1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,520 Please open your Bible at Acts and chapter 2 as we come to the marvelous story of the day of 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:10,080 Pentecost Acts and chapter 2 3 00:00:11,620 –> 00:00:16,639 The church chairman reported that the membership now stood at 4 00:00:17,600 –> 00:00:18,900 120 5 00:00:18,900 –> 00:00:23,760 They had not been able to obtain a building and so they were still meeting on a second floor 6 00:00:24,139 –> 00:00:26,920 Room that they had been able to rent in the city 7 00:00:27,760 –> 00:00:33,799 There had been a good spirit at the prayer meeting and there had been a lot of discussion about how they could fill a vacant 8 00:00:34,000 –> 00:00:35,520 leadership position 9 00:00:35,520 –> 00:00:37,900 that was there in their group 10 00:00:37,900 –> 00:00:41,740 But besides that it seemed that there was not a lot else that was happening 11 00:00:42,200 –> 00:00:48,080 The task of reaching the community that was around them seemed beyond them. There was very little money 12 00:00:48,939 –> 00:00:50,939 there were very few people and 13 00:00:51,520 –> 00:00:55,139 Outside of the walls of the room in which they were meeting 14 00:00:55,139 –> 00:00:57,240 There was a hostile culture 15 00:00:57,880 –> 00:00:59,880 That had no room whatever 16 00:01:00,099 –> 00:01:01,980 for their message 17 00:01:01,980 –> 00:01:06,519 Now that is pretty much how it was with the only church in 18 00:01:07,199 –> 00:01:10,559 existence in Acts chapter 1 19 00:01:11,239 –> 00:01:14,139 But as we come to Acts in chapter 2 in the day of Pentecost 20 00:01:14,940 –> 00:01:16,940 everything changed 21 00:01:17,059 –> 00:01:23,500 Jesus had told the disciples Acts 1 in verse 5 to wait for the promise of the father 22 00:01:23,500 –> 00:01:26,500 He said you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit 23 00:01:27,279 –> 00:01:32,639 Not many days from now and then chapter 1 in verse 8 you will receive power 24 00:01:33,419 –> 00:01:39,879 When the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you you will be my witnesses 25 00:01:41,120 –> 00:01:43,580 in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and 26 00:01:44,339 –> 00:01:46,339 to the ends of the earth 27 00:01:47,239 –> 00:01:49,239 Well, they didn’t have to wait long 28 00:01:49,519 –> 00:01:53,419 10 days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven and 29 00:01:54,019 –> 00:01:58,879 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. There was a 30 00:01:59,480 –> 00:02:00,419 festival 31 00:02:00,419 –> 00:02:02,559 That was known as Pentecost 32 00:02:03,080 –> 00:02:05,440 Pentecost was simply a harvest 33 00:02:06,180 –> 00:02:11,639 festival, but it was a really big celebration and so Jerusalem was 34 00:02:12,380 –> 00:02:15,720 absolutely crammed with visitors for this 35 00:02:16,399 –> 00:02:22,080 festival chapter 2 in verse 5 tells us that there were people there from every 36 00:02:22,479 –> 00:02:23,559 nation 37 00:02:23,559 –> 00:02:24,660 under 38 00:02:24,660 –> 00:02:26,860 Heaven a kind of homecoming 39 00:02:26,960 –> 00:02:31,139 In which Jews from around the world had come back to Jerusalem 40 00:02:31,740 –> 00:02:33,740 for this festival of 41 00:02:34,240 –> 00:02:41,880 Pentecost and I want you today to try and picture yourself in the upper room on the day of Pentecost among these 42 00:02:42,720 –> 00:02:48,339 120 believers and then outside in the events that transpired on that day 43 00:02:48,619 –> 00:02:52,740 I’m going to try and describe for you what they heard 44 00:02:53,639 –> 00:02:55,639 what they saw and 45 00:02:56,160 –> 00:02:58,160 what they experienced and 46 00:02:58,759 –> 00:03:01,679 Then for us to see what all of this means today 47 00:03:01,679 –> 00:03:05,979 we’re going to focus particularly on the wind and on the fire and 48 00:03:06,380 –> 00:03:13,919 On the tongues all of which speak to us with huge significance in regards to the mission of the church 49 00:03:14,500 –> 00:03:20,380 Today, so I hope you have your Bible open at acts 2 and I want us to see here first that God breathes life 50 00:03:20,660 –> 00:03:24,419 Into his people chapter 2 and verse 1 when the day of Pentecost 51 00:03:25,380 –> 00:03:28,880 arrived they were all together in one place and 52 00:03:30,000 –> 00:03:31,259 suddenly 53 00:03:31,259 –> 00:03:33,660 there came from heaven a sound 54 00:03:34,500 –> 00:03:41,080 Like a mighty rushing wind and it filled the entire house 55 00:03:42,339 –> 00:03:44,339 Where they were sitting? 56 00:03:45,160 –> 00:03:47,360 Now in the ancient world many 57 00:03:47,880 –> 00:03:52,080 languages used the same word for wind and 58 00:03:52,779 –> 00:03:54,639 breath and 59 00:03:54,639 –> 00:03:55,660 spirit 60 00:03:55,660 –> 00:03:59,940 The reason for this was of course that the sound of the wind is 61 00:04:00,279 –> 00:04:06,020 Pretty much the same as the sound of breath only it’s much louder and it lasts for much longer 62 00:04:07,720 –> 00:04:14,679 The ancients thought of wind as kind of breath writ large and so they used the same word for 63 00:04:15,300 –> 00:04:17,260 These two 64 00:04:17,260 –> 00:04:20,100 Now whenever you come across something that is 65 00:04:21,100 –> 00:04:26,500 Unusual in the Bible. It’s always a good rule of thumb to ask this question 66 00:04:27,160 –> 00:04:29,540 Where in the Bible’s story have? 67 00:04:30,100 –> 00:04:33,019 In something like this before and 68 00:04:33,600 –> 00:04:38,380 If we ask where have we seen the sound of wind or of breath? 