Sermon Manuscript

This is a hammer. A hammer has one job, but it does that one job very well. It drives nails. That’s its purpose, right? We look at this tool and we know exactly what it’s designed to do. If I were to hand you this tool, you would assume I wanted you to drive a nail. You wouldn’t be thinking I wanted you to screw in a screw or paint a wall. It has one singular purpose. But not only that, It’s an it, a thing, an object. We would never assume this hammer could get married to another hammer and have a beautiful hammer family together. If you get two hammers together you get…two hammers. It’s an “it”. It’s a thing. It’s useful, but lifeless. There is no life within this hammer. It is simply a tool used by us to drive nails.

Sometimes we view the Holy Spirit as a hammer. We reduce Him down to a tool, an it, that does one specific thing for us. Maybe we think of the Spirit as just our ‘conscience,’ or just our ‘comforter,’ or just the One who gives us goosebumps during worship. Too often we treat the Holy Spirit like a tool that can be used by us to accomplish a singular job. Something that is an “it” rather than a full-fledged member of the Trinity (consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Three persons one God.

The Holy Spirit, if we’re not careful, can become a forgotten person of the Trinity. Think about the way we pray and the language we use! We say, “Heavenly Father, God, Jesus, Lord”, but rarely Holy Spirit. When reflecting on scripture we tend to focus on God the Father and God the Son (Jesus). We don’t often think about the Holy Spirit in Creation as we do the Father, yet He is there. Genesis 1:2 speaks of “God’s Spirit hovering over the waters.” The Holy Spirit has always been active! His presence is seen throughout the Old Testament, not just in the New! The Spirit of Lord stirs Samson in Judges 13:25. After that there are 3 separate occasions in Judges 14-15 where the Spirit of the Lord temporarily resides upon Samson.

There are many instances of the Holy Spirit being active within the lives of God’s followers, but who is He? Is He like a hammer with one sole purpose? Whether it be comfort, conscious or care, who is this Holy Spirit we hear about?

As mentioned previously, He temporarily empowered the Judges, and others, within the Old Testament and was vital in the formation of creation. But through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, our relationship with the Spirit is forever changed. Because of our New Covenant with our Heavenly Father as a result of Jesus’s death and resurrection, our relationship with the Holy Spirit has changed. And it’s that new reality, the Spirit now working within us, that Luke so beautifully highlights in his writing of the book of Acts.

This morning begins our new series, Outside In, where we’ll examine some of the writings of Luke. Luke is the only non-Jewish author of the Bible, and he writes for those who have ever felt on the outside. In this series, we’ll follow his perspective from the outside to the heart of God. You’ll encounter the power of the Spirit, the call to live on mission, steps that shape your identity, and a vision of God’s kingdom that breaks down walls. Luke’s writing will challenge you, inspire you, and invite you closer to God than ever before. Our message today is in line with Chapter 37 in Core 52. A book we’ve been going through together as we examine doctrine, theology and scripture.

Luke doesn’t just tell stories; he situates them in real history. He wants us to understand who God is, what God is doing, and how people like us encounter Him. And in Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit do some amazing things. Go ahead and turn there now or follow along in our Church Center app. To grasp the significance of what’s happening, it helps to understand the historical moment and the literary shape of this story. Why it happened in Jerusalem, who was there, and how Luke structures the account to show that God’s Spirit is not a distant force, but His very presence was at work in creation and continues in and through His people as we see in Acts 2. He doesn’t have just one limited function. He is God’s presence, God’s witness, and God’s transforming gift to His people.

Ten days after Jesus’ Ascension, devout Jews from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. This was also referred to as the Feast of Weeks. It was one of the three solemn feasts. It required that all able-bodied Jewish males travel to Jerusalem to attend the feast and offer sacrifices. All three of these feasts required that “firstfruit” offerings be made at the temple as a way of expressing thanks for God’s provision. The Feast of Weeks was in celebration of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.

By the first century, Jews were beginning to use Pentecost to celebrate the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai to Moses. This was the law Jews had to follow in order to remain holy so they could have some semblance of a relationship with God. So the Jews were here in Jerusalem, celebrating a law given to them on stone, completely unaware that on this very day, the Holy Spirit would write His law on their hearts. I love the way God works.

