This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on May 5th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here. We’ve been studying the post- resurrection accounts of Jesus. The last week we spoke about the great commission the very last post resurrection account before the ascension.
”And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."“ - Acts 1:4-5, 8 ESV
It before he tells them to go, he tells them to wait. Then we see the outworking of his instructions in the remaining part of the New Testament.
When Jesus said not to leave Jerusalem, it was a command.
”Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.“ - Acts 1:12-14
They waited and obeyed faithfully until the day of Pentecost.
”When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.“ - Acts 2:1-4 ESV
What happened on the day of Pentecost was a supernatural phenomena and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were being baptised with the Holy Spirit. They were so immersed in the Holy Spirit that they began to speak in tongues.
There were people from different parts of the world. When they heard the sound, they heard them speaking in their own language. ”And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."“ - Acts 2:6-11 ESV
There are 4 types of tongues. This is the type of tongue where unbelievers could hear their own language being spoken.
You see that the Holy Spirit had come, but where is the power?
”But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.“ - Acts 2:14 ESV
The first element of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was supernatural boldness. Peter who could not confess Jesus to a servant girl is now preaching boldly in front of thousands. The connection between the promise of the father and the power is the gift of tongues.
Let’s look at the outworking of this in the rest of the New Testament.
”Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.“ - Acts 8:4-8 ESV
These are examples for us to follow. Don’t let your experience be what is possible. Let the word determine what we will believe in.
”Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.“ - Acts 8:14-17 ESV
What is the difference between being a believer and being baptised in the Holy Spirit?
These are 2 different events. The believers in Samaria already believed in Jesus and were baptised. But they had not yet received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was a 3 day journey from Jerusalem to Samaria. But the apostles went there and considered it important to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.
What is the sign that someone was baptised by the Holy Spirit?
There is something you see and something you hear. Simon saw that they were being baptised by the Holy Spirit. What did he see?
Account of Saul coming to faith:
”But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.“ - Acts 9:1-6, 10-13, 17-19 ESV
Account of Cornelius coming to faith:
”At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.“ - Acts 10:1-5, 42-45 ESV
The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the gentiles.
”For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.“ - Acts 10:46-48 ESV
Ephesian believers receiving the Holy Spirit:
”And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.“ -Acts 19:1-6
In all these instances, after receiving Jesus, they were receiving the Holy Spirit. The sign that they had received the Holy Spirit was that they were speaking in tongues.
”And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.“ - Acts 4:31 ESV
Even if you were filled with the Holy Spirit, you can be filled with the Holy Spirit again. Eph 5:18 says be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We need to ask for boldness and power. The testimony of the New Testament believers that they turned the place upside down. May that be our testimony in this city.
Why do we need to speak in tongues?
”Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.“ 1 Corinthians 14:1-2, 4 ESV
”Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.“ - 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV
There is a misinterpretation of the passage saying the perfection is the word, so after the Bible was canonised all these gifts cease. But it does not bear the weight of scrutiny. We still seek knowledge, we do not yet see Jesus face to face. So the tongues will be still when we come face to face with Jesus. For now we need to be built up, so we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.
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