WEBVTT 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:09.919 Hey, I'm Pastor Forrest, and welcome to the Multiply Church Podcast. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:15.439 Each week we open God's word together to help you meet God and multiply good in your everyday life. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.879 We're so glad that you've taken time to join us for this week's sermon. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:24.079 And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss a message. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.120 Now, let's dive into this week's sermon. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:35.600 Launched into this new series, The Way, last Sunday. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:55.359 And we started the recognition in Acts chapter 1 that Jesus leaves his followers with this promise in Acts 1.8, which is really the frame of this whole series for the next few weeks, that you will receive power. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:05.519 Everybody say power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.079 And then he left. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:19.200 And the disciples and the women that were following him and others that were following him waited and they stayed in Jerusalem. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:27.599 Jesus was telling them that there was this power that they had not yet received, that they weren't yet walking in. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:34.560 And now we're going to go into Acts chapter 2 and see what happens. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:40.159 There are Jews from many nations who've returned to Jerusalem for Passover. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:48.640 This festival that's happening during the time of the crucifixion and the resurrection. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:57.040 And then Pentecost, this Jewish festival that's celebrated 50 days after Passover, Penta meaning five, and 50 days, Pentecost meaning 50 days. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.159 And here's what happens. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.079 So turn in your Bible to Luke chapter 2. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.120 We're going to start in verse 1. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.239 We're going to go through lots of Acts chapter 2. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:10.080 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:17.120 Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:24.639 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:32.560 And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:34.800 Let's pause here for a second. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.159 What's happening? 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:44.400 Jesus has promised the Spirit is going to come, and what He has promised is now beginning to happen. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:49.599 There's wind and fire and languages, and the Spirit is descending. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:53.919 What Jesus has promised is now arriving. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:57.599 The power of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:05.599 Use it all the time. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:09.039 We you know that was a powerful worship. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.319 Powerful sermon. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:17.039 I mean, maybe a sermon wasn't that powerful. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:19.039 Maybe it was like mediocre. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:29.120 We use this word so much that I'm not I'm not sure if we even know what it means to us. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:32.240 The power. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:34.560 What is this power? 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:37.039 Look at what happens in verse 5. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:43.680 Now they're now they were staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:45.919 Then they heard this sound. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:54.400 A crowd came together, and when they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard their own language being spoken. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:04:00.159 Utterly amazed, they asked, Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:04.240 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:28.959 Parthian, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Aja, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues, amazed and perplexed. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:34.319 They asked one another, What does this mean? 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.079 Everybody say, What does this mean? 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:44.560 Some, however, made fun of them and said they'd had too much wine. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:05:00.639 People who are there, they've gathered from all these different nations, and all of a sudden they begin to hear and recognize their own language being spoken by those who don't know their language and they're amazed, they're confused. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.920 Even some people are saying that they're drunk. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:15.519 Yeah, as I was thinking about this passage this week, I was thinking of the fact that people thought they were drunk, and a very Frankfurt sermon came to mind, the spirit filled, distilled, and distributed. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.879 That's for all our distillery folks. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:23.120 But my Baptist upbringing wouldn't let me preach that sermon, so I'm not preaching that today. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:30.240 Instead, Luke gives us this question that's going to frame the whole chapter and this whole message. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.800 What does this mean? 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:38.399 You know, a lot of times when we talk about the power of God, we end up thinking about it in a few different ways. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:44.399 Christians a lot of times associate the power of God with the spectacular, with miracles that happen. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:50.959 And we definitely have seen God do miracles even in our midst here in our church. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:56.240 Miracles with children, babies still in the womb. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:02.560 Doctors that said we can't explain it, but it's not there anymore. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:03.680 We've heard this story. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:06.560 This has happened in our church multiple times now. