie captured the soothing, comforting counselor – mentor image we have of the Holy Spirit within us.
· to know that and to stand on that truth is to have courage:
o I do not walk alone
o I do not pray alone
o even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…for you are with me!
That’s Holy Spirit 101…but it’s time we move on to Holy Spirit 201.
Acts 2
The story I told you at the beginning…
There is something very different going on here with the Holy Spirit ...something less tame, less genteel, less beautiful and something powerful…and maybe more terrifying.
Let me give you the context… Acts 1
· Just weeks following the resurrection of Jesus
· These men and women had been receiving last minute instructions from Jesus:
o The global mission (Kingdom) of God – Acts 1:8…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
o They were to wait in Jerusalem until they received Vs. 4 “the gift” my Father promised.
o Vs. 8 – “you will receive power when the HS comes upon you”
· Then Jesus disappeared beyond the veil into the realm of God
It was days later that the wind came.
The Results – Acts 2: 15ff
· Peter declared it an act of God and fulfillment of prophecy
· A sign of the in-breaking Day of the Lord – God’s Kingdom
· Within minutes the small group of Christ followers swelled by the thousands as people surrendered their lives to Jesus and joined the mission of God
· On that day Plan A was launched to change the world…and the most powerful society in the history of the world was inaugurated.
That’s what happened when the wind blew…the fire fell.. and the Holy Spirit filled the lives of Christ’s followers.
And that should give us courage. Because he still does that. That’s Holy Spirit 201.
Let me summarize what we believe about the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s indwelling presence: the source of power, guidance and conviction in the life of a follower of Christ.
You can stand on that. If you are a follower of Jesus this is a take-it-to-the-bank truth.
· And it is not true of you if you are NOT a follower of Jesus. You do not have within you yet the presence of God if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus. your application then is “What are you waiting for?
· But, what if you have and you a. do not sense his guidance b. don’t benefit from his conviction c. for sure don’t operate from his power.
· What if there is no “wind” in your life?
Ahhh yes…the plight of so many followers of Jesus – and unnecessary! It is ridiculous that we muddled around with no fire, no wind, no power. It is time we surrender to that which is within. It is time to submit to the wind…but how?
How do you submit to the “wind”?
How do you submit to the “wind”?
1. You assume that God is going to fill you with the Spirit
· Vs. 2:4 – Jesus didn’t say pray and HOPE that you will receive power…he just said WAIT…and you WILL receive power.
· Our prayers should not be “Oh God please fill me…” but rather
“God, I’m waiting”…go ahead…try THAT kind of prayer and assume it will happen.
· it may not sound like a tornado, it may not look like fire, you may not speak in tongues…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you! Assume it!
How do you submit to the wind?
2. You assume that you have a purpose in the mission of God
· this is crucial – what they were waiting for was not some ecstatic worship experience (the classic mistake of Charismatic Christians) They were anticipating marching orders
· The power of the Holy Spirit is for battle…it is for the muscle to storm the gates of hell…it is for the authority to forcefully advance the Kingdom
God loves to pour out His Spirit with power on those who will dare to align radically their purposes with His. Steve Childers
How do you submit to the wind?
3. You wait attentively
· Jesus told them to wait and they did…but not passively
They all joined together constantly in prayer…Acts 1:14
· When the hammer fell they were all sitting in a house – presumably attentively praying and waiting.
· Attentiveness is a posture of active anticipation best practiced in prayer
How do you submit to the wind?
4. You let the “wind” take you
And no, I can’t be specific! No, I don’t know what that means for you…but I believe if you are assuming it will happen. you are assuming He is going to empower you for his mission and you are attentive and praying for it…it will happen…and you will know what you have to do.
· Now will you let the “wind” take you?
Fascinating that about 40 years after the events of Acts 2 Paul wrote a letter to a church in the town of Ephesus. In the letter, he was trying to help them this concept of being filled with the Spirit and he used these 3 phrases:
“walk in the Spirit”
“be led by the Spirit”
“keep in step with the Spirit”
What if we substitute “wind” for “Spirit”
“walk in the wind”
“be led by the wind”
“keep in step with the wind”
It starts to make more sense doesn’t it…don’t fight the wind…go with the flow of the wind…allow yourself to be born along with the wind.
Surrender to whatever the Spirit is doing in your life
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s indwelling presence: the source of power, guidance and conviction in the life of a follower of Christ.
· go where he says to go
· respond to his conviction
· embrace the power he will give you
Allow him to change you…and through you to storm the gates of hell.
It’s time you submit to the wind.