Pentecost Sunday: The Promised and Providing Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

Scripture: Acts 2

Translation: ^{Acts 2.1}And when the day of Pentecost arrived, all of them were together at the same place. ²And suddenly a sound came from the sky like the sound a violent wind brings. And if filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³And tongues like fire appeared being distributed to them. And it settled down on each one of them. ⁴And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages according to how the Spirit was giving them to speak out.

⁵And there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing men from every ethnic group from all the places under Heaven. ⁶And when this sound came, the huge number of people gathered together and became confused, because each one of them was hearing them speaking in his own dialect. ⁷And they were shocked and amazed, saying, “Look, don’t absolutely all of these people speak the Galilean dialect? ⁸So how is each one of us hearing them in our own dialect that we were born in? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those who live in Mesopotamia, as well as Judea and Cappadocia, Egypt and the parts of Libya that are near Cyrene, and the visiting Romans, ¹¹both Jews and converts, Cretans and Arabs, we are hearing them speaking in our languages the great things of God!” ¹²And all of them were shocked and dumbfounded, one saying to one another, “What wants this to be?” ¹³But others who were making fun of them were saying that “They’re really just drunk on new wine!”

¹⁴And Peter standing with the Eleven lifted up his voice and spoke boldly to them, “Men, Jews, and all those staying in Jerusalem, Let this be known to you and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵You see, it is not as you suggest “these people are drunk,” because it is 9am. ¹⁶Instead, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel. ¹⁵“And it will be in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams! ¹⁸And indeed on My male slaves and on My female-slaves in those days I will pour out My Spirit and they will prophesy! ¹⁹And I will give omens in the sky above and signs on the earth below: book and fire and billows of smoke. ²⁰The sun will turn into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes. ²¹And it will be that everyone who will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved!”

²²Men, Israelites, listen to these words! Jesus, the Nazarene, a man who really was endorsed by God for you with miracles and omens and signs, which God did through Him in the middle of you just as you yourselves know, ²³This Person by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, who was given over, you killed via the hand of lawless people by nailing Him to a cross, ²⁴Who God raised breaking the pains of death, given that it was not possible that He be held by it. ²⁵You see, David says about Him, “I saw the Lord before me through it all, because He is at my right hand, so that I would not be shaken. ²⁶Because of this, my heart is rejoices and my tongue celebrates, but moreover my flesh settles on hope, ²⁷because You will not abandon my life in Hades, and You won’t allow You Holy One to see decay. ²⁸You make me know the path of life. You fill me with joy with Your Face!” ²⁹Men, brothers, I have to speak to you with boldness about David the Patriarch that he is both dead and buried. And his tomb is among us to this day. ³⁰So, because he really was a prophet and knew that with an oath God promised him someone from the fruit of his loins would sit on his throne, ³¹looking ahead, he spoke about the resurrection of Christ that he was not abandoned to Hades and His flesh did not see decay. ³²God raised this Jesus, which we are all witnesses of.

³³So, after being exalted to the right hand of God, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He poured This Spirit out, which you both see and hear. ³⁴For David didn’t go up into the heavens, but he says, “The Lord says to My Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand. ³⁵until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet!’” ³⁶So, certainly, all the house of Israel had better know that God made Him Lord and Messiah—this Jesus Who you crucified!”

³⁷And when they heard they stabbed in the heart and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, What should we do, men brothers?” ³⁸And Peter said to them, “Repent and each of you get baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, ³⁹because the promise is for you and your children and all those far into the future, as many as the Lord our God will summon.” ⁴⁰And with many other words he was warning and urging them saying “Get saved from this warped generation!” ⁴¹So, those who accepted his message were baptized and about 3000 lives were added on that day.