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.480 People think about the miraculous. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:14.800 Also, there's a whole group of people that think about the Holy Spirit and don't really expect anything. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:20.879 It's just something that you believe in, believe in Jesus, be good, go to church, wash and repeat. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:27.920 And so what's possible is that we can believe in the Holy Spirit without actually knowing what it means. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.720 And Jesus is telling them that the power is going to come to them. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:44.800 And what we're going to see in this passage is that Jesus isn't treating the Holy Spirit like some optional upgrade for really spiritual Christians, but instead that the power is going to descend on all believers. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:56.560 And that they're going to walk in now the Spirit of God that's giving them power, this extraordinary power, for their ordinary lives. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:22.000 And if we're not careful and we we start thinking about this power, it's easy for us to sensationalize and just try to move from spiritual high to spiritual high to spiritual high, or just ignoring the Holy Spirit altogether instead of us attempting the adventure with Jesus that He's calling us to, not depending on your own strength, but depending on His strength. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:27.839 And so what we're going today is what does Acts 2 mean for you? 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:35.120 And as we look at this story today, we're going to see that the story in Acts 2 actually has layers. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.720 It says backstory. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:47.920 Much like these Russian nesting dolls that I have here that came from my grandpa when he was overseas in the Navy. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.720 No, I'm just kidding, I got an Amazon this week. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.240 But isn't it better when things have a backstory? 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.720 Isn't it better when things have layers? 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:02.000 And that's what we're gonna see as we go through this chapter today together. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:08.160 Jesus is moving the way forward with his people, empowering them by the Holy Spirit. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:18.399 And if we're not careful and how we think about the Holy Spirit, we'll think that the Holy Spirit is just a miraculous thing that happens in church and then is irrelevant on Monday. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:30.319 Or believe on the Holy Spirit, but then the Holy Spirit basically be invisible to you in your everyday life. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:36.240 We don't want to miss the power that God's giving us for our everyday lives. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:44.320 And so, like I said, as we start in Acts 1:8, this power, the Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:52.240 And so Luke is gonna give us this context and backstory, and Peter is gonna give us a backstory as we're looking at Pentecost. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:55.919 And Peter is gonna go into the Old Testament, it's gonna get really nerdy. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.720 So I'm gonna try to get nerdy as well with Peter today. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:00.480 So are y'all ready for some Bible? 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:02.320 We're gonna be going through it. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.679 Old Testament, New Testament, starting with the promise. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:11.039 Look at what Peter steps up and begins to preach to this crowd. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:16.159 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:29.039 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what now you see and hear. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:40.879 And then in verse 38, Peter replied, or Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.240 Everybody say, gift. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.720 You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:56.399 The promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:23.679 Peter steps up and begins to preach, and ultimately, 3,000 people are going to respond to his proclamation of the gospel, and he gives in this sermon the fact that they have received a gift of the Holy Spirit that's for them, and also for their children, and also for those that are far off. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:43.200 And what Peter is referring to is this promise, this promise of the Holy Spirit, that Peter is remembering the fact that this is something that had been prophesied some 600 years previous. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:53.440 Peter's speaking out of this promised Holy Spirit to these people who may or may not even know what he's talking about. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:58.879 And he's remembering the fact that the prophets have proclaimed that there was going to be a new covenant. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:10.799 See, in the Old Testament, there was an old covenant where the people worshiped and the presence of God was in the tabernacle and in the temple, and there were sacrifices that were made. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:20.639 But when Jesus came, when he died as the ultimate sacrifice, the veil in the temple was torn in two, and the presence of God left the building. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:27.440 And what they're experiencing in this very moment is this new covenant that is being enacted by God. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:37.919 That now the presence of God moving from the temple into now the Holy Spirit descending on his people, that now they become temples themselves. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:40.320 And we now are temples of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.320 Everybody say, I am a temple. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:48.480 If you are in Christ, if you're a follower of Jesus, you are now a temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:59.440 The Holy Spirit, when you accept Christ and your name is written in the Lamb's book of life in heaven, and you are saved, you receive the Holy Spirit to fill you up. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:06.799 And this was declared some 600 years before this moment of Pentecost. