INTRODUCTION

1. The Disciples had been tasked

a) To bear witness for the Lord Jesus

b) The areas of concern:

i) Jerusalem

ii) All Judea

iii) Samaria

iv) The end of the earth

2. They had begun well

a) They organized themselves

b) Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot

 

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. A Prophetic forecast

a) God would pour out Hs Spirit

b) Joel the prophet had made this prophecy

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29

2, A Precious Promise from the Lord Jesus

a) He prayed to the Father to send the Holy Spirit to help the Disciples

b) This was a special and precious promise from the Lord Jesus

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;

but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18

i) The Lord Jesus will request the Father to send the Holy Spirit

ii) He will be their Helper who will abide with them forever

iii) He would be in the Disciples

3. Prophecy and Promise were fulfilled

a) The Prophecy from Joel and the Promise of the Lord were fulfilled

b) This happened at Pentecost

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place.

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

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

c) The Holy Spirit descended upon the Disciples

d) They were filled with the Holy Spirit’s Power

 

THE DISCIPLES WERE TESTED

1. They were mocked Acts 2:13

2. Peter and John were arrested and jailed Acts 4:3

3. They were charged by the Sanhedrin Council to cease their preaching Acts 4:18

4. The valiant response of Peter and John Acts 4:8-22

a) They were bold in their witness

b) They were not intimidated

c) They were determined to continue to bear witness

 

THE PRAYER OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said:

“Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,

both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken;

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness Acts 4:23-31

1. They prayed together with one accord

2. They prayed with the Scriptures to inspire their faith

3. They prayed for boldness to bear witness

4. They experienced the filling of the Spirit of God once again

 

OUR CHALENGE

1. To be prayerful

2, To desire to be bold and committed to bearing witness

3. To experience the filling of the Spirit of God