⁴²And they were focusing on the teaching of the apostles and on sharing, breaking bread, and prayers. ⁴³And fear came over every life, and many omens and signs were happening through the apostles. ⁴⁴And all those who believed were at the same place and they held absolutely everything as shared. ⁴⁵And they were selling their possessions and properties and distributing them to all according to how someone had a need. ⁴⁶And daily focusing with one mind on being in the Temple, and breaking bread in different homes, they were sharing food with great joy and sincerity of heart, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding the people being saved every day to their group.

Interpretation

1.      Structure

a.       The Coming of the Spirit (vv.1-4)

b.      The Response of those in Jerusalem (vv.5-13)

c.       The Spirit-empower Sermon of Peter (vv.14-36)

                                                              i.      Peter Explains the Languages as a Fulfillment of Joel 2 (vv.14-21)

                                                            ii.      Peter Explains Christ raised from the dead, not David (vv.22-32)

                                                          iii.      Peter Explains Christ poured out the Spirit and is Lord, not David (vv.33-36)

d.      The Response of the People in Jerusalem to Peter’s Sermon (vv.37-41)

e.       The Nature of the Early Church (vv.42-47)

2.      Themes

a.       The Holy Spirit

b.      The death and resurrection of Christ

c.       The killing of Christ by the Jews

d.      Languages/tongues

e.       Prophecies interpreted

f.       Calling on the Name of the Lord

g.      Conversion

h.      Church

3.      Doctrines

a.       The Holy Spirit comes from God via Jesus

b.      The Bible is reliable

c.       The Holy Spirit comes on every Christian at conversion

d.      The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts, boldness, insight, and empowerment

e.       The Holy Spirit transforms the human heart

Applications

1.      Outline

a.       The Promised Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      Promised by Jesus (Acts 1.4-5, 8)

                                                            ii.      Promised in Joel 2 (Joel 2.28-32)

b.      The Providing Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      The Holy Spirit Provides Spiritual Gifts

1.      He provided different languages

2.      He provides other gifts too, like leadership and preaching

                                                            ii.      The Holy Spirit Provides Boldness

1.      Boldness to speak up in general

2.      Boldness to say harsh and even dangerous things

                                                          iii.      The Holy Spirit Provides Words

1.      He will give the words we need when we need them

                                                          iv.      The Holy Spirit Provides Insight

1.      He enabled Peter to correctly apply Joel 2.28-32 to His coming

2.      He enabled Peter to correctly apply Ps. 15.8-11 to the resurrection of Christ and not David

3.      He enabled Peter to correctly apply Ps. 110 to the Lordship of Christ not David and in particular to the sending of the Spirit from God by Christ

                                                            v.      The Holy Spirit Provides Incentive

1.      The Holy Spirit is so awesome and should be such a part of our spiritual lives that He naturally comes up in evangelism as an incentive to convert

2.      The offer of the Holy Spirit can motivate people to come to Christ in faith

                                                          vi.      The Holy Spirit Provides Dedication

1.      Dedication to learning and following God’s Word

2.      Dedication to sharing our stuff generously

3.      Dedication to eating together regularly

4.      Dedication to praying consistently

                                                        vii.      The Holy Spirit Provides Generosity

1.      Through Him we can share our time

2.      Through Him we can share our talents

3.      Through Him we can share our money

4.      Through Him we can share our stuff

                                                      viii.      The Holy Spirit Provides Joy

1.      His joy is sometimes mysterious

2.      His joy is always overwhelming

                                                          ix.      The Holy Spirit Provides Praise

1.      He brings the praise of God out of us naturally

2.      He brings the praise of people to us naturally

                                                            x.      The Holy Spirit Provides Unity

1.      He brings people together from all the different languages

2.      He brings people together from all the different places

3.      He brings people together from all the different cultures

4.      He brings people together from all the different backgrounds

5.      He brings people together from all the different statuses

2.      Discussion Questions

a.       What do you think it would have been like to have the Holy Spirit rush on you with fire over your head and different languages coming out of your mouth?

b.      If you had been on the outside looking in, what would you have said about these Jesus-followers?

