Contents Main text: Acts 2:37-42
Title: By the Power of the Holy Spirit
In today's text, after the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 apostles gathered in Mark's upper room, and the gift of speaking in tongues came upon them.
Through that tongue, they testified of Jesus Christ, and many people were amazed and said, 'They are drunk. It's crazy'. Then Peter preaches about Jesus Christ in front of them. At that time, 3,000 people will repent and be baptized and return.
After that, amazing works begin to happen in the early church.
It becomes a church that is praised and respected by the people, and the families of all members are restored and joy is full. In the church, we share our needs and fellowship with each other in grace.
How could these changes have occurred?
This is because the 'power of the Holy Spirit' came upon them.
When the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon you, amazing things happen.
Let's take Peter as an example.
When the Holy Spirit came upon him, three blessings came upon him.
First, his fear was gone.
He was a fearful man. He was the one who fled before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
He was in a deep sense of defeat and despair.
Then, when the Holy Spirit came upon him, his fear was changed to boldness.
They cry out in front of thousands of people and risk their lives to proclaim Jesus.
After that, he served as a leader and a good minister of the Jerusalem Church and was martyred.
Second, his shortcomings turned into strengths.
He is uneducated. Also, because of his hasty personality, he lacked the persuasiveness of his words.
But when the Holy Spirit came upon him, power arose in his sermons.
Become a great preacher who changes 3,000 or 5,000 people at once.
Also, by changing his hasty personality, he calmly explains the work of the Holy Spirit by using the Old Testament words as an example to those who tease them as 'crazy'.
Third, when the Holy Spirit came, he became a hot person.
No matter how much we make our own decisions and turn around, it doesn't work out well with our own strength and ability.
But when the hot fire of the Holy Spirit comes, it will be different.
Not only the passion of faith, but also passion in life arises.
Everything is the power of the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit, like fire and wind, comes upon us, we will be transformed into a fervent faith and have a fervent vision.
Dear brothers and sisters, we want the Green Garden Church to restore the appearance of the early church in Acts 2. That is to become a church filled with the Holy Spirit, a saint filled with the Holy Spirit.
Giving myself up to let the Holy Spirit rule over me.
At that time, the power of the Holy Spirit will come into my life and my life will be lived by the power of the Lord, not my strength.