Verse of the Day

Monday, July 8, 2013

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)

The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Introduction:

3 days that changed history a century and a half ago: the battle at Gettysburg, July 2-4, 1863, and the end of the bitter seige of Vicksburg the following day in the West, bringing Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant to prominence, and ending the celebration of the 4th of July in Vicksburg for a generation. 

"The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point."

"The two armies suffered between 46,000 and 51,000 casualties. Union casualties were 23,055 (3,155 killed, 14,531 wounded, 5,369 captured or missing),while Confederate casualties are more difficult to estimate. Many authors have referred to as many as 28,000 Confederate casualties, and Busey and Martin's more recent 2005 work, Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg, documents 23,231 (4,708 killed, 12,693 wounded, 5,830 captured or missing). Nearly a third of Lee's general officers were killed, wounded, or captured. The casualties for both sides during the entire campaign were 57,225."

Commanders and leaders
George G. Meade
 John F. Reynolds†
Robert E. Lee
Strength
93,921
71,699
Casualties and losses
23,055
(3,155 killed
 14,531 wounded
 5,369 captured/missing)
23,231
(4,708 killed
 12,693 wounded
 5,830 captured/missing)

Source: Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg [accessed 2 JUL 2013].

"The Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennesseecrossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

When two major assaults (May 19 and May 22, 1863) against the Confederate fortifications were repulsed with heavy casualties, Grant decided to besiege the city beginning on May 25. With no reinforcement, supplies nearly gone, and after holding out for more than forty days, the garrison finally surrendered on July 4. This action (combined with the capitulation of Port Hudson on July 9) yielded command of the Mississippi River to the Union forces, who would hold it for the rest of the conflict.

The Confederate surrender following the siege at Vicksburg is sometimes considered, when combined with Gen. Robert E. Lee's defeat at Gettysburg the previous day, the turning point of the war. It also cut off communication with Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department for the remainder of the war."

"Union casualties for the battle and siege of Vicksburg were 4,835; Confederate were 32,697 (29,495 surrendered). The full campaign, since March 29, claimed 10,142 Union and 9,091 Confederate killed and wounded. In addition to his surrendered men, Pemberton turned over to Grant 172 cannons and 50,000 rifles."

Commanders and leaders
Ulysses S. Grant
John C. Pemberton (POW)
Units involved
Army of the Tennessee
Army of Vicksburg
Strength
77,000[3]
~33,000
Casualties and losses
4,835 total
3,202 killed or wounded
29,495 surrendered

Source: Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Vicksburg [accessed 2 JUL 2013]. 

There were more words (273) in the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln than there were people in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost!  Those few, those unknown and fearful few, a mere 120 souls, would be led by their Commander, Jesus Christ, against all the hosts of hell and into an evil world full of sin and hate, and the world would never be the same.  The very gates of hell could not resist the force that their Commander unleashed that day!  What took place in that Upper Room in a moment of time would shake the world and alter the course of human history more than the greatest two minute speech ever made by man.  When the world speaks of "turning points" they have a very prejudiced view of world history.  Whether it is Abraham and an army of 318 hired servants against the hosts of four kings' armies, Gideon and his 300 against the Midainite horde, David against Goliath, Elijah against all the prophets of Baal, one thing is for sure.  It is "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zech 4:6)

Outline:

I.  The Special Setting  (2:1)
II.  The Sudden Sound  (2:2)
III.  The Supernatural Sight  (2:3)
IV.  The Spiritual Speech  (2:4)

Transition:   The four verses present us with almost poetic couplets in each case, no single element of which describes what happened in and of itself.  In six interconnected terms of these couplets an intricate tapestry is woven in which the emphases may be observed.

1 And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
            and it sat upon each of them.
 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
            and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
  
I.  The Special Setting  (2:1)

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place.

The significance of the Day of Pentecost (and the feasts in general)
Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Le. 23:15–21; Nu. 28:16–31; De. 16:9–12

The first of the four unique aspects of this event: "they were all with one accord"

Gathered together in a corporate unity

Note the connection between this element and the others in the terms for "all"

Note the connection between the 1st and 4th elements in the terms for "full"

Ezek. 37:25-28 - 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Transition:  "Sight and Sound" follows!  http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSite/home.do

II.  The Sudden Sound  (2:2)

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

The second of the unique aspects of this event: "rushing mighty wind"

Note the connection between the 2nd and the 4th elements in the terms for "full", "sound", and "wind"

Note the connection between the 2nd and 3rd elements in the terms for "sit"

Jn. 3:1-8 - 1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
  
III.  The Supernatural Sight  (2:3)

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them.