c.       Before today, did you know God promised through prophecy to send His Holy Spirit on all His people? Why is sending the Holy Spirit so important to God?

d.      How important is the Holy Spirit to your daily life on a scale of 1-10? Why do you say that number?

e.       What places do you want the Holy Spirit to have on your daily life? What is keeping that from happening?

f.       How can you rely on the Spirit while reading and applying the Bible?

g.      Of the 10 things the Spirit provides mentioned in the sermon today, which 2 things do you want Him to provide to you the most? Why? Which 2 things do you want Him to provide the Universal Church the most? Why? 

Making Major Life Decisions

Scripture: John 6.66-69; 15.4-5; Matt. 26.36-46; Rom. 12.1-2; I Cor. 10.31; Mark 1.35-39; Acts 1.23-25; Josh. 9.14; Matt. 7.7-8; James 1.5-8; Gen. 12.1-4; Acts 10.1-48; 15.28; 16.6-10; Matt. 4.1, 18-22; 16.21-28; Gal. 5.16-26; Prov. 3.5-8; 15.22; 14.8; 20.4; Heb. 13.7, 17; Ps. 90.12;

Translation: ^{Gen. 12.1}Go for your own good away from your land, from your birthplace, from the house of your father to the land that I will show you. … ⁴And Abram went just as Yahweh told him. And Lot went with him. And Abram was 75 years old when he left from Haran.

^{Psalm 90.12}Teach us how to count our days, so that we can get a heart of wisdom.

^{Prov. 3.5}Trust in Yahweh  with all your heart; don’t rely on your own understanding. ⁶Know Him in all your ways, and He will straighten your paths. ⁷Don’t be wise from your own perspective; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil. ⁸It will be healing for your body, and refreshment for your bones.

^14.8The wisdom of a shrewd man is understanding his path, but the stupidity of idiots is deception.

^{Prov. 15.22}Plans fail when there is no advice, but with a lot of advisors you will succeed.

^{Prov. 20.4}The lazy person doesn’t plow during planting season; he looks in harvest season, but there’s nothing.

^{John 6.66}At this point, many of His followers left for what they left behind and didn’t walk with Him anymore. ⁶⁷So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go too, do you?” ⁶⁸Simon Peter responded to Him, “Lord, who will we go away to? You have words of eternal life! ⁶⁹And we really do believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!”

^{John 15.4}Stay in Me, and I will stay in you. Just as the branch can’t produce fruit from itself, unless it stays on the vine, in the same way you can’t either unless you stay in Me. ⁵I am the Vine; you are the branches. The person who stays in Me and I in him—this person will produce lots of fruit, because without Me you can’t do anything!

^{Matt. 26.36}Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane. And he was saying to the disciples, “Sit here while I go pray over there. ³⁷And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to express sorrow and emotional turmoil. ³⁸Then He was saying to them, “My soul is depressed to the point of death. Stay here and hold vigil with Me. ³⁹And going ahead a little, He fell on His face praying and saying, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup away from Me! But now how I want it, but how You want it.” ⁴⁰And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He was saying to Peter, “How are you not strong enough to stay awake with Me for one hour? ⁴¹Stay awake and pray, so that you don’t go into testing. Although the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.” ⁴²Again, for a second time, going off, He prayed saying, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this pass except if I drink it, Your Will be done.” ⁴³And coming back, he found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴And leaving them, going back, He prayed for a third time the same sentiment saying it again. ⁴⁵Then He came to the disciples and He was saying to them, “Sleep the rest of the time and rest—look, the time has come and the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners! ⁴⁶Get up. Let’s go. Look, The person betraying Me has come.

^{Rom. 12.1}I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to God, your logical act of worship. ²And don’t be conformed to this age, rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you can prove what really is the Will of God, which is good, pleasing, and perfect.

