With this Sunday, Pentecost, I begin my sermon series on the Holy Spirit,. We would note that those disciples who had been waiting for the promised Spirit, really experienced the Spirit's outpouring on that day. So powerful was the Spirit on this festival day that those disciples could speak in other languages. Here is part of the text:
"Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?.....in our own native languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." Acts 25-8, 11
Yes, the Holy Spirit served to be an instant teacher for those believers to enable them to speak in foreign languages. However, notice here that it was not just in foreign languages, but that they were speaking boldly God's deeds of power!
When we read further in Acts in regard to this event, we discover that Peter is the spokesperson and addresses the crowd. This Peter, who formerly had denied the Lord, is now boldly speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ,. Think of the change that came over him. As a result of his proclamation some 3,000 people came to faith on that day.
Think now about your own life. Do you believe that the Spirit has given confidence to you in your own life to speak about Jesus to others? I realize sometimes we are a bit timid or we are afraid of how we will be received. We need to realize that we have the Spirit's power behind us and also that the Spirit will work in the lives of others who hear our words.
So, I would ask you to contemplate this event of the Holy Spirit and how you can be a spokesperson for the Lord.
On May 22 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth and on May 29 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit can give you direction in your life.
Pastor Marty
"Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?.....in our own native languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." Acts 25-8, 11
Yes, the Holy Spirit served to be an instant teacher for those believers to enable them to speak in foreign languages. However, notice here that it was not just in foreign languages, but that they were speaking boldly God's deeds of power!
When we read further in Acts in regard to this event, we discover that Peter is the spokesperson and addresses the crowd. This Peter, who formerly had denied the Lord, is now boldly speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ,. Think of the change that came over him. As a result of his proclamation some 3,000 people came to faith on that day.
Think now about your own life. Do you believe that the Spirit has given confidence to you in your own life to speak about Jesus to others? I realize sometimes we are a bit timid or we are afraid of how we will be received. We need to realize that we have the Spirit's power behind us and also that the Spirit will work in the lives of others who hear our words.
So, I would ask you to contemplate this event of the Holy Spirit and how you can be a spokesperson for the Lord.
On May 22 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth and on May 29 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit can give you direction in your life.
Pastor Marty
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