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:21.600 In Jeremiah 31, 31, the scripture says, The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:38.399 Jeremiah is ministering in Judah at the beginnings of the collapse of the people and of Israel towards this exile of this foreign nation, Babylon, that will come and conquer them and take them away. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:45.679 Because God's people have broken their covenant over and over and over again and sinned against God, and judgment is coming. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:13:03.120 And Jeremiah is making this proclamation that this old system, this old covenant that they are in, that God is going to restore and redeem them in a new way by the power of the Holy Spirit that's happening here in Acts 2. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:11.519 Also, the prophet Ezekiel, that's happening around the same time as the Babylonian exile is happening 600 years before Pentecost. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:15.600 Ezekiel says this, Ezekiel 36, 26. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:20.799 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:28.639 I will remove from your heart, I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:40.399 And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws, and then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:44.639 You will be my people, and I will be your God. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:55.679 Ezekiel gives this prophecy that God is going to put his spirit in us, in you. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.600 I will put my spirit within you. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:12.960 This promise, this promise that was made centuries before, that they're not walking in, that the Spirit of God is now going to take residence inside of every believer. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:27.600 That we're going to have the Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us and have us feel the love of Jesus to convict us of sin, to help us as we walk through the challenges and difficulties of life. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:34.799 And oftentimes I feel like that my relationship with God is just, I just, it all depends on me. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.840 Well, I have to bring all the horsepower. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:42.960 I've got to bring God's God's given me a command, and then I gotta do my best. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:48.080 And what can happen is we can have Christianity that becomes Christian-flavored self-improvement. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:58.080 Maybe for you, you've been exhausted by trying to follow the Lord on your own strength. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.039 Or feel like everything's on you. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.480 Any moms feel like you're doing everything on your own. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:16.639 I want us for Acts chapter 2 for us to see that the Holy Spirit has now come and taken up residence inside of us, and that has not left you on your own. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:22.080 And so we all need to reject the lie of you are alone. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.480 That's my first thing, my first point. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.960 Reject the lie that you are alone. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:35.039 Before a difficult conversation, you're saying, Holy Spirit, I need you. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:41.120 Something's going on in your life, and you don't know what to do, you don't know what to respond. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.360 Holy Spirit, I need you. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.120 Help me. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:56.480 And then for you to be obedient, to actually depend on the Holy Spirit and know the fact that God has not left you on your own. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.600 He's with you, He's walking with you. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:03.200 And not only that, He's giving you other believers to walk beside you. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.720 Let me say it clearly. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:11.919 If you're in this church and nobody knows you, you are not having the experience at multiply that I want you to have. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.840 I want for you to be in relationship with others. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.759 I want for other people to know who you are. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:22.240 I want for you to have friends that are believers that can encourage you, who can walk with you. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:27.759 People underestimate how much encouragement the church and the people of God need. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.000 What are we doing on a Sunday? 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:42.639 We show up together, we're praising God, we're we're we're praising and worshiping, we're looking at the scripture, but we're also encouraging one another for us to walk out of these walls and to take the Holy Spirit with us. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.919 The Holy Spirit is not just something that happens at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.600 on Sundays in this room. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:59.120 It's as we walk out of this place, the Spirit of God stays with the people of the way as we walk out this Christian life. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.480 I want for you to know that you are not alone. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:11.440 I want you to be walking in relationship and friendship with other believers who can encourage you, can speak into you. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:25.279 Because as we leave this place, the world wants to steal our joy, wants to make us doubt God's love and his goodness. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:36.240 And we have to remind ourselves that as we walk out of this place, we are carrying the Spirit of God with us. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.119 And then the pouring happens. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.480 As Peter is preaching. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.720 Verse 15. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:51.839 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.599 It's only nine in the morning. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.279 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:04.079 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:06.799 And your sons and daughters will prophesy. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.680 Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:19.519 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:27.119 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:33.440 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:39.200 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:57.599 Peter then quotes the prophet Joel from hundreds of years previous, who gives this word to the people of God in the midst of devastation. