THE CHURCH IS BORN FROM ABOVE

 

Acts 2:1-13

What are some of the greatest events recorded

in history in Holy Scripture.

 

Creation & The Fall…. Genesis 1-3, The origin of the world and the introduction of sin into humanity.

The Flood…..Genesis 6-9, God's judgment and covenant with Noah.

The Call of Abraham….. Genesis 12, God establishes a covenant, founding the nation of Israel.

The Exodus…… Exodus 12-14, Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

The Ten Commandments….. Exodus 20, God gives the Law at Mount Sinai.

The Conquest of Canaan…… Joshua, Israel enters the Promised Land.

Davidic Monarchy….. 2 Samuel, David becomes king (c. 1000 B.C.), marking a golden age.

Building the Temple….. 1 Kings 6, Solomon builds the first Temple in Jerusalem.

Babylonian Exile…. 2 Kings 25, Judah is conquered, and the Temple is destroyed (586 B.C.).

Return from Exile…. Ezra/Nehemiah, Jews return to rebuild Jerusalem.

Birth of Jesus….. Matthew/Luke, the incarnation of God, occurring around 4-6 B.C..

Baptism & Ministry of Jesus….. Matthew 3, Jesus begins teaching and miracles.

Crucifixion….. Matthew 27, Jesus is crucified by the Romans (c. A.D. 30/33), the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of this world.

Resurrection….. Matthew 28, Jesus rises from the dead, overcoming sin and death.

The Ascension….. Acts 1, Jesus entering into glory to His rightful position.

 

And now we come to this time in history, the sealing, and birth of the church; the day of Pentecost. Acts 2 begins with this historical moment, that will affect the church age, and the gospel until Christ returns. The Jews considered Pentecost the harvest festival at which they presented their first fruits of wheat harvest. Num 28:26. It was Pentecost that God’s sovereign timetable called for the Spirit to descend. Pentecost means “fiftieth” it is the New Testament name for the Feast of Weeks, which comes after Passover. Exodus 34:22-23. Pentecost was a feast of harvest; in fact, that’s another name for it. Pentecost marks harvest of souls, and as a result the church is born into existence.

 

We have seen already in…. 

Chapter one we are told they were to wait.

Chapter two the waiting is over.

Chapter one they are equipped.

Chapter two they are empowered.

Chapter one they are held back.

Chapter two they are sent out.

The fulfillment of (v8) in chapter one is here, in the birth of the church age. The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, marking the birth of the Church, the fulfillment of His promises. The Church has many names in Scripture, when Jesus says, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matt. 16:18. The Greek word for “church” is “ekklesia” in all 114 occurrences that the New Testament uses this word, it designates a people, or an assembly of people, responding to the call of God in Christ. It sometimes refers to the whole people of God and other times to a local congregation. Eph 5:27; 1 Thess. 1:1 From the name ekklēsia we get the doctrine of the church “ecclesiology” this is the theological study of the Christian Church, examining its origins, nature, structure, mission.

Ecclesiology defines how believers live

out their faith together.

 

They are in the upper room, as they waited together! They were devoted, their dialed into praying as they wait for the promise of God. When the day of Pentecost had come, they weren’t asking for the Spirit or doing things that qualified them to receive the Spirit, it was graciously given to them, solely by God, for God and His church. (v2) the impact of the Spirit came over all 120, as the church is born. "They were all filled" the filling of the Holy Spirit was not limited to the apostles; but included all 120 followers of those gathered in the upper room. This event occurs on the Day of Pentecost, marking the start of the church age, and fulfilling part of the prophecy in Joel regarding the outpouring of the Spirit. (Which will get to in the next message) When Christ….. life, death, and resurrection. occurred it was not done in quiet corners, but open for the world to see. The same could be said for the birth of the church, it did not begin in obscure manner in some out of the way place. Rather it was born with a startling, dramatic event in the very heart of Jerusalem. We read, “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:2-3

 

This is where we need to pause briefly to remind ourselves who the Holy Spirit is. 

The Holy Spirit of God is a Person

The Holy Spirit is a He, not an it, or force.

The Holy Spirit has a mind, a will, and emotional feelings.

The Holy Spirit seals the believer at the point of conversion.

