Acts 2:1-8,12-17,21 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people… But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

Wind: Power To _Live for_ Jesus“I pray that (God)…may strengthen you with power through his Spirit” (Eph 3:16)

“you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:11)

Fire: Power To _Live Like_ Jesus But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce...love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22,23)

Language: Power To _Speak for_ Jesus

Clearly “everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” (2:4)

Convincingly “Peter’s words convicted them deeply...about three thousand believed” (2:37,41)

Courageously “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (4:31)

Unleashing The Power

Believe It To _Receive It_“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus

Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

(Jesus): “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about

the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive” (John 7: 37-39 ESV)

Drink It In Until Filled _to the Brim_“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and all were made to drink

of one Spirit.” (I Cor. 12:13 ESV)

“Don’t be drunk with wine...Instead let the Holy Spirit fill and control you” (Eph. 5:18)

1. Fill My Life With God’s _ Words_“let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs...making music to the Lord in your hearts” (Eph.5:18,19) “Let the words of Christ...live in your hearts...Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual

songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Col 3:16)

2. Follow The _Leading_ of God’s Spirit“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives…The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires… Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:16,17,25)

3. Focus On What _Pleases _ God’s Spirit “who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit... Those who are

controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” (Rom 8:4,5)

“I fall to my knees and pray to the Father…that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit…Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God… who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.“ (Eph. 3:14,16,19,20)