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:01.920 There's this catastrophic plague that is hitting the land. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:05.039 And their food supply has been destroyed. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:08.400 Locusts have eaten their crops. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:12.880 The worship of God has been disrupted. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:22.000 And Joel is calling his people, God's people, to repentance and talks about the day of the Lord that's to come. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:31.759 God's promising this restoration, and he's talking about the spirit that's about to be poured out. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.880 And who is it going to be poured out to? 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:43.359 Notice who is going to receive the spirit, sons and daughters, young and old, male and female. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:53.200 And Peter steps up and he's and he pulls back this prophecy from hundreds of years previous that Joel spoke out. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:59.680 And he's saying this just to show who is about to receive the Holy Spirit. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.680 A diversity of people. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:18.960 And as he as he quotes this prophecy from Joel, it talks about what's going to happen now in these last days that we're going to see God move. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:23.119 And men and women and sons and daughters and old and young. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:27.200 And then he goes on to talk about the day of the Lord that will come in Revelation. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:38.880 And you have to see that what Joel is talking about is, and Peter is picking up, is that what he's talking about, this day has come. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.799 Acts 2, Pentecost has come. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.960 The kingdom of God is here. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:49.039 You have to understand this about prophecy in the Old Testament, or you're going to be very confused with the scripture. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:53.279 That oftentimes prophecy is what is now but also not yet. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.960 Also, it is now but also not yet. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.640 A prophecy that's speaking about our times and also what is to come. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:10.319 And Peter speaks out this prophecy saying that the Spirit is being poured out right then and there. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.640 And on who is it being poured out? 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.599 Men and women. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:20.960 Of course, I'm not a pastor, so you know I can't do all that. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.039 Or I don't know enough. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.279 Or I'm too young. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:27.519 Or I'm too old. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.200 Can you hear that those excuses don't work? 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:39.680 Well I don't I don't feel like I'm gifted enough to do things for God. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:43.279 Force, don't you know what I've done in my life? 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:46.960 How could God possibly use me? 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:55.680 The Holy Spirit work through me, have gifts through me, reject the lie that God won't use you. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:58.640 You got to reject the lie that God won't use you. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.680 Have you seen the people? 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.079 That God use in the Bible? 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.680 Murderers. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:07.359 Prostitutes. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.480 Drunkards. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.599 Thieves. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:22.720 And God picked them up and He restored them and then used them. 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:28.960 Well, you know, God doesn't use people like me, you may think. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.319 Can I tell you this? 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.920 You cannot sin more than God can give you grace. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:40.000 What we're not doing around here is we're not coming in here and just acting like we're all perfect. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:44.880 No, we're coming in here this morning and we're reading from God's Word. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.400 We're learning God's word. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:53.039 We're worshiping our God, and we're coming before God and saying, God, I sinned this week. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:55.359 Forgive me of my sins. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:00.400 Every single one in this room sinned some way this week, including me. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:10.960 And now we're here saying, God, forgive us and help us as we walk out of this place and by the power of your spirit, God, use us. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:17.440 Ordinary people to be used in extraordinary ways by God. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.480 Do you know who the disciples were? 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:28.240 This ragtag group of guys that literally they said, these are untrained men. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.759 Ordinary. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:37.279 And God using them in powerful, powerful ways. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:43.119 You have to reject the idea that ministry only happens on a microphone. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:53.359 Ministry happens as you're walking in the Spirit of God and the giftings that God has given you. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.920 And then you are walking out of this place. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:59.279 You're being a witness, you're serving God, you're being a witness in this house. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.359 You know what happened a few weeks ago over the summer? 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.480 We had a KidCon. