To The Uttermost Parts of the Earth

Acts 2.1-21

Matthew 28.18-20

Acts 1.8

Acts 2:6-11 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 

On the Day of Pentecost (Leviticus 23.15-21) the Holy Spirit was outpoured from heaven and the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Even John the Baptist spoke of this

Mark 1:7-8 And this was his message: “After me comes the One more powerful than I, the straps of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

Jesus promised this.  

The prophets predicted it.

The Father sent Him.

1. The Power of the Holy Spirit enabled these men to speak in languages they had never studied. 2.6-11

*To touch the hearts of the listeners.

When you hear something in your native tongue something happens. It hits home. It is heartwarming. Katrina to the Christmas service at the Lutheran Church (German).

Samuel's family from Africa Art and I picked up at the airport and brought to Pastor Kuidio's house.

*To teach the church at its onset that it needs the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work of God. (It is actually God working through us)

They proclaimed the Word of God boldly for the first time.

Peter preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is a wonderful thing for both the listeners and  the one who is sharing the Word.

We all need this Baptism with the Holy Spirit. We need it to serve in all areas. It enables us do His work. It is what Jesus meant when He said that without Him we could do nothing. ( John 15.5) It gives it greater purpose- eternal purpose.  Jesus set the example by washing the feet of His disciples in the upper room. We cannot do the work of God in our own strength or with our own abilities. 

*To reach the world for Christ.

The language barrier was solved. This had to be somewhat of a concern for these men- how could they be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the world if they were ignorant and unlearned. They were not world travelers. My daughter just found out that Pastor Joes does not speak English1 Yet through the gift of Adly's translating ability we have communicated. But Adly speaks French. The congregation there speaks Creole. I remember him telling me that he had to speak Creole to them and he did very well. God with us.

The racial/socio-economic barrier was coming down on Pentecost.

Prejudices that were built up over centuries came to an end as the whole world heard that day. Missions sends people from one culture/language group to another. The Spirit bridges that gap and makes us one in Christ.

It is interesting to me how we are one in Christ. We respect the cultural differences and even adhere to them out of respect. But the differences no longer divide us as Christ unites us. Hudson Taylor.

Truly Spirit Filled Men are going to be caught up with the theme of Jesus Christ and the Resurrection. This brings up our next point...

2.  The Power of the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak the Word with great boldness. 

Acts 2:14-16 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel...

Speaking the Word of God with great boldness was a prayer of the early church. Acts 4.8-31

Acts 8:25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. 

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit convicted people of their sins- 2.37-39 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

The church in Jerusalem did not grow to 3,000 from just residents of Jerusalem. That was how many were baptized after they believed. They were from  at least 15 different world areas. Say  200 from each and there  were many cities among those areas. So the mass amount of people who came into the church were from places other than Israel. Jews from all over the world. It appears they stayed there...until Acts 8...

The infant church had a simple, childlike faith along with a freshness of the resurrection. New Christians have this. We need them!

The coming of Holy Spirit on the Day Of Pentecost was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Twenty four generations had passed between Joel's prophecy and

the Day of Pentecost but He kept his promise.

4. The Power of the Holy Spirit was among the new church in their daily lives. v.40-47

The original signs subsided but the work of God, the words of Jesus, "I will build My Church," continued to this day.

Our dependence upon the Holy Spirit shows up in our prayers and how we live.

Do we look to Him to work wonderfully? Are we thankful for answers to prayer?

The Gospel has spread through the power of the Holy Spirit. The work of God in the world today is through Spirit filled believers. The Good News has spread and so has the church and its work... to the uttermost parts of the earth.

He wants it to spread today up and down your street and this community and Island and around the world.