The Work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
When
the Holy Spirit fell on the believers at Pentecost, and
when they began to speak in other tongues, these tongues were other languages.
The
Holy Spirit spoke the gospel through these other tongues so that people of
other nations who witnessed this would be able to hear what the apostles were
saying in their own language that they might understand what had
happened.
Acts
2 ... And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each
of them.
4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation
under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded, because that every man heard them
speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and
marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak
Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were
born?
And
Peter explained what was happening for some thought those speaking in tongues
were drunk.
Acts
2 ... Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto
you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose,
seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And
on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out
in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood,
and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst
of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of
death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
And
Peter continued speaking many words telling of Jesus the promised savior ...
The
power of God, the Holy Spirit, had fallen on Peter and others and by this power
of God, Peter was speaking to the people that day and telling them the things
of God. Remember Jesus had said to them to remain in
Jerusalem until they received "power" and this was the power ... the
Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter.
We
can't do these things of ourselves nor of our own reasoning. But when the
Holy Spirit comes upon us we receive power of God to speak the things of God.
Acts
2 ... Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and
exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls...And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved.
One
working of the Holy Spirit is to convince men of their sins. Jesus said
this to HIS disciples before the crucifixion:
Nevertheless
I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not
away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send
him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Jn. 16
That
is what happened in Pentecost example.
When
the Holy Spirit is doing the work there is power to change men. Without
change we know man did the work himself and it was not of the Spirit of God.
Example
of the Holy Spirit working: I was baptized in water
when I was 15 years old. But I was not born of the Spirit of God until
God spoke to me when I was 37 years old. God spoke to me in the form of a
thought. God said, "Joan... You know all these mistakes you've been making
all these years? ... Those weren't mistakes ... Those were sin."
?
SIN ? ... I was shocked! (My life changed
instantly at this point)
The
Spirit of God entered my life and that made all the difference.
I didn't speak in tongues. I didn't run around the room with hands
raised. I simply heard from God by His spirit and heard truth about
myself and was changed.
And
I was immediately excited. I had been staying at the home of my best
friend and her husband while I was recovering from an operation. As I
left the house that day and passed Donna, I remarked, "Oh, by the way ... I
don't think I was a Christian until now." I walked
on out the door. Donna began shouting: "Wait ... Joanie ... come
back ... what did you say?" I told her what had
happened to me and how God spoke to me and I believed that now I was a
Christian although I thought before this I was a Christian but I didn't live
like a Christian before this happened to me.
Now I was different inside!
This
is an example of real change ... Change by the Spirit of God speaking by the
will of God ... That is the power!
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