Empowered by the Spirit: Boldness and Transformation

Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate Pentecost Sunday, remembering the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. The same Spirit that filled the upper room is still moving today, ready to fill every open heart with power, conviction, and freedom. We are not called to live in our own strength, but to step out in faith, trusting that God’s Spirit will empower us to do what we could never do on our own. Just as Peter was transformed from a fearful denier to a bold preacher, so too can we be changed by the Spirit’s presence in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is not just a historical figure or a distant promise; He is the gift of the Father for every believer, for every generation. Jesus promised that the Helper would come, not just to be with us, but to dwell in us, equipping us to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. This power is not reserved for a select few, but is available to all who ask in faith. The evidence of the Spirit’s infilling is not only in signs and wonders, but in the transformation of our hearts—freedom from addictions, the ability to forgive, and the boldness to share the good news.

We are reminded that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift, not something we earn or achieve, but something we simply receive. When we yield to God, He fills us with His presence, gives us a heavenly language, and empowers us to live out our calling. The Spirit’s work is both personal and generational; what God does in us today will impact those who come after us. As we pray, worship, and open our hearts, we make room for the Spirit to move, bringing healing, revelation, and purpose.

Let us not be content with yesterday’s experiences or limit God to the past. Today is God’s perfect timing for us to be filled afresh, to walk in the fullness of His Spirit, and to see our lives and our city transformed. As we continue to pray in tongues, seek God’s wisdom, and step out in faith, we become vessels for His presence, carrying the fire of Pentecost into every sphere of our lives.

Key Takeaways

- The Holy Spirit Transforms Fear into Boldness
Peter’s journey from denying Christ out of fear to boldly preaching to thousands is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, our limitations and insecurities are replaced by divine courage and purpose. The Spirit enables us to step out beyond our comfort zones and fulfill God’s calling, no matter our past failures. [01:01:54]

- The Gift of the Spirit Is for Every Generation
God’s promise of the Holy Spirit was not just for the early church, but for all who believe—across every generation and culture. This generational blessing means that what we receive today is meant to impact those who come after us, creating a legacy of faith and spiritual vitality. We are called to live in the fullness of the Spirit, so that future generations may also praise the Lord. [01:10:00]

- The Spirit Empowers Us to Overcome and Forgive
The Holy Spirit brings freedom from addictions, empowers us to forgive, and breaks the chains that hold us back. True transformation comes not by our own striving, but by yielding to God and allowing His Spirit to work in us. As we forgive others and surrender our struggles, the Spirit brings healing and restoration to our hearts. [01:03:30]

- Praying in Tongues Deepens Our Intimacy with God
Praying in tongues is more than a sign; it is a means of drawing near to God, accessing His wisdom, and aligning our hearts with His will. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us, bringing clarity and revelation. This heavenly language is a gift that strengthens our spirit and keeps us connected to the throne room of God. [01:24:32]

- The Power of the Spirit Is Meant to Flow Through Us
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just for personal edification, but for equipping us to be witnesses and agents of God’s power in the world. As we open our mouths and step out in faith, God anoints our words and actions, bringing salvation, healing, and transformation to others. We are called to be conduits of the Spirit, carrying the fire of Pentecost into every area of life. [01:16:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[43:29] - Inviting the Holy Spirit
[45:07] - Worship and Surrender
[46:34] - Praying for the Spirit’s Outpouring
[52:53] - Gathering and Introduction
[53:27] - Pentecost Sunday: The Birth of the Church
[55:14] - Stepping Out in Faith
[56:49] - Prayer for Openness and Freedom
[57:46] - The Promise of the Helper
[59:59] - Peter’s Transformation
[01:01:54] - The Power to Overcome
[01:10:00] - Generational Impact of the Spirit
[01:16:51] - The Dunamis Power of God
[01:22:09] - Our Call to Be Witnesses
[01:24:32] - The Gift and Practice of Tongues
[01:31:21] - Receiving the Spirit as a Free Gift
[01:32:58] - Removing Hindrances: Forgiveness
[01:39:45] - Ministry and Baptism in the Spirit
[01:51:38] - Sealing the Work of the Spirit
[01:54:32] - Identity and Calling
[01:57:01] - Encouragement to Continue in the Spirit
[01:58:00] - Closing and Blessing