^{Mark 1.35}And really early in the morning while it was still dark, He got up, left, and went out to a deserted place and He was praying there. ³⁶And Simon and those with him were searching all over. ³⁷And they found Him and were saying to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” ³⁸And He was saying to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the nearby market-towns, so that I can preach there too, because I set out for this purpose. ³⁹And He went preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Applications

1.      Outline

a.       Step # 1: Get God

                                                              i.      Get a relationship with God

1.      If you don’t have one, get one—right now, it’s easy.

2.      If you do have one, get it healthy—right now.

3.      Life with God is not life; it is nothingness

a.       John 6.66-69

b.      John 15.4-5

                                                            ii.      Get a passion for God’s Will

1.      Matt. 26.36-46

2.      Rom. 12.1-2

                                                          iii.      Get a passion for God’s Glory

1.      I Cor. 10.31

b.      Step # 2: Get Praying

                                                              i.      Example: Jesus prays before making a major life decision (Mark 1.35-39)

                                                            ii.      Example: the Apostles replace Judas with Matthaias after praying (Acts 1.15-26, esp. 23-25)

                                                          iii.      Example: Joshua and the Israelites get tricked, because they fail to ask God about their possible alliance (Joshua 9, esp. v.14)

                                                          iv.      Example: Jesus prays about going to the cross (Matt. 26.36-46)

                                                            v.      Instruction: Jesus tells us to pray for what we need (Matt. 7.7-8)

                                                          vi.      Instruction: James tells us to ask for wisdom if we need it (James 1.5-8

c.       Step # 3: Get Direction (from God)

                                                              i.      Listen to God

1.      Gen. 12.1-4

2.      Acts 10.1-48

3.      Matt. 26.36-46

4.      Acts 16.6-10

                                                            ii.      Follow Jesus

1.      Matt. 4.18-22

2.      Matt. 16.21-28

                                                          iii.      Walk in the Spirit

1.      Gal. 5.16-26

2.      Matt. 4.1

3.      Acts 15.28

d.      Step # 4: Get Wise

                                                              i.      Trust Yahweh (Prov. 3.5-6)

                                                            ii.      Fear Yahweh (Prov. 3.7-8)

                                                          iii.      Study the Bible (Ps. 119.105)

                                                          iv.      Get Advice from Wise People (Prov. 15.22)

1.      Parents

2.      Pastors

3.      Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc.

4.      Older brothers and sisters

5.      Wise friends (but not all friends are wise friends)

6.      Experts on the issue

                                                            v.      Consider your options (Prov. 14.8)

1.      Figure out what your options are

2.      Evaluate your options

a.       Costs vs. benefits

b.      Pros vs. cons

c.       Rightness vs. wrongness

d.      From your own perspective, from others’ perspective, from God’s perspective

                                                          vi.      Follow Godly examples/Obey the instructions of your leaders (Heb. 13.7, 17)

                                                        vii.      Plan ahead (Prov. 20.4)

                                                      viii.      Consider the Consequences (Prov. 20.4)

                                                          ix.      Know /Discover your Calling

                                                            x.      Recognize how short life is (Ps. 90.12)

e.       Step # 5: Get Sober (Don’t Make a Major Life Decision…)

                                                              i.      IF you’re emotionally unstable/disoriented

1.      Like after a major breakup

2.      Like after a major failure

3.      Like after losing your job

4.      Like after a death of a loved one

5.      Etc.

                                                            ii.      IF you’re extremely tire, sick, injured, etc.

                                                          iii.      IF you’re drunk, high, or unable to think clearly

                                                          iv.      IF you’re depressed

                                                            v.      IF you’re really angry

                                                          vi.      IF you’re really scared

                                                        vii.      IF you’re far from God

f.       Step # 6: Get Going

                                                              i.      Don’t hesitate to do what you need to do, once you know what right decision is and it is the right time.