69 00:04:39,119 –> 00:04:42,200 Before there are two very obvious answers 70 00:04:42,200 –> 00:04:48,140 The first of course is right at the beginning of the Bible story where God breathed life into 71 00:04:48,480 –> 00:04:51,399 Adam God created a lifeless body 72 00:04:51,880 –> 00:04:58,760 There it is the skeletal frame and it’s lying there on the ground and then God breathed 73 00:04:59,140 –> 00:05:05,640 Into this corpse he breathed life into Adam and Adam became a living being God 74 00:05:06,700 –> 00:05:09,260 Breathed into him and he came alive 75 00:05:10,779 –> 00:05:14,359 then we’re told at the end of John’s gospel about 76 00:05:15,880 –> 00:05:17,220 Jesus 77 00:05:17,220 –> 00:05:24,320 Breathing on the disciples chapter 20 of John and verse 21. Jesus said to them peace be with you 78 00:05:24,320 –> 00:05:29,940 As the Father has sent me. So now I am sending you and 79 00:05:30,779 –> 00:05:32,779 When he had said this 80 00:05:35,320 –> 00:05:38,200 He breathed on them and 81 00:05:38,859 –> 00:05:43,359 he said to them receive the Holy Spirit in 82 00:05:44,119 –> 00:05:44,880 other words 83 00:05:44,880 –> 00:05:50,459 Jesus was explaining what was going to happen on the day of Pentecost. This is what it will be like 84 00:05:51,079 –> 00:05:53,660 I’m going to ascend to the father 85 00:05:54,320 –> 00:06:00,980 and then I’m going to breathe out my Holy Spirit who will come upon you and fill you 86 00:06:01,619 –> 00:06:04,059 This is what it will be like and now here 87 00:06:04,059 –> 00:06:09,739 They are these days later on the Day of Pentecost and what are they here the sound of a mighty 88 00:06:10,619 –> 00:06:15,459 Rushing wind it’s the same sound that they had heard when Jesus had 89 00:06:16,100 –> 00:06:21,500 Breathed on them only it’s much louder. It is now much stronger 90 00:06:22,320 –> 00:06:26,640 Now it put these scriptures together, and you get the picture of what is happening here 91 00:06:27,000 –> 00:06:32,980 You get the significance of the sound of the rushing wind that God used to communicate 92 00:06:33,380 –> 00:06:37,760 With his people on that day in Genesis 2 there was a body 93 00:06:38,660 –> 00:06:40,660 But it was a lifeless body 94 00:06:41,040 –> 00:06:46,959 and God breathed into the lifeless body and Adam became a living being and 95 00:06:47,980 –> 00:06:50,779 Here in Acts in chapter 2 there is another body 96 00:06:51,519 –> 00:06:53,519 Church is the body of Christ 97 00:06:54,559 –> 00:06:56,559 But it is a lifeless body 98 00:06:56,880 –> 00:07:01,220 Until Jesus breathes his spirit into it 99 00:07:02,160 –> 00:07:08,059 Now someone might reasonably ask I did they not have the life of God in them already 100 00:07:08,079 –> 00:07:12,700 I mean after all these people believed after all these people were praying 101 00:07:13,480 –> 00:07:19,119 Does that not mean that they already had some knowledge of the work of the Spirit in them. 102 00:07:19,399 –> 00:07:23,920 Absolutely, of course they did but remember this there are different kinds of breathing 103 00:07:25,279 –> 00:07:27,279 If you’ve ever visited 104 00:07:27,679 –> 00:07:29,679 someone in a hospital 105 00:07:29,859 –> 00:07:32,380 after a major operation and 106 00:07:33,200 –> 00:07:35,200 They are really ill 107 00:07:35,799 –> 00:07:38,519 their life maybe it’s hanging by a thread and 108 00:07:39,600 –> 00:07:44,100 You will be very aware that they take very very shallow breaths 109 00:07:45,100 –> 00:07:47,040 They’re breathing 110 00:07:47,040 –> 00:07:49,040 They’re alive 111 00:07:49,299 –> 00:07:52,279 But the life within them is very very weak 112 00:07:54,040 –> 00:08:01,359 Now change the picture and think about an Olympic sprinter coming down the hundred meters and 113 00:08:02,440 –> 00:08:07,220 as the camera closes in focuses in closely on the 114 00:08:07,420 –> 00:08:13,640 Sprinter there are great gulps of air that are being taken in filling the Sprinter’s lungs 115 00:08:14,179 –> 00:08:20,739 Energizing the movement that is coming thundering down this track at great speed 116 00:08:21,660 –> 00:08:27,339 Now that second picture is what is happening at Pentecost the sound of a mighty 117 00:08:28,160 –> 00:08:32,559 Rushing wind it came from heaven. It filled the entire house 118 00:08:33,080 –> 00:08:41,039 Where they were sitting God breathed life into his people in such a way that they were never the same 119 00:08:41,940 –> 00:08:43,799 Again 120 00:08:43,799 –> 00:08:50,520 Now here’s the question because we want to do much more than simply look at what happened at on that day back in the Bible 121 00:08:50,520 –> 00:08:53,559 Here’s the question. Do we still need this today? 122 00:08:54,559 –> 00:08:55,799 absolutely 123 00:08:55,799 –> 00:09:02,119 The Church of Jesus Christ always depends upon the Holy Spirit for our life 124 00:09:03,179 –> 00:09:05,179 without the Holy Spirit 125 00:09:05,659 –> 00:09:07,200 the church 126 00:09:07,200 –> 00:09:09,119 degenerates into 127 00:09:09,140 –> 00:09:15,200 tinkering around with programs and structures and initiatives and without the Holy Spirit 128 00:09:15,659 –> 00:09:18,400 Nothing of lasting spiritual value is ever 129 00:09:19,119 –> 00:09:21,119 accomplished 130 00:09:21,340 –> 00:09:23,340 So then what does it look like? 131 00:09:24,299 –> 00:09:28,200 When life from above is filling the church 132 00:09:30,020 –> 00:09:36,979 Well in Acts in chapter 2 we are given a very clear description look at verse 17 with me for a moment 133 00:09:37,979 –> 00:09:39,539 Peter 134 00:09:39,539 –> 00:09:45,580 describes what has happened and what always happens when the Spirit of God is 135 00:09:45,880 –> 00:09:50,659 Filling the church and he quotes from the prophet Joel in the last days 136 00:09:50,659 –> 00:09:54,419 It shall be God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh 137 00:09:54,419 –> 00:09:58,400 Here’s what it will be like your sons and your daughters shall prophesy 138 00:09:59,080 –> 00:10:03,359 Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall 139 00:10:04,059 –> 00:10:05,460 dream dreams 140 00:10:05,479 –> 00:10:09,580 Notice what happens when God’s spirit is poured out 141 00:10:10,380 –> 00:10:13,820 Abundantly upon his people number one 142 00:10:14,479 –> 00:10:16,479 Christians become articulate 143 00:10:17,099 –> 00:10:21,500 You see it says it there. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy 144 00:10:22,119 –> 00:10:24,119 What does that mean to? 145 00:10:24,380 –> 00:10:31,119 prophesy is to be prompted by God to say the right word at the right time in the right way and 146 00:10:32,419 –> 00:10:35,320 That has to be a work of God’s spirit 147 00:10:36,460 –> 00:10:40,840 Because apart from God spirit don’t you find that what happens is I speak for myself 148 00:10:41,419 –> 00:10:43,460 Apart from the grace of God’s Spirit 149 00:10:43,460 –> 00:10:47,140 I end up saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and I end up saying it in the wrong way 150 00:10:48,760 –> 00:10:52,080 But it is the work of God’s spirit to put it the other way around 151 00:10:52,200 –> 00:10:59,140 it is the work of God’s spirit to take us from people who stumble around without a clue of what to say to people who 152 00:10:59,140 –> 00:11:01,140 are actually useful in 153 00:11:01,500 –> 00:11:05,020 regards to the advance of the gospel because we’re filled with the Spirit 154 00:11:06,440 –> 00:11:10,940 when God’s people are filled with his spirit the church becomes 155 00:11:12,059 –> 00:11:13,739 articulate and 156 00:11:13,739 –> 00:11:21,580 Then notice what else your old man verse 17 shall dream dreams this is marvelous. Hope filled 157 00:11:22,299 –> 00:11:25,539 seniors that’s a mark of a church filled with the Holy Spirit 158 00:11:26,359 –> 00:11:33,580 Because that has to be a work of God because as we get older by nature we get more cautious 159 00:11:34,400 –> 00:11:36,400 We just do 160 00:11:36,640 –> 00:11:39,659 Life moves away from us as we get older 161 00:11:40,359 –> 00:11:43,960 It’s easier to turn in on ourselves with self-pity 162 00:11:44,020 –> 00:11:49,359 And to feel that nothing ever will be as good as when we were doing it in the good old days 163 00:11:50,979 –> 00:11:54,419 But you see when there is life from above what you have is 164 00:11:54,739 –> 00:12:00,159 older people who are full of hope with regards to what God will do on earth and full of 165 00:12:00,580 –> 00:12:08,080 anticipation with regards to what God has prepared in heaven hope-filled seniors. That’s a mark of the Spirit filling the church and 166 00:12:08,799 –> 00:12:10,820 Then notice what else? 167 00:12:10,940 –> 00:12:14,440 When the church is filled with the Spirit you have mission-oriented 168 00:12:14,799 –> 00:12:19,140 young people, your young men shall see visions and 169 00:12:19,799 –> 00:12:23,440 Again, this has to be a work of the Holy Spirit 170 00:12:23,440 –> 00:12:25,739 It will not happen apart from the Holy Spirit 171 00:12:26,140 –> 00:12:31,380 Because the natural tendency when we are younger is to think that we have plenty of time 172 00:12:33,119 –> 00:12:35,119 What are you going to do with your life 173 00:12:36,880 –> 00:12:43,299 Well, I don’t really know yet I want to keep my options open how many times have you heard that and 174 00:12:44,599 –> 00:12:48,419 So what happens when we’re younger is it’s natural to drift 175 00:12:48,900 –> 00:12:53,380 From one thing to another without any overwhelming sense of purpose or direction 176 00:12:53,780 –> 00:12:57,619 Or mission without ever knowing why we’re doing even what we’re doing 177 00:12:59,780 –> 00:13:02,099 But you see when the holy spirit is poured out 178 00:13:02,099 –> 00:13:08,119 Here’s something that you’ll see you’ll see young people with a sense of mission and a sense of purpose 179 00:13:09,380 –> 00:13:15,859 They’ll come to see what god can do and they’ll come to believe in what god can do in and through them and they will 180 00:13:15,940 –> 00:13:17,940 Give themselves to it 181 00:13:18,739 –> 00:13:22,979 They’ll start to speak like this instead of going on as if they had all the time in the world 182 00:13:23,059 –> 00:13:25,059 They’ll say I have one life 183 00:13:25,539 –> 00:13:27,539 And I am not going to waste it 184 00:13:28,260 –> 00:13:34,900 And I am determined by the grace of god that I will leverage everything that he has given me to the greatest effect 185 00:13:35,140 –> 00:13:41,619 For his glory and by his power. Young people will arise who will have the spirit of william kerry 186 00:13:42,500 –> 00:13:48,099 Who said expect great things from god and attempt great things for god 187 00:13:48,260 –> 00:13:52,979 That’s a mark of where the spirit of god is filling the life of a younger person 188 00:13:54,580 –> 00:13:56,739 So do you see what it looks like 189 00:13:57,539 –> 00:14:00,119 When god breathes out life 190 00:14:00,960 –> 00:14:05,940 Abundantly into his people by the holy spirit. Don’t you think we want more of this? 191 00:14:06,940 –> 00:14:08,799 Absolutely 192 00:14:08,799 –> 00:14:14,559 There is never a time when the church is not in need of more life from above 193 00:14:15,599 –> 00:14:22,000 And god by his grace and by his mercy is the one who through jesus christ pours it out 194 00:14:22,559 –> 00:14:24,559 God’s people become articulate 195 00:14:26,320 –> 00:14:29,299 Older people are filled with hope 196 00:14:29,719 –> 00:14:34,539 Younger people have a sense of purpose and of mission all of these things are 197 00:14:34,940 –> 00:14:39,940 explicable only by the spirit of God because they do not happen naturally and 198 00:14:42,359 –> 00:14:49,400 Instead of tinkering around with a few programs and a few structures and doing nothing of lasting spiritual use the church becomes a 199 00:14:49,760 –> 00:14:51,739 vibrant body 200 00:14:51,739 –> 00:14:54,380 Because the spirit of God is present 201 00:14:54,840 –> 00:15:00,200 And because God’s people have been made alive in Christ not with little breath 202 00:15:01,080 –> 00:15:05,719 But taking in great gulps of the air of the spirit of God. Oh 203 00:15:07,099 –> 00:15:09,099 God give us more 204 00:15:09,219 –> 00:15:11,320 God breathes life into 205 00:15:12,500 –> 00:15:13,659 his 206 00:15:13,659 –> 00:15:14,940 people 207 00:15:14,940 –> 00:15:17,080 That’s the first thing. Here’s the second 208 00:15:17,979 –> 00:15:19,059 God 209 00:15:19,059 –> 00:15:20,419 Commissions 210 00:15:20,419 –> 00:15:22,419 His people for ministry 211 00:15:22,960 –> 00:15:25,799 and I said we’re going to focus on the wind and 212 00:15:26,260 –> 00:15:28,260 the fire and 213 00:15:28,260 –> 00:15:31,719 the tongues here we’re going to focus on the fire look at 214 00:15:32,320 –> 00:15:37,559 Chapter 2 and verse 3 and divided tongues as off fire 215 00:15:39,280 –> 00:15:41,280 Appeared to them and 216 00:15:42,719 –> 00:15:46,200 Rested on each one of them 217 00:15:47,739 –> 00:15:50,659 Now I want you to try and imagine yourself 218 00:15:50,760 –> 00:15:57,080 Among these hundred and twenty people in the upper room when this happened 219 00:16:00,239 –> 00:16:06,380 They saw what I