WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I hope you take some time to read the entire chapter of Acts two. It won't take long. Often, the emphasis of this chapter is on the entrance of the Holy Spirit. A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. Rushing and mighty were not hyperbole. The entire city must have heard the noise and showed up. And the house was filled with this rushing wind, and tongues of fire sat on the 120 gathered there, and they spoke with other tongues because the Holy Spirit enabled them. But what happened was more than a one-time event that caught the attention of the city. The changes that took place in the disciples were remarkable.
The first thing that appears is a sense of fearlessness among the disciples. Until the Holy Spirit's appearance, the 120 were keeping a low profile. They were not out in the streets proclaiming the risen Christ even though they were all eyewitnesses. They were not out sharing the good news about Jesus until the Holy Spirit showed up, and now, they are spilling out of the upper room and into the streets. And they were proclaiming the wonderful works of God. Their boldness caused some observers to mock and proclaim they were drunk. Drunk people can be unmoved by what others think of them. Don't ask me how I know. But these followers of Jesus were not hiding from anyone or whispering their praise.
The second thing to note is the change in Peter. Remember, Peter was afraid of the Jews and denied Jesus three times. Peter and the other disciples were hiding after the resurrection out of fear. Now, this same Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, raised his voice and told the crowd to listen. Then he preached a message quoting Scripture and proclaiming Jesus as the Christ. Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Christ. When the people asked Peter what they were to do, he told them to repent and be baptized in Jesus' name, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And three thousand received his word and were baptized. Three thousand answering an altar call and being baptized is a massive response. You can ask me how I know this. Having preached for years, a response of that magnitude is a miracle.
The third thing that took place when the Holy Spirit came was the many signs and wonders being done by the apostles. These were the guys that Jesus had to redirect when they went back to fishing after the resurrection. Now, God is working miracles through them. This is a big change.
The last thing we see when the Holy Spirit comes is the fear that came on the people. Not fear of the Jews, but a fear of God and the praise and gladness evident in the new believers. Oh, and God was adding believers to the church daily. This is a full-blown move of God's power. It came when the Holy Spirit came.
APPLICATION
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, and He is still here. He is still empowering people to be a witness of the resurrection of Jesus. Still working signs and wonders through people. Still enabling people to speak with other tongues. Still turning fearful folks into people willing to identify with Jesus regardless of what others think. Still causing multitudes around the world to be saved and added to the church.
The Holy Spirit came and changed things and is still working in people today to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.