The Power that Changes Lives

Acts 1:4-5, 7-8 | Acts 1:14 | Acts 2:1-41

1. The Promise and the Posture (Acts 1:4-5, 7-8 & Acts 1:14)
2. I. Jesus gives the church a command and a promise before He ascends

• THE COMMAND: Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift the Father promised
• THE CONTRAST: John baptized with water. What is coming is the Holy Spirit Himself
• THE PROMISE: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you

1. Acts 1:8 is the complete operating manual for the church in one sentence

• The source of the power: the Holy Spirit coming upon them
• The result of the power: they will be witnesses
• The scope of the mission: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the ends of the earth

1. Between the promise and the fulfillment, they prayed

• 120 people joined together constantly in prayer
• Not strategizing - PRAYING
• The church of Jesus Christ was born in a prayer meeting
• The Holy Spirit fell on a praying, unified, obedient community

1. The Outpouring (Acts 2:1-13)
2. The Spirit arrives; suddenly, powerfully, publicly

• They were still together in one place: the same gathered, praying community
• Wind: God breathing new life, echoing Genesis 2, new creation beginning
• Fire: God’s purifying, empowering presence resting on each person individually
• Tongues: every nation hears in their own language; the reversal of Babel begins

1. The Spirit’s work never lands neutrally

• Some were amazed and perplexed
• Some were mocking
• The Spirit always produces a response

1. The Most Unlikely Preacher (Acts 2:14-36)
2. The contrast: two versions of the same man

• Peter in John 18 denied Jesus three times to a servant girl by a fire
• Peter in Acts 2 stands before thousands and raises his voice
• The only explanation is the Holy Spirit

1. The message is simple, clear, and Christ-centered

• God accredited Jesus by miracles, wonders, and signs
• You put Him to death BUT this was God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge
• God raised Him from the dead and we are all witnesses of it
• God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah

1. Peter ends with a declaration, not an invitation

• The declaration: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah
• Peter says it plainly, says it boldly, and stops
• Then he lets the Spirit do what only the Spirit can do

1. What Shall We Do? (Acts 2:37-41)
2. The Spirit convicts and the crowd is cut to the heart

• Peter did not manipulate. He simply told the truth about Jesus
• The Spirit does what we cannot do
• Our job is faithful speaking. The result belongs to the Spirit

1. Peter’s answer is clear and has not changed

• Repent: turn away from sin and toward Jesus as Lord
• Be baptized: publicly identify with Jesus
• Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is available to everyone who believes

1. The promise is for everyone

• For you and your children and for all who are far off
• Three thousand repented, believed, and were baptized that day
• Acts 1:8 has begun
• Jerusalem has heard
• The mission is moving

1. The same question is yours today

• What shall we do? This is still the right question
• The answer has not changed
• Repent 
• Be baptized
• Receive the Spirit
• The promise is still for you​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

REFLECTION/APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1. Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Acts 1:4 before they do anything else. What do you think it cost them to obey that command, given the circumstances they were in? Is there an area of your life right now where God might be asking you to wait rather than act?
2. Acts 1:8 gives the disciples the source of their power (the Holy Spirit), the result (witnesses), and the scope (Jerusalem to the ends of the earth). Looking honestly at your own life, which of those three elements feels most real to you right now — and which feels most distant?
3. Between the promise of Acts 1:8 and the fulfillment of Acts 2, Luke records one thing the disciples were doing: they were all joined together constantly in prayer. What do you think the connection is between that corporate, unified prayer and what happened on the day of Pentecost? What might it look like for our community to pray together with that kind of expectancy?
4. Peter in John 18 could not admit to a servant girl that he knew Jesus. Peter in Acts 2 stands before thousands and publicly declares Jesus as Lord and Messiah. The only difference is the Holy Spirit. Where in your own life have you experienced the Spirit giving you boldness you did not have on your own? Where do you most need that boldness right now?
5. Peter’s sermon is simple: here is what God promised, here is what Jesus did, here is what it means, here is what you must do. He doesn’t soften it or make it more palatable. The crowd is ‘cut to the heart’ and Luke is clear the Spirit did that, not Peter. How does it change your approach to sharing your faith when you understand that conviction is the Spirit’s job and faithful speaking is yours?
6. The people at Pentecost asked ‘What shall we do?’ and Peter answered: repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for you, your children, and all who are far off. Who in your life is ‘far off’ right now? What is one specific step you can take this week to move toward them with the same simple, bold story Peter told?

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE READING SCRIPTURE

What does this reveal about God?

What does this reveal about you in relation to God?

What do you need to do about it?