                                                            ii.      Don’t procrastinate, waste time, or miss the opportunity (Prov. )

                                                          iii.      Don’t let fear, worry, apprehension, or pain hold you back from doing what God is calling you to do. (Matt. 26.36-46)

g.      Step # 7: Get Praising

                                                              i.      WE are in it to win it, not for ourselves, but for the glory of our God (I Cor. 10.31)

                                                            ii.      Ultimately, it is God who makes all our success and ability possible (Prov. and Phil. 2.13)

Wise with People (assorted Proverbs)

Scripture: Proverbs 11.22; 12.4, 26; 13.20; 14.7, 9; 15.17; 17.1-2, 9, 12, 17; 18.22, 24; 19.4, 6-7, 13-14, 19, 22, 26; 20.6, 19-20; 21.7, 19; 22.6, 7, 10, 14, 24-25*; 23.19-21, 27-28; 24.21-22; 25.17, 24; 27.6, 9, 10, 15-16, 17*; 28.24; 29.22; 30.20; 31.30-31

Translation: ^{Proverbs 11.22}A gold ring in a pig’s snout is a woman with a hot body but an empty head [lit. a beautiful woman even though her good judgment is gone].

^12.4A woman of quality is the crown of her husband, but like cancer in his bones if she brings him shame.

^12.26A righteous man researches a possible business partner, but the way of wicked people leads them astray.

^13.20Walk with the wise and get wise, but a person who hangs out with idiots suffers.

^14.7Get away from a stupid man, or you won’t know lips of knowledge.

^14.9Guilt mocks idiots, but acceptance is found among moral people.

^15.17A meal of vegetables where love is present is better than a fattened bull where hated present.

^17.1A bit of dry bread that comes with peace is better than a house filled with fresh steaks and conflict. ²A successful slave will rule over a shameful son, and among he will have a share of the inheritance among the brothers.

^17.9A person who forgives an offense is a person who really is seeking love, but a person who brings it up/does it again separates friends.

^17.12Go meet a bear robbed of its cubs by a man, but not an idiot in his stupidity. 

^17.17A friend is someone who loves in every situation, but a brother is born for trouble.

^18.22A man who finds a wife finds what’s good, and he gets a blessing from Yahweh.

^18.24There are friends that split up, but there is a loving person who sticks closer than a brother.

^19.4Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man loses his friend.

^19.6Many people suck up to important people, but everyone is the friend of the man who gives gifts. ⁷All the brothers of a poor man hate him, it’s worse if his friends distance themselves from him. He may be chasing them with words, but they are not there for him.

^19.13A foolish son is total ruin for his father, and the naggings of a wife are a constant dripping. ¹⁴A house and wealth are the inheritance of fathers, but a wise/successful wife is from Yahweh!

^19.19Great anger carries a penalty, because if you get rid of it, then it will come back again.

^19.22What you want in a person is their loyalty, so a poor person is better than a liar.

^19.26A person who attacks his father drives away his mother—that’s a son that brings shame and dishonor!

^20..6Many people claim to be a loyal person, but who can find a faithful man?

^20.19A person who exposes a secret is someone who acts like an spy, so don’t ever open up to someone who’s thoughtless with their lips. ²⁰The person who curses their father and their mother—their light will be snuffed out in the deepest darkness!

^21.7The violence of wicked people will drag them away, because they refuse to render justice.

^21.19It is better to live in the middle of a desert than with a wife who is argumentative and angry.

^22.6Teach a young man about the point of his life, then when he gets old he won’t turn always from it.

^22.7A rich person will rule over poor people; and the borrower is a slave to the man who lends.

^22.10Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave; and legal fighting and public shaming will stop.

^22.14The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit, a person cursed by Yahweh falls into there.

^22.24Don’t be friends with an angry man, and don’t hang out with a man with rage problems. ²⁵Otherwise you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself.

^23.19You listen up, my son, and be wise, so that your heart will be set on the right path. ²⁰Don’t be with people who get drunk on wine, with people who stuff themselves with meat. ²¹Because a person who gets drunk or stuffed will become poor and laziness clothes them with rags.

