The Coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-4

Christianity is not a system of philosophy, nor a point of view, nor is it psychology, nor a change in moral behaviour or a persons view on ethics nor merely an experience, although it does follow the facts. It is a supernatural, miraculous action of God upon men and women. It is based upon historical and prophetic facts. It is not built upon popes, cardinals, theologians, ministers or pastor but upon Jesus the Rock.  The proof is that it was all prophecies since Genesis 3:16 and onwards. The proof is that Jesus prophesied his death and being in the grave 3 days and rising again. Now we are looking at the evidence.  The proof is that Jesus prophesied that He would send the Holy Spirit after He would ascend to the Father. The proof is that it was prophesied by John the Baptist that the Holy Spirit would come. The proof is that many saw him, individuals, in twos, in small groups, in a large gathering.  It was supernatural and miraculous.  The death burial, resurrection, ascension of Christ, the coming of the Spirit changed the world. This week we have had elections men have made promises to change our country, they will claim they are the party elected by the people.  They will be well meaning but no matter what government gets in they will leave God out.   You will not hear them saying what does God say about the state of our nation? What does God think about the morality of our citizens?  My friend if there had have been a political answer to our problems do you not think God would have sent a political Messiah.  No! It is a sin problem that needs a supernatural answer.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied.

First the Passover speaks of the death of  Jesus Christ “…for even Christ is our Passover sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7). Then follows the Feast of First fruits. This speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Christ is the first fruits (1 Cor. 15:23). Then Pentecost the Greek  word means "fiftieth day." It was fifty days later. Sunday 23rd May 2010. Pentecost (Whitsunday) Pentecost occurs seven weeks after the death  (Feast of First fruits).  It occurred ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven. The same feast was also called the feast of harvest (Ex. 23:16) and the feast of weeks (Ex. 34:22). The feast of Pentecost celebrated the wheat harvest. It also commemorated the giving of the Mosaic law because the Jewish people believe the law was given to them about fifty days after the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land. The Exodus began when God sent an angel to slay all the firstborn of Egypt. After the Israelites left Egypt, it became traditional to celebrate God's giving of the law alongside the feast of harvest. The Jews still do that even today. It was no accident that the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost.

A great event took place-the coming of God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. It is a vital and relevant part of Gods Word.  He comes to apply the word to us, and makes it become alive in our hearts. He illuminate our hearts. He shines light into darkness, He convicts and convinces us about the truth of Jesus.  He brings us knowledge of salvation.  He regenerates us. He changes and transforms us. He fulfils prophecy

about himself. John the Baptise said, “I indeed baptise you with water but, one mightier than I cometh….he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost with fire….” Lk. 3:16-17.  Our Lord prophesied that when this happened there would be signs and wonders following Mk. 16:16-17. Jesus prophesied that he would die and rise again and after he has gone he will send the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:7).  Remember Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit but it says that the Spirit came upon him at his baptism. Why? For service. You may be born of the Spirit but you may need the spirit to come upon you for service. It says he was filled with the spirit before he went into the wilderness ad was tempted.  He said to the disciples “Tarry ye in the city in Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49).  He said in Acts 1:8 that they were going to receive it and when it happened “ye shall be witnesses (martyrs) unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.   

When the day of Pentecost had come it fulfilled the facts that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God.  Every word concerning the Holy Spirit’s coming was fulfilled.  The people God moved upon were not great philosopher, wonderful politicians, amazing world leaders, deep theological scholars. They were not experts in the law or Greek philosophy. In the opinion of the Sanhedrin they were “unlearned and ignorant men” but “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Peter preached the fulfilment of prophecies as he preached on that day.  An amazing power came upon them and they done remarkable things. God gave these men power. They had absolute proof of the reality of the spiritual realm Peter calls it a more sure word of prophecy…the Word of God given by holy men “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost-as they were influenced , controlled, carried along, borne along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:19-20). They had the facts , historical facts.  The fact of the prophecies of Christ’s coming. The facts of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Spirit. 

The Power of the Holy Spirit to Witness

These were already believers but they needed the power of the Holy Spirit to go out and serve sacrificially.  Ten of the eleven died martyrs deaths. Why? They received the power of the Spirit to be witnesses.  James was  James “put to death with the sword,” likely a reference to beheading. (Acts 12:2).

Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.          

Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.  

Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost. John was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos where he wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation. The Apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as a bishop in modern Turkey. He died an old man, the only Apostle to die peacefully.    

Peter, was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross, according to Church tradition, because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James the Just, the leader of the Church in Jerusalem and brother of Jesus, was thrown down more than a hundred feet from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.          

James the Greater, a son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the Church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman soldier who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.      

Bartholomew, also known as Nathaniel, was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed about our Lord in present day Turkey. He was whipped to death for his preaching in Armenia.