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Pentecost Sunday – The Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit

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### Bible Reading

1. John 14:15-17
“If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

2. Acts 1:4-8
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ ... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

3. Acts 2:1-4, 38-39
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ... 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.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to John 14:16-17, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer?
2. In Acts 1:8, what does Jesus say will happen when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples?
3. The sermon described Peter’s transformation from a fearful denier to a bold preacher after Pentecost. What specific change took place in Peter’s life? [[59:59]]
4. What evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work did the early church experience on the day of Pentecost? [[01:22:57]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon said the Holy Spirit is not just a historical figure or a distant promise, but a gift for every believer today. What does it mean for the Spirit to “dwell in us” and not just be “with us”? [[57:46]]
2. Peter’s story shows a dramatic change after being filled with the Spirit. What does this suggest about the Holy Spirit’s power to transform our weaknesses or fears? [[59:59]]
3. The sermon mentioned that praying in tongues is a way to deepen our intimacy with God and access His wisdom. Why might God choose to give us a “heavenly language” as part of the Spirit’s work? [[01:24:32]]
4. The promise of the Holy Spirit is described as a “free gift” for all generations. How does this shape the way we think about receiving from God—do we try to earn it, or simply receive it? [[01:31:21]]

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### Application Questions

1. The Holy Spirit transformed Peter from someone who was afraid to even admit knowing Jesus into a bold preacher. Is there an area in your life where you feel fear or insecurity is holding you back? How might you invite the Holy Spirit to help you step out in faith this week? [[59:59]]
2. The sermon emphasized that the gift of the Spirit is for every generation, not just the early church. How can you intentionally pass on a legacy of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit to your children, family, or those you influence? [[01:10:00]]
3. The Spirit brings freedom from addictions and empowers us to forgive. Is there a struggle or area of unforgiveness in your life that you need to surrender to God? What would it look like to yield that to the Holy Spirit today? [[01:03:30]]
4. Praying in tongues was described as a way to draw near to God and receive His wisdom. If you have this gift, how often do you use it? If not, are you open to asking God for it? How could you make space in your daily routine to seek God’s presence in this way? [[01:24:32]]
5. The sermon said the power of the Spirit is meant to flow through us to others, not just for our own benefit. Who is one person you could pray for, encourage, or share your faith with this week? What step will you take? [[01:16:51]]
6. The pastor reminded us not to be content with yesterday’s experiences or limit God to the past. Are you seeking a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, or have you settled for what you’ve already experienced? What would it look like to open your heart for more today? [[01:31:21]]
7. The sermon included a time of releasing unforgiveness and asking God to remove hindrances. Is there someone you need to forgive, or something you need to let go of, so you can receive more of what God has for you? [[01:32:58]]

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Close in prayer, asking for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, boldness to step out in faith, and for God’s power to flow through each person in the group.

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit Empowers Us to Live Boldly
The Holy Spirit is not just a comforting presence but the very power that transforms fear into boldness, as seen in Peter’s life—once afraid to even admit knowing Jesus, he became a courageous preacher after being filled with the Spirit. This same Spirit is available to you today, equipping you to overcome your fears, step out in faith, and fulfill the calling God has placed on your life. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, He brings conviction, healing, and the ability to do what you could never do in your own strength. The Spirit’s power is not reserved for a select few but is a gift for all believers, enabling you to live out your faith with confidence and impact the world around you. [01:01:54]

Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where fear has held you back from stepping out in faith? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness to take that step today.