think can be best described as like a 220 00:16:06,400 –> 00:16:09,840 great ball of fire. That’s what it looked like or 221 00:16:10,679 –> 00:16:12,679 perhaps a 222 00:16:12,799 –> 00:16:17,739 Pillar of Fire thinking about the significance of that in the Old Testament 223 00:16:18,479 –> 00:16:20,559 And it’s coming down 224 00:16:21,280 –> 00:16:23,280 from the ceiling 225 00:16:23,700 –> 00:16:25,700 towards them and 226 00:16:26,239 –> 00:16:29,960 as this ball of fire as it appeared to them 227 00:16:30,820 –> 00:16:33,500 Gets nearer it separates out 228 00:16:34,159 –> 00:16:39,539 into individual flames that are described here as tongues of fire and 229 00:16:40,719 –> 00:16:42,719 a flame 230 00:16:43,119 –> 00:16:45,119 comes to rest on 231 00:16:45,739 –> 00:16:47,739 Comes to rest on 232 00:16:48,440 –> 00:16:51,119 every person in the room 233 00:16:53,219 –> 00:16:55,219 But no one is burned 234 00:16:56,419 –> 00:17:00,260 Now again, whenever you see something very unusual in the Bible 235 00:17:00,599 –> 00:17:06,540 Good rule of thumb always ask the question. Where have we seen something like this before and if you ask the question 236 00:17:07,660 –> 00:17:09,800 Where have we seen a fire? 237 00:17:10,599 –> 00:17:15,239 Resting on something and yet not burning it. The answer is very clear 238 00:17:15,239 –> 00:17:20,099 We saw this earlier in our series when the story of Moses and the burning bush 239 00:17:21,079 –> 00:17:26,599 God appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush and 240 00:17:27,040 –> 00:17:31,300 Moses saw that the bush was burning and yet the bush was not consumed 241 00:17:33,219 –> 00:17:39,219 Now what was the significance of that occasion that was the occasion when God commissioned Moses 242 00:17:39,900 –> 00:17:41,219 and 243 00:17:41,219 –> 00:17:45,780 The same God who commissioned Moses at the burning bush is 244 00:17:46,400 –> 00:17:49,599 very clearly here now commissioning all 245 00:17:50,660 –> 00:17:52,339 believers 246 00:17:52,339 –> 00:17:54,339 Not some all 247 00:17:54,979 –> 00:17:58,119 And I want you to try and take in this picture with me 248 00:17:58,900 –> 00:18:04,239 Here we are standing in the room and we’re looking up and we’re quite terrified 249 00:18:04,239 –> 00:18:08,140 I’m sure at first as we see this pillar of fire or this ball of fire 250 00:18:08,219 –> 00:18:10,219 And it’s descending and now it’s 251 00:18:10,420 –> 00:18:14,239 Separating into flames and and you think to yourself 252 00:18:14,239 –> 00:18:21,119 Oh the presence of almighty God is coming among us. Who’s it going to rest upon? 253 00:18:22,619 –> 00:18:24,619 It rested on Moses 254 00:18:26,099 –> 00:18:31,339 My guess is it’ll be Peter or James or John or maybe all of the Apostles 255 00:18:32,900 –> 00:18:34,900 But as you look 256 00:18:34,959 –> 00:18:37,619 You see that there are many more flames 257 00:18:38,479 –> 00:18:40,479 than that number and 258 00:18:41,119 –> 00:18:43,319 As you look to your absolute astonishment 259 00:18:43,880 –> 00:18:49,239 There is an individual flame of fire and it’s coming down right towards you and now it rests on you 260 00:18:51,619 –> 00:18:53,619 Do you see the significance 261 00:18:54,180 –> 00:19:01,060 As you look around and you see that there is a flame of fire that is resting on every person in the room 262 00:19:01,079 –> 00:19:03,079 The 263 00:19:04,199 –> 00:19:10,599 Gift of God spirit and the Commission of God to do his work is for every believer in 264 00:19:11,579 –> 00:19:13,780 The Old Testament it was for a few 265 00:19:14,819 –> 00:19:17,239 prophets priests kings 266 00:19:17,920 –> 00:19:21,660 they were all anointed by God for ministry but 267 00:19:22,540 –> 00:19:24,560 Here it is very clear 268 00:19:24,959 –> 00:19:29,680 That the Spirit of God is poured out not on a few but on all 269 00:19:29,699 –> 00:19:31,699 All believers in 270 00:19:32,180 –> 00:19:37,979 The Lord Jesus Christ it is not a privileged few who are commissioned to ministry 271 00:19:38,380 –> 00:19:43,560 The Spirit of God is given to all of his people for this 272 00:19:44,119 –> 00:19:46,119 purpose and 273 00:19:46,479 –> 00:19:54,180 As if to press it home Peter quotes these words from Joel just to say look it really is all of God’s people 274 00:19:54,780 –> 00:20:01,579 So if you look at verse 17 and verse 18 he quotes from Joel and I will pour out my spirit on all 275 00:20:02,199 –> 00:20:03,880 flesh 276 00:20:03,880 –> 00:20:05,560 But then just to press it home 277 00:20:05,560 –> 00:20:11,800 He says your sons and your daughters so the gift of the spirit will not be limited by gender 278 00:20:14,000 –> 00:20:18,839 It will be your young men and your old men you’re young mental see visions your old men will dream dreams 279 00:20:18,839 –> 00:20:21,859 So the Spirit of God will not be limited by age 280 00:20:22,520 –> 00:20:23,819 and 281 00:20:23,979 –> 00:20:27,599 Then he says even on my male servants and 282 00:20:29,040 –> 00:20:31,040 female servants in 283 00:20:31,339 –> 00:20:33,540 Those days, I will pour out my spirit 284 00:20:33,540 –> 00:20:39,699 So God’s gift of the Spirit is not going to be limited by education or by social class 285 00:20:41,699 –> 00:20:46,500 God has worked for us to do brothers and sisters and not for a few of us 286 00:20:48,339 –> 00:20:50,479 For every single one of us 287 00:20:51,300 –> 00:20:54,719 Because if you are in Christ his spirit rests upon you 288 00:20:56,959 –> 00:21:02,099 So God breathes new life into his people that’s the first thing that we saw 289 00:21:02,780 –> 00:21:04,780 Here’s the second God 290 00:21:04,920 –> 00:21:09,199 Commission’s all of his people for Ministry not just a few but all 291 00:21:10,239 –> 00:21:13,280 And here’s the third thing. That’s very important God 292 00:21:13,959 –> 00:21:15,959 equips his people 293 00:21:16,199 –> 00:21:18,199 to reach others I 294 00:21:18,800 –> 00:21:22,479 Want to make two observations here on this very important verse and 295 00:21:23,599 –> 00:21:28,140 they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and 296 00:21:29,719 –> 00:21:35,540 Began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them 297 00:21:36,719 –> 00:21:38,239 utterance 298 