Thomas was speared and died on one of his missionary trips to establish in India.                                                                                                                                  Jude, a brother of Jesus, was killed with arrows after refusing to deny his faith in Christ.                                                                                                                          Matthias, who was chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and beheaded.

Barnabas, one of the group of seventy disciples, was stoned to death at Salonica.   

Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment which allowed him to write his many epistles to the Churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, from a large portion of the New Testament.

When God Comes There are Changes

 Vs 1 -2 “They were all in the house” when the Spirit came.  The people were merely sitting in the room, became baptized, and showed no reaction at that moment. When God came in the beginning he created a world, he created light in the heavens universes, life out of the out of the earth nothing, when God came He created man out of the dust of the earth, when God came down to Adam after he sinned there were changes. When God came down to confound the languages at Babel there were changes, when God came down and gave Moses the Law there were changes, when god came to earth to be born of a virgin there were changes, when God came a Pentecost there were changes.  If God comes to your heart there will be changes.  When God came at Pentecost it marked the end of the old age and the beginning of the new. Up to now, the Spirit was with God's people, but from now on, He would indwell them. In the Old Testament era, men served God out of love along with a fear of the consequences of breaking God's law. But from now on, they would serve God out of love for Christ with the energy of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All believers have the Spirit within them and are in an invisible union with each other and Christ. Paul referred to the church as a mystery because it was not revealed in the Old Testament (Eph. 3:3-6), but in Acts 2 we see that mystery unfolding. In the Old Testament God revealed Himself to man through the law and the sacrificial

The Spirit's coming didn't depend on men.

He came because He was sent by Jesus. The disciples were still together. It was not because they prayed or plead or that they met some special requirements. The Spirit came to fulfil the plan of God. The Spirit's coming was timed to fulfil prophecy

Vs 2 The Signs of the Spirit's Arrival (vv. 2-4)

1. The wind (v. 2) "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, a raging hurricane, and if filled all the house where they were sitting." God breathed and the church was born. Just as he breath out his word at Creation and the world were born. The church was born supernaturally, quickly, suddenly instantaneously. They were not expecting a sound like a mighty wind from heaven. It was not man made not did Satan make it came form God in heaven. Wind is often an emblem of the Holy Spirit. John 3:8 says, "The wind bloweth where it willeth, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell from where it cometh, and where it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Generally the Greek word translated "spirit" is pneuma, which also means "breath" or "wind." But in Acts 2:2 the Greek word is pnoes, which means "a blast of breath." It's not a gentle breeze; it's more like a strong gust.

2. The fire (v. 3) "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." The cloven (parted) tongues appeared to be like fire over each one. They were visible proof that the Spirit came. They appeared on every individual, hovering overhead like little parted flames. The idea behind the picture of fire is usually purification, as a refiner uses fire to make pure gold. Or fire can burn away what is temporary, leaving what will last. This is represents the purity of the Spirit. In the Old Testament, God showed His special pleasure with a sacrifice by kindling the fire for it Himself. Fire from heaven came down and consumed the sacrifice. The experience of the followers of Jesus on Pentecost is another example of God sending fire from heaven to show His pleasure and power, but this time, it descended upon living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit rested on God's people more as a nation, that is, Israel. But under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit rests upon God's people as individuals - the tongues of fire sat upon each of them.

3. The Filling. Vs 4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." It was a sovereign act of God not worked up or given by men. In response to the filling of the Holy Spirit, all those present began to speak with other tongues. These were languages that they were never taught, and they spoke these languages this as the Spirit gave them utterance. The people in the house were all baptized with the Holy Spirit. They were completely enveloped by the breath of God. Later on we read that unbelievers came to the scene. They were curious about the sound they had heard, and came to the house to see what was happening.

When the Spirit Comes Lives Are Changed An Exchanged Life – The Apostle John

The apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” was the man who spoke often of the love of God.  He is the epitome of peace, love grace and dependability.  But he was not always like that he was not born a saint.  Peter James and John are the first three mentioned of the twelve listed in Mark 3:13-19.  Jesus gave these three special names that indicated heir personality.  Simon He surnamed Peter, the rock but the two brothers James and John He surnamed them Bosangeres which is “The sons of thunder."  “The sons of rage” or “the soon angry ones”.  John was called the soon angry one.  He was no saintly character.  Luke tells us when Jesus wanted to teach his disciples humility (Lk. 9:47) He called a little child to illustrate his teaching and called the child to sit by him vs. 48.  But suddenly John breaks out “Master we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not after us.”  John took it upon himself to interrupt the Lord, nobody asked John anything.  He is the kind of person to give answers to questions that nobody asked. This interruption shows that he had not been listening to the Master.  He was thinking what had to be done and burst out and boasted about it. This is the very opposite to humility.