The third unique aspect of this event: "tongues like as of fire"

Compare the Baptism of Christ - Mt. 3:11-17 (Mk. 1:7-11; Lk. 3:16-22; Acts 1:22)

Jn. 14:16-17, 25-26 - 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.... 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jn. 16:7-15 - 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

IV.  The Spiritual Speech  (2:4)

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The fourth unique aspect of this event: "other tongues"

What took place here has been referred to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be distinguished from The Filling with the Holy Spirit

The other "Pentecosts" in Acts: Samaritan (8:1-24), Gentile (10:24-48), and disciples of John (19:1-7)

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is properly termed the Baptism of Christ with the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:4-5, 8

Tongues - their temporary nature and purpose

The Sovereignty of the Spirit

2 Cor. 3:1-8, 17-18 - 1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?....17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Verse
Full
All
Sound
Wind/Spirit
Sit
2:1
Eng.
when the day of Pentecost was fully come

they were all with one accord in one place



Greek
συμπληροῦσθαι
ἅπαντες



2:2
Eng.
it filled


all the house


suddenly there came a sound from heaven

as of a rushing mighty wind
where they were sitting

Greek
ἐπλήρωσεν
ὅλον
ἄφνω
πνοῆς βιαίας
καθήμενοι
2:3
Eng.

each of them
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire

it sat upon

Greek

ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν
διαμεριζόμεναι γλῶσσαι ὡσεὶ πυρός

ἐκάθισέν
2:4
Eng.
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost

they were all filled with the Holy Ghost
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
the Holy Ghost... the Spirit


Greek
ἐπλήσθησαν
ἅπαντες
λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις... ἀποφθέγγεσθαι
πνεύματος ἁγίου... τὸ πνεῦμα



Simple sentences underlined:

1 And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The day was come.
They were with one accord.
There came a sound.
It filled the house.
There appeared tongues.
It sat upon them.
They were filled.
They began to speak.

Conclusion:

1 Cor. 10:1-4 - 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

1 Cor. 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

I.  The Special Setting  (2:1)
II.  The Sudden Sound  (2:2)
III.  The Supernatural Sight  (2:3)
IV.  The Spiritual Speech  (2:4)

The first of the four unique aspects of this event: "they were all with one accord"
The second of the unique aspects of this event: "rushing mighty wind"
The third unique aspect of this event: "tongues like as of fire"
The fourth unique aspect of this event: "other tongues"

" Now here, second to Himself, was the gift of gifts—the donation of the Holy Spirit, the greatest God could give, the richest man could receive—suspended upon the single fact of the Redeemer’s ascension to glory. It would seem as if the baptism of the church by the Spirit was an event especially reserved to signalize the enthronement of the Son of God in His mediatorial kingdom.
God would demonstrate how great was the glory of Jesus in heaven, how perfect was the reconciliation which He had effected between Himself and man, how spiritual was that kingdom which He was about to establish in the earth, the foundation of which His own hand had laid—and how full, and immense, and free were the blessings ready to be bestowed upon all who, in poverty of spirit, and sincerity of heart, and fervency of soul, should seek them, by opening the windows of heaven, and pouring down the Holy Spirit in all His converting, life-giving, sanctifying, and comforting grace.
And oh, how must this Divine and Eternal Spirit—occupying as He did a personal existence in the glorious Trinity, possessing equal glory, honor, and love with the Father and the Son, as equally engaged in securing the salvation of a chosen people—how must He have rejoiced at the consummation of an event which permitted Him to give full vent to the overflowing fountain of His heart’s grace and love over a church which He was about to renew, sanctify, and dwell in through eternity! “The love of the Spirit” pleaded eloquently for the exaltation of Jesus."

Octavius Winslow, Evening Thoughts, or Daily Walking With God (London: John F. Shaw, 1858), s.v. "September 20"; reprint ed. Joel R. Beeke and Kate DeVries (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2003); on The Octavius Winslow Archive at http://octaviuswinslow.org/2011/09/19/september-20-promise-of-the-spirit/ [accessed 7 JUL 2013]. 

Text:

1 Καὶ ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι [1] τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς,
ἦσαν ἅπαντες ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.

 2 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἦχος ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας,
καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν [2] ὅλον τὸν οἶκον οὗ ἦσαν καθήμενοι.

 3 Καὶ ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς διαμεριζόμεναι γλῶσσαι ὡσεὶ πυρός,
ἐκάθισέν τε ἐφʼ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν.

 4 Καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν [3] ἅπαντες πνεύματος ἁγίου,
καὶ ἤρξαντο λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις,
καθὼς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐδίδου αὐτοῖς ἀποφθέγγεσθαι.

Key:
Simple Sentence
Focus of verse
Emphasis on "full"
Emphasis on "all"
Emphasis on "sit"
Emphasis on "sound"
Emphasis on "wind/spirit"

[1] Present passive infinitive of συμπληρόω.
[2] Aorist active indicative 3rd person singular of πληρόω.
[3] Aorist passive indicative 3rd person plural of πληρόω.

[Sermon preached by Pastor John T. "Jack" Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA on Sunday, July 7, 2013.]

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