00:21:38,239 –> 00:21:41,180 Let me focus first on these words 299 00:21:41,959 –> 00:21:43,560 They were all 300 00:21:43,560 –> 00:21:45,400 filled with 301 00:21:45,400 –> 00:21:47,400 the Holy Spirit 302 00:21:48,800 –> 00:21:51,300 Now reading through the Acts of the apostles 303 00:21:52,719 –> 00:21:55,479 It is very striking to me 304 00:21:56,719 –> 00:22:04,800 That this language of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not used once but it is used again and again and again 305 00:22:06,359 –> 00:22:13,680 Acts in chapter 2 they are filled with the spirit for the life of the church 306 00:22:14,319 –> 00:22:17,540 Then if you turn over to Acts in chapter 307 00:22:17,900 –> 00:22:23,479 4 you get this story there of Peter and John who had been given the power 308 00:22:25,199 –> 00:22:26,359 to 309 00:22:26,359 –> 00:22:30,739 effect a miraculous healing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 310 00:22:31,880 –> 00:22:33,920 They are in chapter 4 brought before 311 00:22:34,479 –> 00:22:35,459 annus and 312 00:22:35,459 –> 00:22:37,459 Caiaphas 313 00:22:38,000 –> 00:22:42,560 To who had presided over the show trial of Jesus 314 00:22:43,040 –> 00:22:45,579 just a matter of a few weeks before 315 00:22:46,380 –> 00:22:48,400 and now 316 00:22:48,400 –> 00:22:50,079 here are 317 00:22:50,079 –> 00:22:53,040 John and Peter and they are brought before 318 00:22:53,839 –> 00:22:55,640 the same 319 00:22:55,640 –> 00:22:57,079 people 320 00:22:57,079 –> 00:23:01,819 who had so abused the Lord Jesus Christ and 321 00:23:03,719 –> 00:23:05,239 Annas and Caiaphas 322 00:23:05,239 –> 00:23:09,900 Asked to John and Peter now by what name did you do this this miraculous healing? 323 00:23:09,979 –> 00:23:15,339 that’s got all this attention and people are talking about it in the city by what name did you do this? 324 00:23:16,180 –> 00:23:18,180 chapter 4 in verse 8 and 325 00:23:18,660 –> 00:23:22,819 Peter filled with the Holy Spirit notice that language again 326 00:23:23,560 –> 00:23:29,660 the Spirit is coming upon him in this moment, which must have been a terrifying moment and 327 00:23:30,719 –> 00:23:33,060 the Spirit of God comes upon him 328 00:23:33,780 –> 00:23:37,579 by verse 10 the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth 329 00:23:38,060 –> 00:23:41,800 Whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead 330 00:23:42,180 –> 00:23:45,560 By him this man is standing before you and well 331 00:23:46,479 –> 00:23:47,699 Wow 332 00:23:47,699 –> 00:23:49,699 That is courageous 333 00:23:51,479 –> 00:23:53,479 And why does he have that courage 334 00:23:54,500 –> 00:24:00,180 Because in that moment the Spirit of God is filling him in a fresh and in a remarkable way 335 00:24:00,219 –> 00:24:02,219 The 336 00:24:02,939 –> 00:24:06,260 High Priest then tells Peter and John 337 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:13,380 That they must never speak in the name of Jesus again and 338 00:24:14,339 –> 00:24:15,880 If they do 339 00:24:15,880 –> 00:24:17,880 Action will be taken against them 340 00:24:19,260 –> 00:24:25,099 Acts 4. We’re now at a critical juncture in the story of the church 341 00:24:25,979 –> 00:24:28,619 They are commanded never again 342 00:24:29,339 –> 00:24:31,339 to speak in the name of 343 00:24:32,459 –> 00:24:34,459 Jesus 344 00:24:34,619 –> 00:24:42,380 So what happens is that the believers gather together for prayer you can read it in acts for they praise sovereign Lord 345 00:24:43,040 –> 00:24:45,020 verse 29 346 00:24:45,020 –> 00:24:48,219 look upon their threats and 347 00:24:49,479 –> 00:24:57,719 grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness and 348 00:24:59,400 –> 00:25:02,500 Then interesting what they prayed by the way didn’t pray Lord keep us safe 349 00:25:04,219 –> 00:25:06,219 They said Lord here’s the threat 350 00:25:06,939 –> 00:25:08,939 Make us bold 351 00:25:09,280 –> 00:25:11,140 Make us bold 352 00:25:11,140 –> 00:25:14,060 We don’t have that in us. It’s going to have to come from you 353 00:25:15,459 –> 00:25:20,020 And acts 4 in verse 31 when they had prayed 354 00:25:21,380 –> 00:25:24,020 the place in which they were gathered was 355 00:25:24,439 –> 00:25:30,099 Shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit same language again and 356 00:25:31,199 –> 00:25:36,400 They continued what was the effect to speak the Word of God with boldness 357 00:25:37,459 –> 00:25:41,020 So you see there is this filling of the spirit for the life of the church 358 00:25:41,020 –> 00:25:44,939 There is the spirit filling of the spirit for the strength of the church 359 00:25:46,479 –> 00:25:48,579 Then if you turn over a few chapters more to 360 00:25:49,540 –> 00:25:51,959 Acts in Chapter 13 and verse 49 361 00:25:52,339 –> 00:25:59,540 We have the story there of Paul and Barnabas there in Antioch and they preached the gospel and there’s been a wonderful response 362 00:25:59,800 –> 00:26:05,699 But then as so often is the case whenever you have a wonderful response expect that there will also be great opposition 363 00:26:06,000 –> 00:26:07,380 and 364 00:26:07,380 –> 00:26:09,380 so Paul and Barnabas 365 00:26:09,699 –> 00:26:12,119 Began preaching the gospel to the Gentiles 366 00:26:12,119 –> 00:26:16,939 It’s another great turning point in the story of the church the gospel that has primarily been 367 00:26:17,439 –> 00:26:24,959 Communicated to Jewish people is now taken in a new way with a new missionary thrust to reach the non-Jewish 368 00:26:25,560 –> 00:26:28,500 peoples of the day the Gentile nations and 369 00:26:30,020 –> 00:26:34,079 We’re told at that point that the word of the Lord 370 00:26:34,979 –> 00:26:36,979 verse 49 371 00:26:37,180 –> 00:26:38,699 spread 372 00:26:38,699 –> 00:26:41,380 throughout the whole region and 373 00:26:41,479 –> 00:26:42,300 And 374 00:26:42,300 –> 00:26:46,939 verse 52 the disciples were filled with joy and 375 00:26:47,619 –> 00:26:49,619 with the Holy Spirit 376 00:26:50,900 –> 00:26:53,199 So we’ve had the Spirit of the Lord 377 00:26:55,119 –> 00:27:01,359 Bringing life to the church. We’ve got the Spirit of the Lord bringing strength and boldness to the church now 378 00:27:01,359 –> 00:27:04,099 We’ve got the Spirit of the Lord bringing growth to the church 379 00:27:05,000 –> 00:27:08,359 Do you see the pattern the life comes from above? 