And at the beginning of Acts 2 we find 120 people, both the disciples and other Jewish followers of Jesus, in the upper room of a house, where they are introduced to none other than the Holy Spirit. Here’s what Luke records happening in Acts 2. Starting in verse 1 we read,

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The presence of the Holy Spirit leads to witness. The Jews are all gathered together in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. His presence marks a drastic change in our relationship with Him. From this point on He indwells permanently in believers. He makes His home in our hearts. But we also see throughout Acts that while the Spirit’s indwelling is permanent, His filling is something that happens again and again. In Acts 4, Peter is filled, and empowered, by the Spirit to speak boldly (4:8), and then right after the whole church is filled again to pray with power (4:31). The Apostle Paul is indwelled with the Holy Spirit(9:17), but receives a filling when he confronts a sorcerer (13:9). The Spirit never leaves us, but He does give fresh fillings for moments of witness and service.

Pentecost no longer marks the day God gave His law on stone, but the day His Holy Spirit began dwelling within our hearts. The Holy Spirit doesn’t arrive quietly. A mighty wind rips through the crowd. So powerful you could hear its roar as it kicked up dust, blew the robes of the people and whipped their hair. Tongues of fire appear as the Holy Spirit indwells within the 120 people gathered.

Immediately, they began to witness. Meaning they break into praise and affirmation of God. Witnessing about His greatness. There’s debate whether they spoke in a human language or an angelic one. But whether these were human languages or angelic tongues isn’t certain, what we do know with certainty is this: according to Luke everyone heard the wonders of God in their own language. Some mocked them, but the emphasis of the passage is not on the type of language used. It’s on the Spirit’s presence providing a miracle that led to witness.

It was a powerful moment of praise for God. The Spirit’s arrival caused them not to stop and teach, but to sing and praise. To disregard what others may think of them in that moment and to lift their arms high. To affirm God in that moment by speaking of His goodness and power. Imagine what our worship services would look like if we allowed ourselves to experience the same thing. The same filling of the same Spirit.

Are you watching for the Holy Spirit’s presence within your own life? When we come together in worship are you asking the Spirit to fill you so you might experience Him in a new way? Are you looking for how He moves within the areas of your life? Are you so preoccupied with how others might view you during a time of worship that you refuse to worship the One who can do all things? Respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit so that you might witness to those around you. So that your praise may be heard by all and glorify the King of Kings.

See the Holy Spirit as more than a one job tool, but as God Himself. As one who’s witness leads to Jesus.

The Apostle Peter was among the 120 and begins speaking directly to those who were mocking them by quoting the prophet Joel. He quotes,

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

The Holy Spirit’s witness leads to Jesus. Peter quotes the prophet Joel in response to what others are saying about the Jewish worshippers! Peter needs the onlookers, most of whom were Jewish, to understand this prophecy from Joel they knew so well spoke of the very Spirit who was causing all the commotion. He’s saying this is the same Holy Spirit who empowered Moses, David and the prophets! He has arrived and He’s not leaving. He’s no longer here temporarily, but He now dwells within those who believe in the one true God!

The Holy Spirit is all around us. He is omnipresent. It’s kind of like how we all have access to one of the greatest inventions ever, GPS. However there are some of you here who swear you know better than the GPS. So you choose not to engage it. Then you’re shocked when the route you usually take has a closed road or construction. Making your drive far less enjoyable and much more difficult. The Holy Spirit helps point us to the best route, but it’s up to us whether or not we choose to engage Him or follow His path.

To those who were on the outside looking in, seeing the 120 experience the Holy Spirit, it seemed strange. Yet our God is not random. Everything He does has a purpose. Peter needed the Jews to understand what was happening was not only predicted by the prophet Joel, but actually points back to Jesus. He goes on to say,

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Jesus is alive and the Holy Spirit is God’s witness to Jesus. Throughout His ministry, Jesus claimed He would send the Holy Spirit. Some of the Jews believed the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus and pretended He had resurrected from the dead, but Peter seizes the moment of the Holy Spirit’s appearance as proof of Jesus being alive. After all, how can Jesus send the Holy Spirit if He is dead? Therefore, He must be alive! He must also be in Heaven because Jesus must send the Holy Spirit from Heaven. The Holy Spirit’s presence leads to witness and His witness leads to Jesus.

