Covenant Church of Mobile
The Bursting Forth of the Holy Spirit
Sunday service
Locations & Times
Covenant Church of Mobile
7150 Hitt Rd, Mobile, AL 36695, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
The Bursting Forth of the Holy Spirit!
We are going through the first few chapters of the book of ACTS. So . . . It is only natural that each week we will ask you to take some action.
If they had not acted we could call this book the book of . . . Well, we would not call it anything for there would be no book. Nothing to write about.
But it is the book of Acts; they did participate with the Holy Spirit and begin a revolution.
What to know? The Holy Spirit comes into us to burst forth the life of God!
His power is where we get our word dynamite! Miraculous strength, ability, influence.
WE are His witnesses: walking and talking evidences of God’s love and power and presence.
Two weeks ago, we explained the broadening circle that moves from our property (white) to Pine Run (orange) to Willow Pointe and the Woods (yellow). Basically, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and beyond.
The same thing is true for your home and your influence.
As we begin in chapter 2, let’s see how the Holy Spirit comes in to burst out.
Acts 2: 2-4
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.5At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
12They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
This speaking in tongues was a marvelous and miraculous thing. Some will be amazed, some will be perplexed, and some will make fun.
At 16, my first exposure to speaking in tongues was a visit to a Pentecostal church and it was pretty wild. I was among the perplexed and skeptical. Probably, I landed on the making fun side.
Peter saw that some explanation was needed and he stepped up.
It is true today.
Peter appealed to the Jewish scripture in the book of Joel the prophet.
Acts 2:14-18
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd. . .
“No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
The Holy Spirit comes in to burst out.
They heard the wind and came running to see what it was. This was no small wind for thousands came running—thousands!
22“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
32“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
36“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38Peter replied, “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. 39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship,
and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . .
46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
What do we/you need to do?
Change our priorities! Turn our focus around to these four things!
Apostles’ teaching= New testament writings and message. The OT without the NT is a dead end.
No power, no fulfillment, no Savior.
They did not devote themselves to the Law and Prophets, nor to Moses, but to the teaching of the apostles who were the witnesses and evidences of Jesus.
They joined their lives together devotedly!
Fellowship.
Eating meals together (regularly) and Christ-centered.
Prayer together, communion with Father by the Holy spirit. It was a new day. What will this look like for us?
47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Questions:
Why do we need to do these things?
1) Are we enjoying the good will of the people?
2) Are we wanting God to add to the fellowship those who are being made whole/saved?
3) How is the life of God bursting forth in your life.
4) What three or four things are you most devoted to?
5) Do you have any priorities that you need to change?
We are going through the first few chapters of the book of ACTS. So . . . It is only natural that each week we will ask you to take some action.
If they had not acted we could call this book the book of . . . Well, we would not call it anything for there would be no book. Nothing to write about.
But it is the book of Acts; they did participate with the Holy Spirit and begin a revolution.
What to know? The Holy Spirit comes into us to burst forth the life of God!
His power is where we get our word dynamite! Miraculous strength, ability, influence.
WE are His witnesses: walking and talking evidences of God’s love and power and presence.
Two weeks ago, we explained the broadening circle that moves from our property (white) to Pine Run (orange) to Willow Pointe and the Woods (yellow). Basically, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and beyond.
The same thing is true for your home and your influence.
As we begin in chapter 2, let’s see how the Holy Spirit comes in to burst out.
Acts 2: 2-4
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.5At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
12They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
This speaking in tongues was a marvelous and miraculous thing. Some will be amazed, some will be perplexed, and some will make fun.
At 16, my first exposure to speaking in tongues was a visit to a Pentecostal church and it was pretty wild. I was among the perplexed and skeptical. Probably, I landed on the making fun side.
Peter saw that some explanation was needed and he stepped up.
It is true today.
Peter appealed to the Jewish scripture in the book of Joel the prophet.
Acts 2:14-18
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd. . .
“No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
The Holy Spirit comes in to burst out.
They heard the wind and came running to see what it was. This was no small wind for thousands came running—thousands!
22“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
32“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
36“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38Peter replied, “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. 39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship,
and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . .
46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
What do we/you need to do?
Change our priorities! Turn our focus around to these four things!
Apostles’ teaching= New testament writings and message. The OT without the NT is a dead end.
No power, no fulfillment, no Savior.
They did not devote themselves to the Law and Prophets, nor to Moses, but to the teaching of the apostles who were the witnesses and evidences of Jesus.
They joined their lives together devotedly!
Fellowship.
Eating meals together (regularly) and Christ-centered.
Prayer together, communion with Father by the Holy spirit. It was a new day. What will this look like for us?
47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Questions:
Why do we need to do these things?
1) Are we enjoying the good will of the people?
2) Are we wanting God to add to the fellowship those who are being made whole/saved?
3) How is the life of God bursting forth in your life.
4) What three or four things are you most devoted to?
5) Do you have any priorities that you need to change?