380 00:27:09,079 –> 00:27:15,640 It’s Jesus doing his work in and through his people and he does it by the Holy Spirit 381 00:27:16,400 –> 00:27:18,400 That’s why when you get to the book of Ephesians 382 00:27:18,959 –> 00:27:24,199 We have this clear command for all believers be filled with the Holy Spirit 383 00:27:25,239 –> 00:27:28,020 Because you cannot do the work of God in your own 384 00:27:29,000 –> 00:27:31,680 Resources you are dependent upon him 385 00:27:32,459 –> 00:27:37,359 For life for strength for growth it all comes from 386 00:27:37,880 –> 00:27:40,280 Above and it all comes from 387 00:27:40,959 –> 00:27:42,619 him 388 00:27:42,619 –> 00:27:45,000 So they are filled with the Holy Spirit 389 00:27:45,959 –> 00:27:50,060 And then I want you to notice the second thing that also is very important 390 00:27:51,160 –> 00:27:57,560 and they began to speak acts 2 and verse 4 in other tongues as 391 00:27:58,760 –> 00:28:00,400 the Holy Spirit 392 00:28:00,520 –> 00:28:02,520 gave them 393 00:28:02,880 –> 00:28:04,880 utterance 394 00:28:05,239 –> 00:28:07,239 Now again 395 00:28:07,439 –> 00:28:09,439 the best way 396 00:28:09,719 –> 00:28:14,699 To approach something that seems quite unusual in the Bible is 397 00:28:15,579 –> 00:28:19,900 Always to ask the question where have we seen something like this before? 398 00:28:22,560 –> 00:28:24,560 Where in the Bible 399 00:28:24,880 –> 00:28:26,880 Have we seen 400 00:28:27,520 –> 00:28:28,680 people 401 00:28:28,680 –> 00:28:30,680 suddenly and spontaneously 402 00:28:31,180 –> 00:28:32,359 speaking in 403 00:28:32,359 –> 00:28:35,780 languages that they had never learned 404 00:28:37,760 –> 00:28:44,339 The answer is that if you were here in January as we began our journey through the Bible story you may remember that’s exactly 405 00:28:44,479 –> 00:28:47,699 what happened at the tower of Babel 406 00:28:48,560 –> 00:28:50,439 Remember that story 407 00:28:50,439 –> 00:28:53,819 Men were building a city to make a name for themselves 408 00:28:54,819 –> 00:28:56,239 They 409 00:28:56,239 –> 00:29:02,920 wanted to create a culture in which there was no place for God in which they themselves would take the place of God and 410 00:29:03,739 –> 00:29:07,579 God put the brakes on man’s Godless Kingdom 411 00:29:09,300 –> 00:29:15,180 By coming down the Bible says and confusing their language 412 00:29:17,300 –> 00:29:22,560 Can you imagine what that day was like? It must have been very strange 413 00:29:24,219 –> 00:29:26,459 Imagine that you’re working on the building site 414 00:29:26,459 –> 00:29:31,099 You’re working with some others and you’re involved in the construction of this tower 415 00:29:31,099 –> 00:29:34,880 And there you are. You’ve been working on the 8th floor for some time and 416 00:29:36,199 –> 00:29:41,239 When the colleague that you have been working with comes in on a particular day 417 00:29:42,500 –> 00:29:44,939 You cannot understand a word that he says 418 00:29:45,099 –> 00:29:46,780 That complete silence 419 00:29:47,079 –> 00:29:54,079 When you take your break for lunch and, uh, the various folks who are working across the building and are all gathered together 420 00:29:54,079 –> 00:29:56,459 You know, with their little box and sandwiches or whatever 421 00:29:56,459 –> 00:29:59,739 The equivalent was at that particular time in history 422 00:30:01,359 –> 00:30:02,880 What you find 423 00:30:04,420 –> 00:30:09,560 Is that people are babbling incomprehensible sounds 424 00:30:11,479 –> 00:30:13,319 This whole place is gone mad 425 00:30:13,800 –> 00:30:17,300 What in the world has happened? 426 00:30:20,160 –> 00:30:24,880 Eventually you find someone who speaks the same language as you do 427 00:30:24,880 –> 00:30:28,920 You say, oh, I am so thankful to have a sensible conversation 428 00:30:28,920 –> 00:30:31,119 What is wrong with everyone else here today? 429 00:30:31,119 –> 00:30:33,260 They seem to have lost their minds 430 00:30:35,520 –> 00:30:40,400 Well, over the building site you see what’s going to happen very very quickly 431 00:30:40,400 –> 00:30:42,400 Little groups of people are forming 432 00:30:43,459 –> 00:30:47,060 and they understand each other because they speak the same language 433 00:30:47,060 –> 00:30:49,359 but they can’t understand anybody else 434 00:30:51,300 –> 00:30:55,000 And in each of these little groups there is an absolute conviction 435 00:30:55,000 –> 00:30:57,099 We’re in our right minds and they’re all mad 436 00:30:58,579 –> 00:31:01,959 And so the conclusion is, we’ve got to get out of this place 437 00:31:01,959 –> 00:31:05,619 and start somewhere else that’s going to be more stable 438 00:31:05,619 –> 00:31:09,160 And so what happens is that the Tower of Babel is abandoned 439 00:31:09,160 –> 00:31:12,099 People just go north and south and east and west 440 00:31:12,900 –> 00:31:18,099 And you have all these little groups that are formed on that day 441 00:31:18,099 –> 00:31:22,260 and they all understand each other and none of them understand anybody else 442 00:31:23,579 –> 00:31:26,699 And they separate to the north and the south and the east and the west 443 00:31:26,699 –> 00:31:32,359 and they’re already carrying within them the seeds of all future world conflict 444 00:31:34,939 –> 00:31:40,920 At Babel, the tongues brought confusion 445 00:31:42,319 –> 00:31:47,160 and they were a sign of God’s judgment over man’s rebellion 446 00:31:49,819 –> 00:31:54,239 But at Pentecost, it’s exactly the opposite 447 00:31:55,619 –> 00:31:59,380 At Pentecost, you got people from every nation under heaven 448 00:31:59,380 –> 00:32:04,140 you got people who speak all kinds of different languages and they’ve all come to the same place 449 00:32:05,660 –> 00:32:08,380 And when the Spirit of God came 450 00:32:09,219 –> 00:32:12,459 These first believers suddenly and spontaneously 451 00:32:13,819 –> 00:32:16,380 Experience the reverse of Babel. They found themselves 452 00:32:17,300 –> 00:32:21,160 speaking in languages that they had never learned and 453 00:32:21,979 –> 00:32:29,579 the result of that was that the people who gathered