And Jesus leads to transformation. Peter has some harsh words for the Jews in attendance. After boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ as Messiah and the Holy Spirit’s arrival, he tells the Jews,

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit within him, delivers a devastating message to the Jews…you killed your Messiah. This is gut wrenching. Luke writes,

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When faced with their greatest sin, the crucifixion of the Messiah. The one whom God sent on His behalf to restore a broken relationship with humanity. The one whom the Spirit was sent through, Peter, empowered by the same Holy Spirit, gives them a path to transformation. The Holy Spirit convicts, offers forgiveness, they are baptized and He fills every believer.

What we observe here is when we respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction within our lives, it results in transformation. And this transformation is not private, it creates a new community. When we come before our church family and profess our faith in Jesus Christ through baptism we are telling everyone we have been transformed. We are communicating the Holy Spirit’s presence within our lives, and His presence within our lives leads us to witness, and His witness leads to Jesus where we experience transformation.

The Holy Spirit is so much more than a one-job tool. He is not an “it”. He is an active part of the Trinity within our life. His presence is felt, and seen, all throughout scripture going back to Creation. He is our Helper, our Encourager, our Teacher, our Transformer, and our witness to Jesus. He can do all things because He is all-powerful, all-knowing and ever present. He is the Lord our God.

We understand who He is, but what difference does He make within our lives? How does this incredible gift within our lives affect us? Well I think there’s really two camps represented here: Peter and the crowd. Peter represents those of us who believe. Those of us who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. We have given our lives to Him. We have been transformed by His power. The crowd are those who have not been filled with the Holy Spirit. You may know who God is, you might even attend church, but have you made a decision for Jesus?

When the Spirit filled him, Peter found himself speaking boldly, declaring Jesus with clarity and courage. For believers, that same Spirit lives in you. He delights to give you words when you feel unsure, courage when you feel afraid, and love when you feel hesitant. You don’t have to manufacture boldness, it’s His gift. The Holy Spirit’s presence within your life enables you to speak boldly on His behalf. He is with you.

And one of the ways we live this out is through worship. Welcome His presence so your worship may become a witness to his transformational power. Just like the believers in Acts 2, we have a responsibility to respond to His presence in this place. The Spirit leads us to honest, wholehearted worship that others can see. Through Peter’s empowerment of the Holy Spirit, 3,000 were saved that day. The Holy Spirit came upon them and indwelled in them forever. It happened because Peter and the 120 engaged the Holy Spirit’s presence.

When they felt the tug to cry out to Him they didn’t say, “well I’m not a great singer and I really don’t want the people in front of me to hear.” They didn’t wait until they felt ready, and they didn’t wait for someone else to take the reigns. They stopped what they were doing to enter into a time of praise and affirmation. This caused those on the outside looking in to ask questions which led to their transformation. All through the work of the Spirit. God longs to work through you, and the Spirit is eager to fill you with His presence. Your praise can spark someone else’s questions about Jesus. Which might lead them to transformation!

So take it beyond this morning! Ask Him to open your eyes to one person who needs to hear about the hope of Jesus, and trust that He will give you what you need in the moment. They may not be planning to encounter the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit may be counting on you to encounter them.

The Spirit is never limited in power, but sometimes we close ourselves off to His presence. What if instead, like those first believers, we simply said yes to Him in the moment? Their yes opened the door for 3,000 more to say yes that same day.

The crowd wasn’t planning on meeting God that day. They came for a festival, and suddenly they were ‘cut to the heart.’ Peter told them: repent, be baptized and receive the gift of the Spirit. Maybe that’s you today. Maybe you’ve been curious but never surrendered your life to Jesus. The good news is that the Spirit is a gift. He comes freely to all who call on the name of the Lord. You don’t have to fix yourself first. You don’t have to memorize a bunch of scripture. You can receive Him today as you are.

So how do you need to respond to the Holy Spirit? For Peter, it was bold witness. For the crowd, it was to receive Him. And for us today, it may be both. To receive Him, and then to trust Him to work through us in ways we could never do on our own. The Spirit isn’t an ‘it.’ He is God’s presence, God’s witness to Jesus, and He leads us to transformation. He is eager to work in you, and through you for His glory and the good of those around you..]

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