Later in verse 51 we are told, “when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” This journey took him straight through Samaria. When night came he searched for lodgings for the 13 men.  When the request was made for accommodation the Samaritans refused point blank, to receive them.  “The Jews had no dealings with Samaritans” (Jn. 4:9).  In verse 54 James and John reacted to the refusal, when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down form heaven, and consume them even as Elias did”?   They meant every word of it; they were “thunder and lightening.” They were willing to blast eh women and children there into eternity in order to satisfy their rage. What kinds of men do such things?  Surely not followers of Christ.  Jesus turned and “rebuked them” this word is used in connection with Christ rebuking demons and unclean spirits. It is different ward form “rebuking the wind” or “rebuking Peter.” It is a strong word. 

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus gave a most graphic account of what lay ahead for him (Mark 10:32-34). James and John came to him immediately, they had not listened to him as he spoke of his coming death but they were busy with their plans of success.  There is almost a conspiracy of these two brothers who come with the request, “Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we desire” vs. 35. Notice the “we and us”. It was then their plans became apparent. They were expecting the Lord to go to Jerusalem and by his mighty power overthrew the Roman rule and establish his own kingdom.  When this was accomplished he would need strong men to help rule his kingdom; here were two volunteers, seeking favours and positions of high office in the new government, where they could exercise their love of power and authority.   What kind of man would go behind the backs of the other disciples to seek favour for himself?  This is not the behaviour of sweet and mild followers of Jesus.   No wonder that “when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John” (vs. 41).    They were disgusted with them.  John was not popular character at that moment.

This is the kind of personality John possessed as a young man among the disciples.   He was far from being a saint.  He was hasty, ambitious, unlovable and difficult to get along with.  This is the man Jesus chose to love.  This unlovable detestable person.  He was a difficult man but needed tender care, love and forgiveness.

One time James and John sent their mother to Jesus. They were arguing about who's going to sit next to Jesus in the kingdom, which was a stupid thing to argue about because it wasn't humble at all. So James and John asked their mummy to go ask Jesus if we can sit on the right and left?" This loving devoted mother did not want to deny her two boys so she went and said to Jesus, "My boys would like to sit next to you in the kingdom." She may have been embarrassed. Jesus says, "Can you undergo what I'm going to undergo? Can you be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?" Yes they said. They had no idea. Jesus said, "You will be baptized with the baptism, which I will undergo." Matt. 20:23. It's a baptism of persecution and suffering and blood. Here it is. James fulfilled the prophecy. John suffered in a different way. He didn't die. He had to live in exile and punishment. Both went through lives of pain for the cause of Christ.

 The Spirit of Martyrdom Acts 1:8

 James death tested the faith of the church, of the individual believer, it showed the importance of not taking things for granted , they were blessed up to this point people were continuously being saved, it tested the faith of the individual. God used persecution to move the church. Instead of Herod getting rid of Christians it cause's them to move out and evangelize the world. God works like this in history. His work will continue even when great leaders are killed. The most important thing is that this man's life had been changed dramatically.  Once he and his brother wanted to rule now he gives up his life.  Why!?  First he witnessed that Christ died second he saw him after the resurrection and third after being in the upper room in pay for ten days and then witnessed the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit all convinced him the greatness of the cause of Christ. “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.”  Acts 1:13.

John Was Convinced About Who Jesus Was

1:1 “That which was from the beginning” John’s gospel begins with “in the beginning was the word” or in the beginning that was not a beginning. The word was the  beginning and Jesus will come and judge the world with the word when he come back (Rev. 19.) Jesus was in existence before the foundation of the world and at the foundation of the world.  This is the beginning of created things.  Since He antedated creation He must be uncreated. He must be without beginning, and therefore Deity.  Johns gospel reaches back into eternity before the universe was brought into existence to speak of the Lord Jesus as in fellowship with the father, and as the Light that shone through the darkness of sin through his creative acts (Jn. 1:1-10).                 

In 1 John  he goes back only to the time when the created universe came into existence, and speaks of that which is true concerning Him since the time of His incarnation. He goes into detail as to prove Christ’s humanity, assuming his deity.  He is denying 2 groups of Gnostics who have wrong opinions about who Jesus was.

Vs 1 “looked upon him” – The Greek word for looked is “theaomai” which means “to hold, view attentively, contemplate.” The word comes over into our language in the word “theatre”.  They looked upon, gazed upon that unique life as upon a spectacle.  After the accurate observation, after seeing him with their discerning eyes they were full of wonder and awe.

"have handled”  (pselaphao, to handle, touch, feel).   It means to “examine closely” or “to handle with view of investigation”. The same word is used in Like 24:39 “Handle Me with a view of investigation and see; because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”  Our lords proof to his disciple was that he was raise d in the physical body in which he died was based on scientific evidence of their sense of touch.  They handled his body they investigate the claim to have a body of flesh and bones.  This is a reference to our Lords resurrection.