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A few weeks ago we walked through selling our daughter’s lamb at the fair. It’s a pretty devastating moment to hand your lamb over to the slaughter truck after it has been to auction and someone has purchased it. Our daughter Mimi, who is 15, was sending her beloved lamb off to die, and there were many tears from her, and from all of us. I began to think about what got her through all of this.
First, she knew what to expect because this was not her first experience, as she had done this last year. Furthermore, she was not alone; others were hugging her and walking through this with her. We’re not designed to walk alone, but to walk in community, encouraging one another. It also helped that she has good theology, knowing that she will see her lamb again in Heaven. But most of all, I believe it was the Holy Spirit comforting her and giving her strength.
The Holy Spirit is a Gift to Us.
To understand the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the gift that He is for us, and what He does in us, and through us, we need to go back to the gospels where we see that Peter was the leader of the 12 disciples.
Peter is so bold, he’s so “out there” with everything that he does, that even when he makes a mistake, he makes a big mistake. Jesus actually predicts that Peter will deny knowing him.
Mt 26:31–35:
“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
So here is Jesus telling Peter that it’s going to get really hard, and you’re going to fail, not once, not twice, but three times!
So what happens? That night Judas and the temple guards come to the garden and arrest Jesus, and all the disciples scatter, just as Jesus said they would.
That same night, Peter and John were following the guards behind Jesus to see what was going to happen.
Peter's First Denial
John 18:15–17
Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
Peter's Second and Third Denial
John 18:25-27
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Matthew 26:74–75 (NIV)
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Here is Peter, so ashamed, so disappointed in himself. He was so ready to defend Jesus, even to the point that he cut off a guard’s ear in the garden, and yet, not too many minutes later, he is the next to deny Jesus, and betray him.
Sometimes we feel the same way, when we’ve failed ourselves, failed others, failed God, and we don’t feel like there’s a way to recover. I imagine this is how Peter must be feeling, knowing he denied even knowing Jesus, and Jesus even predicted it.
In a flash, Peter goes from being the leader of the disciples to being the one who betrayed Jesus when things got real dicey. After Judas, Peter is the next one to betray Jesus.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
After Jesus died and rose from the dead, Peter interacted with Jesus several times. One of these interactions we find in John 21.
It’s crucial for Peter to recover from all of his shame, all of his disappointment, all of his guilt of denying Jesus three times.
The disciples have gone back to the Sea of Galilee and are out fishing. They see Jesus on the shore, so Peter swims to shore. Jesus has already made breakfast for them, and after eating, Jesus has this conversation with Peter.
John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” [Jesus used the word agape for love, which means God’s kind of unconditional love.]
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” [Simon Peter uses the word phileo, which means a brotherly love, saying yes, you know that I like you a lot.]
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you [agape] love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I [phileo] love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” [This time he used the word phileo; do you like me a lot.]
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
This exchange is fascinating to me because Jesus is asking Simon Peter if he loves him unconditionally, but Peter is so ashamed he doesn’t feel like he can even declare that he unconditionally loves Jesus.
These three questions at this moment are coming in opposite to what Peter has done in denying Jesus three times.
I believe that Jesus is giving Peter a chance to declare the opposite of what he said when he denied Jesus. This is a do-over of sorts, and Peter is hurt that Jesus would even ask him the question if Peter loved him.
What is happening here? Jesus is calling Peter back into the game, to get off the bench. He is inviting Peter to get back to shepherding, which is a metaphor for caring for the people. Jesus is reaffirming to Peter that he has what it takes to lead and is inviting Peter to get back to it.
I love that Jesus takes the time and intention to reach out to us in our places of shame and guilt and fear, and when we feel like we’ve failed the most, and put us back into the game.
After this, Jesus ascends into heaven, and the disciples wait in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed them to do, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
If Christmas celebrates Jesus coming to earth, and Easter celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, Pentecost has to be the third most important holiday because it celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit.
About 10 days following Peter's conversation with Jesus, this is what happens at the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover and when Jesus died.
Acts 2:1-13 (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
So, what’s happening here? The Holy Spirit comes and fills them up!
The Difference Before and After Pentecost
Before this, in the Old Testament and until this time, the Holy Spirit had rested on people for gifting, whether for artistic gifting in building the temple or tabernacle, for leadership and being a king or a prophet or priest. We also know from the Old Testament that David understands that the Holy Spirit can be taken away from you, as in Psalm 51 where David asserts, “take not your holy spirit from me.” David saw the Lord take His holy spirit away from Saul before him.
The way the Holy Spirit rested on people, and the coming of the Holy Spirit was different.
- This was the 3rd person of the Trinity coming to live inside people!
- It means that the same power that raised Jesus lives inside us.
- It means that God could speak directly to us, Spirit to spirit, at any time!
- It means that God will lead his people with His still small voice, and convict us of sin, so that we can change our ways and obey Him.