 

Paul wrote, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14

 

Being baptized with the Spirit, must be distinguished from being filled with the Spirit. Baptism with the Spirit is the act of Christ by which He places, seals believers, into His body. It’s not something we seek after, or that its only available for so-called elite Christians who get special privileges; this act is a single, unrepeatable act on God’s part. The purpose of baptism was not to divide the body of Christ but to unify it. As Paul wrote, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Cor 12:12-14. The apostle Paul wrote that Spirit- filling is different than baptism of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Gal 5:22-25

 

This image of “being filled with Spirit” has led some believers to imagine themselves as cars with spiritual gas tanks that constantly need topping up. There is this popular view that a Christian needs to be “filled” from time to time, as if the presence of the Holy Spirit is something that somehow gets depleted as we live the Christian life. Or we somehow need more of the Holy Spirit than we currently have to continue. But that’s not what Paul teaches and that’s not what was happening either with the birth of the church age. The literal  translation of the verb would read something like "be being kept filled." The idea is one of keeping yourself constantly filled, as you yield moment by moment to the leading of the Spirit. It fits perfectly with the process of walking by the Spirit in the joy of the LORD. “Be filled with the Spirit” means, basically, having great joy in God constantly. This also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins, as we submit to the Spirit to lead, and guidance over our every steps. To be filled with the Spirit means to be caught into the joy that flows among the Holy Godhead, and to love God the Father and God the Son with the very love with which they love each other.

 

Be, being filled with the Spirit, is important for our spiritual growth and sanctification. 

We need His help. John 14:26

We need His revelation. 1 Cor 2:11

We need His wisdom. 1 Cor 2:13

We need the fruit of the Spirit. Gal 5:22-23

We need His purity. 2 Cor 3:17-18

We need His power. Gal 3:1-3, Rom 8:9-11

We need His presence. 1 Cor 12:7

 

The baptism of the Spirit is the “down-payment” and first fruits of our final redemption. Eph. 1:14-16. The unbreakable guarantee, that one Day we will be completely like Jesus. 1 John 3:1-3. The Spirit testifies to the believer that the gospel is true. “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.  1 John 2:20-27

The Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim the gospel to the world. “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8

 

We read in the Book of Acts some of God’s divine beginnings…… This divine encounter began truly at His ascension, the departure of Christ, must have been an extraordinary sight, as they gazed up into Heaven, There uplifted eyes set the tone as the day of Pentecost came. Luke writes, “And suddenly” which emphasizes the element of surprise, even though they were waiting for it to happen. But nevertheless, they were caught by surprise, and the same will be true when He returns. We are told to wait and always be ready, because when that day comes it will be all of a sudden. He will come unexpectedly as we read, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “ Matt 24:42-44

 

Luke describes it as “a mighty rushing wind” Luke emphasizes that this was a supernatural action; but this wasn’t some weather phenomenon, or a physical violent rushing wind. The reason we know that is because Luke uses the word “Like” it was like something of a mighty rushing wind to describe the overwhelming joy they received by the Holy Spirit. John MacArhtur wrote, “The supernatural activity of God is so utterly beyond the grasp of humans that the bible writers have to employ similes to describe His manifestations to men.” An example of this is when John describes what the Lord Jesus looked like in the book of Revelation. “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” Rev 1:14-16

This passage speaks about….. Christ purifying His church, speaks authority over His church, that Christ has control over His church, and protects His church. Jesus doesn’t have swords coming out of His mouth, and fire shooting out His eyes, and His voice sounds like rushing water. 

This passage in Revelation describes a majestic Christ  who is beyond description in His greatness.

 

His hair was white like wool, or snow…..This reveals that Christ is eternal, blazing, brilliant, that He is glorious, holy and truthfulness.

Feet were like burnished bronze…… His authority, and elevated throne, His judgement on sinners is above everything.

 

Voice sounds like many waters….. Picture the roaring surf crashing on the rocky shore, reveals His power, the voice of the champion, a voice of supreme ultimate authority.

Held seven stars in right hand….. He is the head of the church, ruler over His church, this is a picture of authority, and with His right hand He controls her effortlessly.

Sharp two-edged sword comes out His mouth….. This is how He protects the church, with His Word defending the church, but also His judgement against enemies from within the church.

 

Its this description that John writes that elevates the glory of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. And the same is being said here on the Day of Pentecost, Luke’s words, elevate the event, because human words cannot describe the divine work of God in our baptism of the Holy Spirit. This action is like a rushing wind that overcomes the person and transforms their life from that sealing moment and on. This event was so amazing and magnificent, that the divided tongues of fire appeared to them. It’s here we get picture of the birth of the church as this shows that all of them who were present received the Spirit in that moment, at the exact same time. It was uniform, sovereign work of God in all collectively, not something sought individually…. they were all made into one spiritual body, the body of Christ. Just as we have been made into the same body today.

