Main Scripture: Acts 2:14-21
Article from John Piper
“In the Old Testament the Spirit of God is the presence of God in the world to reveal himself by some action or word. Therefore when Joel says that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh, he means that God will draw near to men and women and make himself known and felt in a powerful way. There is a great difference between perceiving a lake at a distance and being immersed in the lake. So there is a great difference between experiencing God as a distant object of knowledge and being immersed in his presence. The picture of a worldwide pouring compels us to think of being soaked and saturated and swept along by the Spirit of God. Joel wanted his readers to anticipate an unmistakable flood-tide of God’s presence.
When God draws near to a person by his Spirit, he does so to reveal himself. He aims to be known as God, not as a psychic phenomenon or some indescribable fantasy. Therefore when he pours himself on us by his Spirit, he stirs up in us true images and conceptions of his beauty and power and mercy and truth and holiness and greatness, and he quickens our affections to respond properly to all that we see. It is unthinkable that a person could be, as it were, soaked by the presence of the infinite and holy God and not be moved deeply.
Joel goes on to say that when God makes himself known and felt in people’s lives, this can manifest itself in three ways: they may dream dreams, see visions, and prophesy (Joel 2:28). What a person dreams about is a sign of what his mind is saturated with. What looms up in his mind’s eye while strolling alone signals whether he is soaked in God. And you can usually tell whether a person has been drenched with the Spirit by whether his mouth is given to declaring the excellencies of God. When God almighty pours himself into an individual, the inner life is changed; it is filled with God. And since the mouth is simply the pressure valve of the inner life, when the inner life is full of God, the mouth prophesies.”
On this day in history, life as a believer changed forever. This empowerment from the Father was the beginning of a world wide missions movement. This fire from heaven set men and women ablaze with a passion to share the good news even to the point of losing their own lives. It was an untamable, unquenchable, whirl wind that that set the world on fire!
An Outpouring has a Acts 2:1-2
An Outpouring has
10 Results of an Outpouring from Heaven
Acts 2:1-47
The first result was people being (Supernatural ability)
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
The second result in verse 14 is an explanation of (to those who were confused and those who mocked)
14But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
The third result in verse 22 is the
22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
The fourth result in verse 37 was a
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
The fifth result in verse 42 was (uncovering more about what they experienced)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The sixth result in verse 43 was (signs and wonders)
43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
The seventh result verses 44-45 was Radical
44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
The eighth result in verse 46 was People Committed to (Spiritual Family)
46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
The ninth result in verse 47 was with all people
47 praising God and having favor with all the people.
The tenth result in verse 47 was
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Opening Text: Ephesians 3:14-20
Week 1 – We asked Who is the Holy Spirit?
We learned that he is the promise of the Father that came to be with us after Jesus ascended to heaven.
He is an important ingredient in the life of every believer. If we think of the Holy Spirit only as an essence, only as a breeze, only as a power, it is very difficult to develop a meaningful relationship with Him.
He is a person and wants to work with us in this life to do the will of the Father.
Week 2 – He is our counselor and helper
We learned that The role of a counselor is to assist someone to reach the optimal level of functionality by resolving negative patterns, prevention, rehabilitation, and to improve the quality of life. He counsels in life management. His goal is lead us in the right direction.
Week 3 – He is our intercessor
We learned that even when we don’t have the words to pray, he helps us pray in line with the heart of the Father.
We never pray in the wrong direction when we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer. He helps us hit the target in prayer every time.
Week 4 – He is our advocate
We learned that an advocate is one who publicly supports or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something.To speak for, support, or represent a person or group of people who may need extra help or protection.
As our advocate the Holy Spirit encourages us, defends us, and corrects us. He makes everything Jesus did a reality in our lives so that we have a proper biblical view of ourselves and our relationship to our Father in Heaven. A right (biblical) view of ourselves will keep us moving forward into the purposes we were created for.
As a child of God, you’re never without strength, because there’s a strengthener in you—the Holy Spirit. He ministers to you as your Strengthener.
He strengthens you so that while He’s taking His own steps to ensure that everything works out right for you, you’re also participating actively in the process, because He has to function through you.
If you have the Holy Spirit in your life, is no longer an option.
The Greek word for strengthened in Ephesians 3:16 is krataioō (krat-ah-yo’-o) which means
- to strengthen, make strong, show yourselves brave
- to be made strong, to increase in strength, to grow strong
- of the mighty power of God
Our strength will come to an end but his
I see now why Paul would say these words in 2nd Corinthians 4:7-14.
We have access to a strength beyond what we even know.
We actually have the strengthener and standby forever.
Standby just means he is at any moment to jump in the middle or our situation with us to help.
He is standing by us ready to help at the moment call.
How do we access this strength?
- Through the 2nd Timothy 3:16-17
- Through Acts 4:23-24 and Acts 4:29-31
- Through Jude 1:20
What is an advocate?
Advocate – Advocate – One who publicly supports or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something.To speak for, support, or represent a person or group of people who may need extra help or protection.
The Holy Spirit us.
The Holy Spirit us.
The Holy Spirit us.
The Holy Spirit will take what and make it a
The Holy Spirit teaches us.
The greek work for teach in John 14:126-27 is
didaskō (did-as’-ko) and it means:
- to teach one
- to impart instruction
- instill doctrine into one
- the thing taught or enjoined
- to explain or expound a thing
- to teach one something
1st Corinthians 2:1-14
Ephesians 1:15-23
The Holy Spirit us.