- It means people would be empowered and given gifts to us by the Holy Spirit
- It means that when people turn to Jesus (repent) and trust Him as their savior, their Lord and their King – the Holy Spirit will come and take up residence in our heart, forever!
Holy Spirit Dwells Within His Followers
- When we pray and trust Jesus with our life, the Holy Spirit comes in and makes His home in our hearts. This is what we call salvation. Holy Spirit is the down payment for this forever relationship.
- Sometimes at the time we surrender to Jesus, and also afterward, when we surrender afresh to God, we make more room in our heart for His Spirit and we are filled up by His Spirit.
- Whenever we welcome more of God’s Spirit, there is fruit (from Gal. 5:22-23 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), and our spiritual life grows.
- When some experience this, sometimes they experience tears, laughter, joy, boldness, and new spiritual gifts. Some speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit fills them up.
- Speaking in other tongues is sometimes the fruit of the filling of the Holy Spirit, but it’s not required to prove that you’re Jesus’ disciple. There are some traditions that say you must speak in tongues to prove you are a Christian, but we don’t believe that. We believe it is a gift given by God when and to whom He chooses, for His purpose.
- There are many ways that tongues can be a blessing. Some people are afraid of tongues, but it’s a wonderful gift. In this scripture about Pentecost, it’s a translation model, giving these Jewish believers the ability to share the good news of Jesus with almost every ethnic group in the world in their own language – at that instant!
Acts 2:5-13
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 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!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
We see in this passage that the people are shocked that these men from Galilee are speaking in all these other languages. They questioned where this came from, wondering if these men were drunk. But who has seen a drunk speak fluently in languages they do not know?
What is God doing? He is seeding the movement of the gospel into the nations in one day.
Remember, Simon Peter is the one who denied Jesus three times and was bitterly ashamed, felt disqualified, but he met with Jesus and was reinstated to leadership.
Now on this day of Pentecost, Peter acts very differently. Why? Because the Holy Spirit has moved into his heart and made it his residence for good.
Holy Spirit Provides Supernatural Boldness and Strength
Acts 2:14-18 (NIV)
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:
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Peter preaches an incredible message, quoting from Joel 2, where God gives a prophesy about that very day. Peter declares Jesus as Lord and Messiah and calls them to faith and salvation.
Acts 2:36–41 (NIV)
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
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.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Wow! This is Peter operating with the Power of the Holy Spirit and incredible things happened! He has supernatural strength and boldness to share the gospel because of the Holy Spirit. We’re going to see this again in Acts 4 when he and John are out preaching and get arrested. The religious leaders are shocked because they can see that they have an authority and power they are speaking with because they had been with Jesus. Jesus told them this would happen.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Ephesians 5:18 (and other scripture in the New Testament), tell us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
The Greek word used here means to continue being, to “be being filled” and this is not because we leak, but because there’s always more room that we can give Him. There is always more room for us to create for the Holy Spirit to have Lordship in our lives. If our heart is His home, there are various rooms, closets, basements, attics, certain areas where we let him reign, but other areas we have kept unto ourselves. But as we invite the Holy Spirit to come in and be God, be Boss, be Lord, it means we will open up those “off limits” areas to Him and create more space in our heart and life for Him to rule. As we invite the Holy Spirit to come in afresh, this filling becomes a new place of residence and a place of alignment with God. Under His lordship and aligned to His heart, we are able to do the will of God.
Picture a glass of water being continually filled and overflowing as representing our life overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. But unlike that glass, our hearts, our lives, are able to expand and to keep expanding.
When we submit ourselves, yielding to God, and having the posture of surrender to God is when He fills our soul and creates more room for the Holy Spirit to fill us up, to overflow through us, to change us, to align us with God so that we can do His will.
So my question to you today is, “What is your posture?”
Are you ready to give Holy Spirit more room in your life?
Will you surrender in new ways so that your soul can expand to be influenced more and more by God?
I’m praying today that you’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit and that there will be incredible fruit, His peace, His love, His joy, His strength, and His boldness, to be His witness where you live and even to the ends of the earth today. In Jesus’ name, I bless you.
We invite you to come worship with us at Neighborhood Church in Chico.
Our Sunday Morning Worship Service is at 10:00 a.m. in the Dome.
You can also live stream our service on Facebook and YouTube at 10:00 a.m.
For the next few weeks we will be teaching, writing and podcasting about hearing the still small voice of God – come along on this journey of learning and awareness of what Jesus is saying and doing.
You will also find all our blogs, podcasts, and Sunday services and messages on our website ncchico.org that you can access at any time. Sunday services are under the Media tab. Blogs and podcasts are listed under Pastor Andrew's Corner.
Need encouragement? Text the word Encourage to 530.296.3689 to receive an encouraging scripture or quote from me several times a week that is sent right to your phone.