 

What happened was supernatural and divine, so, what about mine or your today? I never had some rushing wind or the ability to speak in a different language. Do you remember the time when the Lord saved you? Where were you? what time of year? Some even know the day the hour, but for others the just know, because of the transforming life they are living now. When I look back to my own salvation that night in a hotel room in Montreal, it was the greatest moment in my life. You could say the same thing Luke writes, here….It was like all my sin fell off, and all my shame, guilt, was blown away. Now, I know I didn’t need the wind to blow my hair, or the ability to speak in French to know this was real, I just knew I was saved by His grace at that moment. Why? If you saw me that night you would though I was under the influence, because I was extremely happy, joyful, and absolutely relieved for the first time in my life.

 

The gospel makes you stand out or seem

different, and so you should.

 

This work of God was witnessed by the people, as they spoke in their own languages, not some special tongue as the charismatic movement try to manipulate in their false teaching. They were baptized and now they would be, being, filled with the Spirit to live their lives with boldness and grace, with the only message that can save a sinner from death and judgement. The tongues spoken on the Day of Pentecost were known languages, the word used for tongues here is “glossa” and it’s here that the context does not allow for any other interpretation. See, the charismatic movement use this text as a means of extra special grace for the true believers who can speak in tongues, a high level of spirituality. But, the sealing/baptism of the Spirit, is done once at conversion, filling continues as you submit to God and His word. Filling results in worship, thankfulness, love, submission, and obedience…but not speaking in tongues.

To understand clearly about these languages, Paul states the purpose of speaking languages in the Corinthian church was a sign to unbelieving Israel. “In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.” I Cor 14:21-22

 

But on the other hand, these tongues revealed that believing Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans were all equal in the church. “And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:7-9

 

We read in (v5-v13) that they were praising God and His mighty deeds to one another in their own language, their native tongue. The people who heard this were bewildered, they were amazed…so you ask! What was God teaching the church with marvelous sign? (v12) What does this mean? The obvious point is that the gospel is for the nations, the church must spread the gospel to every people, tribe and tongue/language. This is God’s redemptive plan. “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Rev 5:8-10

 

This is what the church consists of, and what the church unites us under…..the grace of God, with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here at Calvary….we have Polish, German, Canadian, English, South Africa, French, and many others. The Jews struggled to grasp the Gentile mission as we see later in Acts 10:45, the outpouring of the spirit on the Gentiles. This is why they were bewildered, surprised, they only Jerusalem in mind not the nations.  We see Pentecost as a reversal of what happened in Babal in Genisis 11. God introduced diverse human languages that resulted in scattering of humanity. At Pentecost God unites everyone in Jerusalem by allowing the gospel to cross language barriers

 

What we learn here is that God is glorified in Christ exalting unity amid blessed diversity. The church as become the outpost of the kingdom, and hopes of the kingdom that is to come for sinners to embrace through repentance and faith. This event and the church today give evidence to heaven’s culture of God-given unity amid beautiful diversity. English, French, German, Spanish, Greek and Hebrew to name a few. The church represents all tongues and countries that picture what the kingdom of God is like and it will look like in the end for all eternity. Just as we see in the following letters to Corinth, Ephesus, Phillipi, and so on…. God’s people are sealed, and being filled daily, with the Spirits grace to love, and be used for Him and His glory, as one body under Christ. May we also aspire to show what the coming kingdom is like as we submit to King Jesus and continue the mission of the church. As they presented the empowering of the Holy Spirit when the church was born ten days after Christ ascended into heavenly places. As we see from this point on the church, is not a physical building, though we meet in one each week. The church is a group of believers, not a denomination, sect, or association, but a spiritual body. The church is not an organization but a communion, a fellowship that includes believers from every tribe and tongue……”Glossa”

As R C Sproul wrote, “We must understand that Pentecost is a watershed moment in the history of the church, just like Passover, the cross, and the resurrection. The day of Pentecost was the moment in redemptive history when God unlocked the power of the Holy Ghost and gave it to His church, not just to those gathered there that day but to the church of every age and to every Christian since. He said, “You shall receive power.” That wind and fire is as much for us today as it was for those gathered in the upper room. We are to be people of the Holy Spirit, as well as of the Son and the Father.”