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:08.960 I had all these students, and six students accepted Christ as Savior and made decisions to be baptized. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:13.200 And all of them been baptized, except for one, that's still be baptized here soon. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.279 Praise God. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:28.240 And the kids team, Zach and Dana, who are volunteers, the whole KidCon was done, majority, 90%, by volunteers, one of team members. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.599 So you know what? 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:38.000 I'm just gonna use my gifts of God and be a witness for God to lead to the salvation of six kids that we've gotten to celebrate their baptisms. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:54.640 The Spirit of God poured out on you and your children, and for those that are far off, which is the next layer, the nations. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:01.599 Acts 2 and verse 5. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:08.160 It says, now there are staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:16.480 And then Luke gives this real long list of all these different nations that are represented. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.759 And there's something going on even deeper here. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:25.599 See, there's this strange story in Genesis chapter 11, the Tower of Babel. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:31.599 After the flood, and the world begins to repopulate and build cities. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:42.880 There are people who want to, as the scripture says, make a name for themselves in rebellion to God, and they build this tower to stretch up to the heavens. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:52.880 And then God, as a consequence of their rebellion, confuses their language. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:26:02.559 At this point, there was one language the scripture says, and God confuses their language, and the people are scattered because of their rebellion. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:19.119 And now those nations that have been scattered, now we see in Acts 2 at Pentecost, now those nations have now been gathered together that the power of God would restore what had been broken. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:25.920 They're hearing now the gospel in their own language. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:31.680 They're saying, how in the world are these people, aren't these Galileans, these followers of Jesus? 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.000 How are they speaking in my language right now? 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:36.079 How can I hear the gospel right now? 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.440 How am I receiving this? 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:40.079 You'll receive power and the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:46.319 You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth, is what Jesus promises. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:51.920 The power of God towards the nations, towards others. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:59.680 And it's so easy for me at times, and for you at times, you just think about the power of God all about your own life. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:06.400 Holy Spirit, help me provide for me, give me peace, fix my situations. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.359 I'm having a rough time. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.200 I need your comfort. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:21.279 But when you receive the Holy Spirit, and when the Holy Spirit is inside of you, it then begins to move through you and should be moving through you to somebody else. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:26.160 You have to reject the lie that what has been ruined can't be restored. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:38.079 These people that are now far from God, who are now far off, these nations that are now far off are now hearing the gospel. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:28:05.440 And for us today, the Holy Spirit should be flowing through us to friends and neighbors and coworkers and people who do not yet have the hope of the gospel and don't yet have the Holy Spirit residing in them, that this promise of God to restore and redeem, that we not think that, oh, this is just how it is. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:13.680 What could God possibly do through me? 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:23.279 But to be a witness, and that's what Peter becomes as he stands in front of this crowd. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:26.319 He's a witness of Christ. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:33.519 Look at what he says in the last verses here, Acts 2, 22. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:36.240 Fellow Israelites, listen to this. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:46.240 Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did among you through him. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:53.839 As you yourself know, this man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:59.279 And you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:09.200 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:14.640 Peter steps up and he bears witness to Christ. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:21.839 And he talks about what's just happened in Jesus' crucifixion and his resurrection. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:34.160 And don't miss one of the things that he said in this, he said that to this group of people, he said that you nailed him to the cross. 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:40.319 Now I'm sure there were some people in that room who were thinking, they weren't there at the trials, they weren't there at the crucifixion. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:44.960 You say, excuse me, you think I killed Jesus? 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.720 I wasn't even there. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:56.559 But what we know is true is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.839 Who killed Jesus? 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.960 All of us that's broken the law. 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:15.680 And and Jesus went to the cross and died in our place to be killed and to overcome death for you and for me. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:21.279 And to pour out his spirit that we would be witnesses of it. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:29.440 And 3,000 people receive the message and are saved and added to their number. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:37.839 And then the people of God begin to meet together in homes and worshiping in the synagogue together. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:31:03.759 And they begin to have meals and devote themselves to the apostle teaching and prayer, and they're seeing miracles happen, and there's radical generosity as they're selling their possessions and they're giving to the poor, and all of a sudden the church of God is broken out, it explodes out, which is gonna lead to the rest of the book of Acts that we're gonna be walking through. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:24.319 And what's happening now is this in their ordinary life, now they have the Holy Spirit, and they're seeing people added to their number daily, those who are being saved, because the Spirit of God and those that are far out and far from God. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:32.960 And it just makes me imagine with me, hundreds of us in our ordinary lives. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:40.079 As we walk out of this place knowing that we're not alone, we have the spirit with us. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:49.440 So a mom, when they're having an impossible morning, the spirit of God is with you. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:56.319 A state employee walking into the office, the spirit of God is with you. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:02.720 A teacher in your class, God is with you. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:07.759 A business person sitting across from an employee, God is with you. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:11.759 A teenager walking into school, God is with you. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:16.799 And God being made known in our ordinary lives. 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:31.680 And I can't help but think about the fact that right down the road from us, there's a university of students who come from all over different places. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.039 Detroit, Chicago, and the South. 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:38.640 They're here in little old Frankfurt for four years. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:43.119 Are they gonna encounter the Holy Spirit? 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:48.400 Are they going to learn the gospel and who Jesus is? 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:52.480 And we get to have that opportunity this Wednesday night. 00:32:53.599 --> 00:33:01.039 As we we just sang a few minutes ago, miracle after miracle, open door after open door. 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:05.359 Praise God for the open door and what's gonna happen on Wednesday night. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:20.000 And I pray that God would use us, that students would encounter Jesus, and then they would take Jesus with them wherever it is that they're going after college, and the Spirit would go with them. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:32.799 Who wants to see God do the extraordinary through your life? 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.920 So ordinary life. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:49.680 That one person who God's already put around you for you to be a witness to. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:57.920 For them to be able to hear the gospel, receive it, understand it. 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:02.000 I'm gonna pray just a second. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.599 I'm gonna ask you to stand to your feet. 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:15.440 But before I pray, what I'd like for us to do is to ask the Holy Spirit to move in power this week. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:25.440 And so before I pray, what I'd like for you to do is we're gonna pray over Wednesday night and what's gonna happen at K-State and ask God to move in power. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:29.679 And so I'm gonna ask you to come forward right now and for us to pray together. 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:34.960 Come forward right now to pray over what's gonna happen on Wednesday night. 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:42.159 If you want God to do something extraordinary on Wednesday night in your life, come forward now as we pray. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:48.559 God, right now, I thank you, Lord, for all that are coming, all that are moving right now, Father, in prayer. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:51.920 God, we're asking, Lord, for you to move in power. 00:34:52.239 --> 00:35:06.159 And God, we're asking, Lord, for your Holy Spirit to fall and for us to be the ones that are carrying the Holy Spirit to be a blessing, Lord, to those on Wednesday night, God, you've opened this door, God, we prayed for it. 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:09.840 We thank you for it, God, and we ask God for you to move. 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:24.079 We ask God that you would reach students and faculty and people, families, God, future children, God, for what's gonna happen on Wednesday. 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:29.199 And God, we we ask you now, Lord, for you to do it. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:32.719 Every head bowed, eyes closed. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:39.440 Maybe you're in the room today and you don't yet have the Holy Spirit because you've not received him as your Savior. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:42.719 Today is the day for you to ask Jesus to forgive you. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:47.920 Today is your day for you to give your life to Christ and for the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of you. 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:50.960 If that's you, I ask you to pray, Jesus, save me in your mind and heart. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:52.639 Pray Jesus, save me. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:58.719 Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin, for walking out of the grave. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:02.800 Forgive me so I can be in heaven with you. 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:06.559 I repent and turn my life to you. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:12.559 Thank you for filling me with the Holy Spirit now into heaven. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:17.280 We're so grateful you joined us for this week's message. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:20.800 At Multiply, we believe life was never meant to be lived alone. 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:25.920 If today you made the decision to follow Jesus, we'd be honored to walk with you on this journey. 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:29.199 Visit multiplyky.com to let us know. 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:31.679 We love you and we'll see you again soon.