were able to hear to their absolute astonishment the good news of the 454 00:32:29,959 –> 00:32:34,400 Resurrection of Jesus Christ proclaimed on that day in their own 455 00:32:35,199 –> 00:32:36,099 language 456 00:32:36,099 –> 00:32:40,400 Now do you see the contrast? It’s very important and it’s very wonderful at 457 00:32:41,199 –> 00:32:48,420 Babel the tongues were a judgment from God that led to confusion and ended up with people being scattered at 458 00:32:49,520 –> 00:32:53,699 Pentecost the tongues were a blessing from God that led to 459 00:32:54,500 –> 00:32:57,800 understanding to the proclamation of the gospel and people being gathered 460 00:32:58,060 –> 00:33:04,239 People being united people coming together as one and though they came from different cultures and spoke different languages 461 00:33:04,380 –> 00:33:10,560 They were one on that day around the Lord Jesus Christ in whom 3,000 put their faith 462 00:33:11,300 –> 00:33:12,280 at 463 00:33:12,280 –> 00:33:14,280 Babel God 464 00:33:14,319 –> 00:33:16,599 divided languages to slow down 465 00:33:17,979 –> 00:33:20,160 the proclamation of man’s glory 466 00:33:21,500 –> 00:33:27,199 But at Pentecost God’s transcended language in order to speed up 467 00:33:27,939 –> 00:33:29,939 the proclamation of Christ’s 468 00:33:30,599 –> 00:33:31,719 glory 469 00:33:31,920 –> 00:33:38,739 and so what happened of course on the day of Pentecost was exactly the opposite of what would have happeed on the 470 00:33:39,060 –> 00:33:43,920 day of the Tower of Babel being abandoned if you had been a 471 00:33:44,439 –> 00:33:48,739 Visitor to Jerusalem on that day, and you had heard the sound of the rushing wind 472 00:33:49,380 –> 00:33:52,319 Which was heard not just by those in the world in the room 473 00:33:52,319 –> 00:33:57,800 It was a sound that was heard widely and it caused people to come to see what was going on 474 00:33:58,599 –> 00:34:04,540 And so now here are this large crowd of people who have gathered in Jerusalem 475 00:34:04,540 –> 00:34:09,040 and they find that there are a hundred and twenty believers and 476 00:34:09,699 –> 00:34:17,479 They’re all declaring the wonderful works of God and they’re declaring these works in different languages 477 00:34:18,860 –> 00:34:22,360 Now if you had been a visitor to Jerusalem on that day. What would you have done? 478 00:34:22,419 –> 00:34:25,899 you would have immediately said I wonder if anyone’s speaking in my language and 479 00:34:26,340 –> 00:34:27,719 You would have formed 480 00:34:27,719 –> 00:34:33,020 Alongside them and some others would have been there and now here’s a believer who’s declaring the work of God 481 00:34:33,020 –> 00:34:39,639 and there’s a little circle around that believer of people who speak the same language and God in a miracle that was 482 00:34:39,899 –> 00:34:45,060 poured out at Pentecost enabled the transcending of languages for the 483 00:34:45,300 –> 00:34:47,399 advance of the Gospel 484 00:34:47,399 –> 00:34:48,840 It’s amazing 485 00:34:50,379 –> 00:34:52,120 and 3,000 people 486 00:34:52,959 –> 00:34:55,560 are converted on that day 487 00:34:57,459 –> 00:35:03,820 Now what is the significance of this for us surely it is this that in the clearest possible way 488 00:35:05,080 –> 00:35:10,040 God is saying to the church that he fills with the life of his spirit on that day of 489 00:35:10,239 –> 00:35:16,520 Pentecost the Gospel is not for a narrow group of people in society it is for the whole world 490 00:35:17,540 –> 00:35:18,739 it 491 00:35:18,800 –> 00:35:22,379 Is to be taken to people of every language 492 00:35:23,360 –> 00:35:25,020 It is to be 493 00:35:25,020 –> 00:35:27,020 communicated in every tongue and 494 00:35:27,840 –> 00:35:34,600 that is the task that is given not to a few but to the whole people of God on whom the Spirit of God rest so 495 00:35:36,560 –> 00:35:42,840 Let me make these very practical applications, let me ask you this question what languages do you speak? I? 496 00:35:43,520 –> 00:35:47,919 Speak Scottish and American so that’s not very good. That’s really not very good 497 00:35:49,100 –> 00:35:53,600 But there are some of you have a natural aptitude for language. You’re good at it 498 00:35:54,639 –> 00:35:58,479 Do you realize what an amazing gift that is from God? 499 00:36:00,560 –> 00:36:02,560 Have you ever thought about that? 500 00:36:03,520 –> 00:36:08,139 When someone says to me, I see you know what do you like at school? Oh, I love languages as it really 501 00:36:10,139 –> 00:36:12,840 Why do you think God gave you that gift 502 00:36:13,719 –> 00:36:14,959 if 503 00:36:14,959 –> 00:36:17,439 you can speak another language a 504 00:36:18,219 –> 00:36:25,439 Whole world of communication to a vast people group is open to you and you have this ability 505 00:36:27,800 –> 00:36:30,479 If God has given you that gift you got to think 506 00:36:30,479 –> 00:36:35,760 How do I use it for the sake of Christ and for the glory of Christ why else would he have given it to you? 507 00:36:37,399 –> 00:36:43,820 For others of us the challenge is going to be finding your voice in the language that God has already given to you 508 00:36:43,820 –> 00:36:47,459 Some of you can speak high school 509 00:36:48,419 –> 00:36:49,260 You know what? 510 00:36:49,260 –> 00:36:56,199 I mean by that, I mean some of you can just connect with high school students. You’re just on their level. You you speak their language 511 00:36:57,199 –> 00:37:02,760 You may be of a very different age, but somehow you’ve got a connection God gave that to you 512 00:37:03,379 –> 00:37:05,379 Why did he give that to you? 513 00:37:05,459 –> 00:37:07,399 So that you can use it 514 00:37:07,399 –> 00:37:12,840 Some of you have a remarkable ability to engage the attention and the interest of children 515 00:37:13,340 –> 00:37:16,659 Some of you are fluent in the world of business 516 00:37:17,419 –> 00:37:23,719 Some of you are able to talk extensively with other mothers who are young and you do it with an ease 517 00:37:25,699 –> 00:37:27,219 Do you see 518 00:37:27,620 –> 00:37:32,739 That God has put people around you who speak your language 519 00:37:33,739 –> 00:37:38,540 You have a connection with them. You have an ability