Acts 2 : 1 – 21

The Promise

The Peace

The Power

The Promise

In considering the events of that first Pentecost it is important to place it within the context of all that had been going on in the lives of the disciples who had experienced the life, death and resurrection of their leader, Jesus Christ.

The events of that first Pentecost should not have come as a surprise as God had spoken through the prophets Ezekiel, Joel and John the Baptist telling them that a time would come when the Holy Spirit would be sent on his people.

  • Ezekiel

26:  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27:  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

  • Joel

28:  ‘And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29:  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

  • John the Baptist

Mt 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

Jesus made no secret of the fact that God was willing and able to grant the Holy Spirit to those who asked. Talking to the woman at the well in Samaria:

Jn 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

And during the last Supper Jesus said to his disciples:

Jn 14:15 “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. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

God keeps his promises as the events of that first Pentecost morning prove.

The Peace

Likewise, It is God’s will that we should know peace in our hearts and minds.

Shalom means  complete harmony with God, with yourself, with your family and neighbours, and with creation!

Psalm 29 : 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection he greeted them with the word “Shalom”. At the last supper Jesus made a point of gifting them with his own “Shalom” which is quite unique as only through him can we have complete harmony with our Father God. He told them this in anticipation of his arrest, trial and execution which to say the least must have been traumatic for them.

  • Do not be afraid!

Jn 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The peace that Jesus gives is unique because it comes from having faith in him which is the only way we can be reconciled to our Father God. We can only experience complete peace, therefore, through Jesus.

When writing his great thesis to the churches in Rome Paul made it clear that the peace of Christ was an essential part of our Christian life and is an important part of the benefits of our faith in Christ

  • We are forgiven:

Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  Ro 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

  • We have life:

Ro 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  Ro 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

  • We have Joy:

Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,  Ro 14:18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

When we have the peace of Christ in our hearts and minds we are ready to receive the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Power

Whatever it may have looked and felt like, a mighty wind and tongues of fire, it’s hard to imagine, but we can’t deny the effect that the experience had on the 120 or so disciples gathered in the upper room. From cowering together in secret they burst into to streets telling all who would listen about Jesus Christ. Over a period of weeks they been getting together to pray and allowing God to prepare them for this moment. Jesus had promised them that the effect of the Holy Spirit would be power:

  • Power to witness:

Ac 1:8 But 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.”

Jesus had already given them a taste of what was to come when he appeared to them as they were gathered in secret. He commissioned them to take on his ministry and them breathed on them the Holy Spirit giving them the ability to discern when people were genuine in their acceptance of Jesus as Saviour and Lord and so to confirm for them that their sins had been forgiven.

  • Power to give assurance of salvation:

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  Jn 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

Jn 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

  • Power to be changed:

Gal 5 ; 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23:  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24:  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25:  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

  • Power to Serve:

1Co 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

1Co 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 

1Co 12:5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 

1Co 12:6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

1Co 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

To sum up

Do you believe that God keeps his promises?

Do you know the peace of Christ in your heart, mind and spirit?

Is God the Holy Spirit working in your life in a powerful way?

If not would you like him to?

Heavenly Father,

We thank you that you send the Holy Spirit to your people now just as you did all those years ago. Fill us again, we pray, so that your kingdom in this place will grow as we witness to your great love for us in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.


Category: Prayers , Sermons , Services , The Bridge

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