^23.26My son, give me your heart. And your eyes will enjoy your ways, ²⁷because the forbidden woman is a deep pit, and a out-of bounds woman is a narrow well. Indeed, she lies in wait like a predator , and she multiplies cheaters among humanity.

^24.21Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king. Don’t associate with people who change sides, ²²because suddenly their trouble will come up and who knows the destruction the two of them can bring?

^25.17Don’t go over to your friend’s house too much, otherwise he will have enough of you and hate you.

^25.24It is better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging/argumentative wife.

^27.6The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of a hater are numerous.

^27.9Oil and incense delight the heart, and the sweetness of his friend comes from life advice.

^27.10Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend, and don’t go to your brother’s house when you’re in trouble. It is better to stay with someone nearby than a brother far away.

^27.15A constant dripping on a rainy day and a nagging wife are similar. ¹⁶A man who can restrain her can restrain the wind, and he calls his days luxury.

^27.17Iron is sharpened by iron, and a man is sharpened in front of his friend.

^28.24A person who robs his father and mother and says “there’s no rebellion”—he is a partner to the man who destroys.

^29.22An angry man stirs up conflict, and a furious man makes a lot of offenses.

^30.20This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

^31.30Charm is a lie and beauty is empty: a woman who fears Yahweh, she is praiseworthy. ³¹Give her some of the fruit of her hands and praise her in public for what she does.

Applications

1.      Outline

a.       Be a Good Friend

                                                              i.      Be someone who brings out the best in others (27.17; 27.6, 9)

                                                            ii.      Be a faithful friend (12.26; 17.17; 18.24; 19.4, 6, 22; 20.6, 19; 27.10; 24.21-22)

                                                          iii.      Be a forgiving friend (17.9)

                                                          iv.      Be a good wife (12.4; 18.22; 19.13-14; 21.19; 25.34; 27.15-16; 31.30-31)

                                                            v.      Be a wise person (25.17)

                                                          vi.      Be a patient person (19.19)

b.      Find Good Friends

                                                              i.      Find people who bring out the best in you (27.17; 27.6, 9)

                                                            ii.      Find faithful friends (12.26; 17.17; 18.24; 19.4, 6, 22; 20.6, 19; 27.10; 24.21-22)

                                                          iii.      Find forgiving friends (17.9)

                                                          iv.      Find a good wife (12.4; 18.22; 19.13-14; 21.19; 25.34; 27.15-16; 31.30-31)

                                                            v.      Find wise people (13.20; 17.2)

                                                          vi.      Find patient people (19.19)

c.       Avoid Bad Relationships

                                                              i.      Angry people (15.17; 17.1; 22.10, 24-25; 29.22)

                                                            ii.      Adulterers (22.14; 23.26-27; 30.20)

                                                          iii.      Argumentative/Nagging People (19.13-14; 21.19; 25.24; 27.15-16)

                                                          iv.      Attractive outsides with ugly insides (11.22; 31.30)

                                                            v.      Unwise People (13.20; 14.7; 17.12; 23.19-21)

                                                          vi.      Unforgiving People (17.9)

                                                        vii.      Avoid being a borrower/slave (22.7)

                                                      viii.      Evil people (19.26; 21.7; 28.24)

2.      Discussion Questions

a.       Do you have a best friend? What is he/she like?

b.      What kind of people do you hang out with most of the time? Are they good friends? Are the good influences?

c.       How faithful of a friend do you think you are on scale of 1-10? Why?

d.      What are you looking for in a future spouse?

e.       What are you doing to become the kind of person who would make a good spouse?

f.       What do you think you can do to help bring out the best in others?

g.      Why do angry and unforgiving people make bad friends?

h.      Why is it important to avoid becoming in debt to someone/something?

i.        What practical thing can you do this week to become a better friend?