1st Corinthians 11:23-25
This greek word remembrance in John 14:26-27 is:
hypomimnēskō (hoop-om-im-nace’-ko)
and it means:
- to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember
- to cause one to remember, bring to remembrance, recall to mind: to another
- to put one in remembrance, admonish, of something
- to be reminded, to remember
The Holy Spirit helps us remember the
A right (biblical) view will keep us moving forward into the we were created for.
In order for us to understand the power behind what it means for the Holy Spirit to be our intercessor, we have to first ask this question….
What is an intercessor?
To intercede means to act or interpose in behalf of someone in
The Greek word for intercessor in this verse is hyperentygchanō (hoop-er-en-toong-khan’-o)
This word means to for one. It is actually made up of two greek words.
- hyper – Which means to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of , , or
- entygchanō – Which means to and hit the
Why do we need the Holy Spirit as our intercessor?
1. As humans we have – Romans 8:26
The King James actually says the word “infirmities”. In this context it doesn’t mean sickness it means our inability to produce results with our natural or natural .
Have you ever been in a situation and we don’t even know how to start praying about it.? Where all we have are sounds and tears….. groanings too deep for words.
There is someone who knows what to say though and its the Holy Spirit. As our intercessor he can take every inarticulate thought or feeling we have and it to our Father in Heaven.
2. The Holy Spirit knows the – Romans 8:27
As our intercessor he helps align our with the will of our Father.
The Holy Spirit will always help us pray the perfect prayer.
Philippians 2:12-13
God is in us, through the Holy Spirit, to give us a desire to do his will.
3. The is always good. – Romans 8:28
When we utilize the Holy Spirit as our intercessor he brings all things for us into a .
Proverbs 3:5-8
We have an intercessor that will help us and bring our to a place of with our Heavenly Father.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The same Spirit that allows for speaking in tongues and who’s presence changes the atmosphere does something very simple to put into words- He goes with us. When you’ve given your life to God and been baptized the Holy Spirit takes up personal residence in your life.. He moves in and starts to remove other tenants that are taking up space.
Paraclete or Parakletos: One who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate. It’s one called to another side specifically for the purpose of helping and aiding.
What does a good helper look like?
1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are a varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the for the common good.
Types of Gifts
word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing
the effecting of miracles, prophecy, the distinguishing of spirits,
various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NASB
What does He do as The Helper?
John 14:26 NASB
What is He teaching and reminding us?
Just what we read in verse 17:
”He is the Holy Spirit, who!… The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.“
John 14:17 NLT
He is our counselor.
He advocates for us and with us.
The role of a counselor is to assist someone to reach the optimal level of functionality by resolving negative patterns, prevention, rehabilitation, and to improve the quality of life. He counsels in life management. His goal is lead us in the right direction.
The Bible says that he comes to -which means what we’re doing on our own isn’t going to work. It’s never going to fit! Not if we desire for the plan God has for us.
He our lives with more than just PRINCIPLES. He gives us POWER. We’ve been empowered.
It was never God‘s expectation that we, his people, carry out HIS principles without HIS power. God‘s principles seem like mountains of impossibilities without HIS power.
Luke 6:27-31 NLT
He sent us HELP. He counsels us to right judgement. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives by the values of Jesus.
He is the Spirit of Truth!
John 15:26-27 NASB
Holy Spirit: Our Helper & Counselor
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Jesus made sure to let his disciples know how important it was for them to receive and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit before he left. If the disciples of Jesus needed to walk with the Spirit than how much more do we also need to walk with and let our lives be governed by the Holy Spirit Everyday.
Jesus gave one last bit of instruction before he left the earth.
Acts 1:1-9 – He said wait on this promise because it’s going to give you power to live for him as a witness.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Comforter or Helper.
- Greek Translation : paraklētos – one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.
- John 14:16 in the amplified translation calls him the Counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby.
It is important that we realize that the Holy Spirit is a
If we think of the Holy Spirit only as an essence, only as a breeze, only as a power, it is very difficult to develop a meaningful relationship with Him.
He has been sent by the Father at the request of Jesus to come alongside of you to help you in your time of need.
Jesus uses personal pronouns when he talks about the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit is a person that means he has a
3 things are necessary for a personality:
We can see He, the Holy Spirit, has a will in 1st Corinthians 12:11
We can see He, the Holy Spirit has intelligence in 1st Corinthians 2:9-13
We can see He, the Holy Spirit has emotions in Ephesians 4:30
17 things Jesus said about the Holy Spirit
John 14:16
- He is another Helper – He wont be any different than how Jesus was in the flesh
- He will be with us forever
John 14:17
- He is the Spirit of Truth
- The world cannot receive him because it can’t see him yet
- As a born again believer we know Him
- He abides or continues to be present with us
- He lives in us
John 14:26
- He will teach us all things
- He will bring things to our remembrance
John 15:26
- He will testify of Jesus (make what Jesus did a reality to us)
John 16:7
- He gives us an advantage
John 16:8
- He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement ( The influence of the Holy Spirit in an unsaved person’s life will lead that person to the realization that he is guilty, that God is just, and that all sinners are deserving of judgment. Once a sinner has been awakened to his soul’s great need, the Spirit will point him to Christ, the one and only Savior and Refuge from judgment.)
John 16:13
- He will guide us into all truth
- He will not speak of his own initiative or about himself
- He will show us things to come
John 16:14
- He will glorify Jesus
- He will speak to us from the truth of Jesus (These realities of the Christ will prove to be the fullness of the Father’s heart)