to speak to them and 520 00:37:39,020 –> 00:37:42,899 God has put you where you are 521 00:37:43,620 –> 00:37:48,620 In order that they will hear the good news of Jesus Christ through you 522 00:37:49,459 –> 00:37:54,020 If we can catch the vision that was birthed on the day of Pentecost 523 00:37:54,639 –> 00:38:00,439 We’ll be going into wherever God has placed us with new and open eyes 524 00:38:00,860 –> 00:38:04,540 and we’ll be looking at what he’s already given to us in terms of the 525 00:38:04,679 –> 00:38:08,379 Capacities and abilities that we have and we’ll be asking the question 526 00:38:08,379 –> 00:38:14,020 Why did he give this how could it best be used and that’s not a question for a few 527 00:38:14,020 –> 00:38:17,280 It’s a question for every one of God’s people 528 00:38:20,300 –> 00:38:24,199 Now here’s the very last thing in these last couple of moments here today 529 00:38:24,919 –> 00:38:27,060 We seen that God breathes life 530 00:38:27,899 –> 00:38:29,899 into us 531 00:38:29,899 –> 00:38:37,139 He commissions us for ministry and he equips us to reach others 532 00:38:38,620 –> 00:38:40,620 And I just want very briefly to end with this 533 00:38:42,199 –> 00:38:50,860 I cannot spend a week in reflection on Acts in Chapter 2 without asking in my own life from the depth of my being 534 00:38:51,479 –> 00:38:56,620 Oh God I want to know more of your spirit 535 00:38:56,620 –> 00:38:58,620 in my life 536 00:39:00,179 –> 00:39:04,540 And I would be very surprised if there was any thoughtful Christian, any person who really loves Christ 537 00:39:05,120 –> 00:39:07,500 who doesn’t have that sense as we open this part of the Scripture today 538 00:39:08,840 –> 00:39:10,840 So let me simply answer this question 539 00:39:11,360 –> 00:39:17,739 How can I know more of the Holy Spirit in my life? My breathing you may say seems awfully shallow 540 00:39:17,939 –> 00:39:22,540 I want more life from above to be in me 541 00:39:24,320 –> 00:39:26,320 Let me give you these two thoughts 542 00:39:27,360 –> 00:39:29,280 first 543 00:39:29,280 –> 00:39:31,860 you get more of the spirit as 544 00:39:32,899 –> 00:39:35,479 You give more of yourself to Jesus 545 00:39:36,280 –> 00:39:38,860 God will not fill what he does not have 546 00:39:40,800 –> 00:39:47,360 You get more of the spirit as you give more of yourself to Jesus 547 00:39:49,199 –> 00:39:52,399 Therefore Paul says to Christians present 548 00:39:53,399 –> 00:39:58,199 Yourselves your very bodies as a living sacrifice to God you saying that to Christians 549 00:39:59,199 –> 00:40:03,520 That means there’s a real dynamic in the Christian life of me coming to a place 550 00:40:03,699 –> 00:40:08,360 of me coming to a place and doing this not once in a blue moon, but often of saying Lord 551 00:40:08,360 –> 00:40:09,320 I I 552 00:40:09,320 –> 00:40:13,679 want to offer myself for fresh and all that I am and all that I have and 553 00:40:13,840 –> 00:40:16,379 Lay that at the foot of the cross of Jesus 554 00:40:17,020 –> 00:40:18,020 and 555 00:40:18,020 –> 00:40:20,020 Here’s the second thing 556 00:40:20,040 –> 00:40:23,459 You get more of the Spirit as you fix your eyes on Jesus 557 00:40:24,340 –> 00:40:30,939 You get more of the spirit as you give more of yourself to Jesus you get more of the spirit as you fix your eyes 558 00:40:31,419 –> 00:40:32,939 on 559 00:40:33,159 –> 00:40:34,800 Jesus 560 00:40:34,800 –> 00:40:38,919 Peter makes it very clear on the day of Pentecost. It’s Jesus 561 00:40:39,699 –> 00:40:42,560 Who pours out the Holy Spirit verse 33? 562 00:40:42,560 –> 00:40:50,379 He has poured out that which you are now seeing and hearing it’s Jesus who pours out the Holy Spirit 563 00:40:51,840 –> 00:40:57,100 You know that the Holy Spirit is described as a dove in the scripture 564 00:40:57,100 –> 00:41:01,360 He descended as a dove on Jesus at his baptism 565 00:41:01,879 –> 00:41:06,739 And there’s a line that I found very very helpful from ch spurgeon 566 00:41:07,179 –> 00:41:10,879 He says this or at least it’s attributed to Spurgeon. Let’s say that way 567 00:41:10,879 –> 00:41:14,300 I’ve not been able to find where he said it. But here it is. I 568 00:41:16,399 –> 00:41:22,959 Looked at Christ and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I 569 00:41:24,939 –> 00:41:28,560 Looked at the dove and the dow flew away 570 00:41:29,320 –> 00:41:31,320 Do you see that I 571 00:41:32,100 –> 00:41:34,100 looked at Christ 572 00:41:34,479 –> 00:41:40,479 And when I had my eyes on Christ, I found that the Spirit of God came and filled my heart 573 00:41:42,800 –> 00:41:47,360 When I started looking out how do I simply get more of the experience of the Holy Spirit 574 00:41:47,360 –> 00:41:50,060 I found that the experience of the Holy Spirit flew away 575 00:41:50,979 –> 00:41:52,020 You 576 00:41:52,020 –> 00:41:57,300 Get more of the Holy Spirit as you fix your eyes upon Jesus Christ 577 00:41:57,679 –> 00:42:03,879 the more Christ centered you are the more spirit filled you will be 578 00:42:04,560 –> 00:42:08,800 And that’s why Paul says in his prayer and Ephesians in chapter 3 579 00:42:08,800 –> 00:42:14,860 He praised that you will know the love of Christ that passes knowledge 580 00:42:16,020 –> 00:42:18,020 In order that you may be filled 581 00:42:18,919 –> 00:42:22,399 To the measure of all the fullness of God 582 00:42:24,060 –> 00:42:27,219 All father that is the desire of our hearts today 583 00:42:28,040 –> 00:42:34,739 For all that we know of the life of your spirit, we give you our thanks and we desire more 584 00:42:36,399 –> 00:42:40,239 Therefore we ask that we will give ourselves more fully to you 585 00:42:41,199 –> 00:42:46,739 That we will fix our eyes more clearly on Jesus and that we will be 586 00:42:47,580 –> 00:42:48,780 pursuing 587 00:42:48,780 –> 00:42:50,399 Christ-centered 588 00:42:50,399 –> 00:42:52,399 lives and 589 00:42:52,399 –> 00:42:55,179 We ask therefore that you will equip us 590 00:42:55,860 –> 00:43:01,379 For all that you are calling us to do and that you will use us in the work that you’ve already 591 00:43:01,760 –> 00:43:03,179 prepared for us 592 00:43:03,179 –> 00:43:08,000 For these things we ask in the Savior’s name and God’s people said Amen