Expecting God
Luke 24:49

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” NIV

There are eighty-six references to the Spirit of God in the Old Testament. To understand the power of Pentecost , we must view it within the framework of the moving of God in the Old Testament.

I. When God Comes, We Use Our Gifts in a Powerful Ministry to Others: Acts 2:38

“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.”

1. Conformity to the character of Christ. Acts 2:37

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?”

2. Affirmation and empowerment of the laity.  Acts 6:1-8

“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch , a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of Gods grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”

II. When God Comes, His People Are Enabled to Live the Holiness Lifestyle: 1 Thessalonians 4:7

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1. Power to live a holy life.   1 Peter 1:15-16

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.”

2. Power to love the unlovable.   I John 3:1

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Holiness is the Christian life at its most attractive level. O. D. Emery

 III. When God Comes, We Boldly Testify and Demonstrate What the Apostles Preach. Acts 2:41-42

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

1. The miracle of healing . Acts 2:43

“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”

2.  The moving of the Spirit in worship .    Acts 13:1-3

“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger , Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

3. The transformation of lives.   Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will.”