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The Pentecost described in Acts 2 wasn’t just the annual event the Jews were used to. It was an epic, supernatural event that changed everything. Just as Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection changed the way we can relate with God, Pentecost changed the way we could experience God and the way we could live every day. What Jesus did gave us freedom and hope. What the Holy Spirit did gave us power and purpose.

The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER TO PERFORM.

By that I mean, the Holy Spirit gives us power to go where God wants us to go and to do what God wants us to do. If the will of God is out in the deep, we will be empowered to go. If it differs from something we have in mind, the Holy Spirit will redirect our thoughts. If it is out of our comfort zone, He will make a way for us do what doesn’t come naturally to us. He will give us what we need to do what we don’t want to do and would never choose to do. Look at this Scripture:

Acts 20:22-24 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Paul says he was compelled by the Spirit and warned by the Spirit that the task would be difficult yet it was something he delighted to do. He was faithful to complete the tasks God gave to him.

The book of Acts details crazy miracles the disciples performed. They raised people from the dead. They healed people of major illnesses. Evil spirits were cast out of people. Poisonous snakes were shaken off like you would shake a fly off of you, just to name a few. They could travel and work in ministry for exhaustingly long hours and still keep going strong. It’s because of the Holy Spirit’s power at work in them.

The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER TO PROCLAIM.

What is it that we are to proclaim? Our first and foremost priority as Christ-followers is to proclaim the message of the Gospel. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 16:15 that they were to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. He also told them in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, and that power would enable them to be His witnesses just as we see them doing on the Day of Pentecost when they were gifted by God to speak for Him even though they hadn’t learned the languages they were sharing. There is no way 3000 people would have given their lives to Christ in one day if Peter hadn’t been anointed by God to proclaim the Gospel with power. It wasn’t a one-time phenom either. The book of Acts is filled with bold proclamation. We read in Acts 4:31, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER TO PERSEVERE.

Look at Acts 20:24 again: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul. He wouldn’t stop. He wouldn’t quit. He was going to be a finisher of the work God had given to him. I know some of us have gone through tough times, but I have yet to meet anyone who endured the kind of hardships Paul faced. Sure there were times Paul wanted to quit, but God, through the Holy Spirit would speak to Him and encourage and empower him to persevere.

The Holy Spirit will give you staying power and slaying power when you need to overcome trial or temptation.

The Holy Spirit gives us POWER TO PRAY.

Romans 8:26 tells us the Holy Spirit will help us when we pray. Look at Ephesians 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

The Holy Spirit is literally your Prayer Partner! Glory! When I read this I see that the Holy Spirit helps us keeps prayer interesting. If you are praying all kinds of prayers and lifting up all kinds of requests and praying for people everywhere, you are going to have enough material to pray through. Don’t worry about running out of things to say. Don’t worry about having the right words. Just ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray, and He will prompt you. You will know what to say. Rely on the Spirit and ask for His power.

The Holy Spirit gives us POWER TO PROVIDE.

Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs (everybody say “miracles”) were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Verse 44 tells us they did life together. They shared their lives with one another. Everything they had was shared among them. They had yards sales and gave to each other. They made or produced things and sold them and shared that money with each other. They shared their food with one another and they shared their homes with one another. It is a work of the Spirit that enables us to possess a spirit of generosity.

Power to Perform

Power to Persevere

Power to Proclaim

Power to Pray

Power to Provide

Be filled with the Holy Spirit this morning and have the Power to….

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