Day 2: The Holy Spirit Is God’s Gift for Every Generation
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not just a historical event but an ongoing gift for every believer, every generation, and all who are far off. God’s desire is for His Spirit to dwell within you, empowering you to live in the fullness of His calling and to pass on a legacy of faith to those who come after you. The Holy Spirit’s presence is a sign of God’s generational faithfulness, ensuring that His power and love continue to transform lives, families, and communities through you and those who will follow. [01:10:30]

Acts 2:38-39 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Reflection: Who in your family or community can you pray for today, asking God to pour out His Spirit on them and future generations?

Day 3: The Holy Spirit Brings Freedom and Breaks Chains
The Holy Spirit is the one who brings true freedom—breaking the chains of addiction, unforgiveness, and anything that holds you back from God’s best. When you surrender your struggles to Him, He brings healing, deliverance, and the power to overcome what once seemed impossible. You are not meant to carry your burdens alone; the Spirit is ready to set you free and empower you to walk in victory, no matter your past or present circumstances. [01:03:50]

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Reflection: Is there an area of bondage or struggle in your life that you need to surrender to the Holy Spirit today? Take a moment to invite Him to bring freedom and healing.

Day 4: Praying in the Spirit Deepens Our Intimacy with God
Praying in tongues is a precious gift that allows you to connect with God on a deeper level, especially when you don’t have the words to express your heart. It is your spirit communing directly with the Father, drawing you into His presence and releasing wisdom, peace, and revelation. When you pray in the Spirit, you move beyond your own understanding and allow God to minister to you in ways that surpass human language, bringing clarity and strength for every situation. [01:24:32]

1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 18 (ESV)
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit... The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself... I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Reflection: When was the last time you set aside time to pray in the Spirit? Find a quiet moment today to pray in tongues and listen for what God wants to speak to your heart.

Day 5: Forgiveness Opens the Door to the Spirit’s Fullness
Unforgiveness can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, but when you choose to forgive, you open your heart to receive all that God has for you. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is a powerful act of obedience that releases you from the past and allows the Spirit to move freely in and through you. As you let go of bitterness and extend grace, you position yourself to experience the fullness of God’s presence, power, and purpose. [01:32:58]

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you release them and receive God’s freedom in your own heart.

Quotes

The amazing thing is this church, the wind of the Spirit is still falling today upon you and I. If we open our hearts and our lives, and we're going to talk a bit about that today, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit will fall upon all of us. We need the Holy Spirit to burn inside of us. It drives us. It gives us that dunamis power, the power from on high, from the throne room of God for us to do all that God has called us to, amen? [00:54:13]

I'm reminding you today, church, that sometimes we've just got to jump over the side. Jump over the side. Step out in what God has got for us. I'm telling you today, the power of God is here, and you need to just step out into what He's got for you. Don't hesitate. [00:55:53]

It's not about you trying. It's about what He does. It's about what He does. It's not about us trying. See, when we try, we try and do it in ourselves. But it's about what He does. You know, the Word of God says, we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Not because it's our hands, but it's because of the power of God that is flowing in and through us. [00:56:22]

That scripture is telling us we need the Holy Spirit in us, not just dwelling with us. You see, the Holy Spirit is there. He dwells with us. He draws us. If you've asked Jesus in your heart as your Lord and Savior, that's because the Holy Spirit has drawn you to Jesus to receive him as your Lord and Savior, but he wants us to go more than just being drawn to him. He wants us to live in the fullness of what he's called us to and what he's got for us, and that's where the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes in. [00:58:54]

The power of the Holy Spirit will change your life forever. Those things that try and boast over your life, the Holy Spirit will break that off your life. [00:59:41]

What has happened in those 50 days for him to have a complete turnaround where he's now preaching the Gospel and 3,000 people come to know Christ? You know what it was? It was the power of the Holy Spirit came upon him that all of a sudden he wasn't operating out of himself because his self was fearful, scared of what people would think or what they would say. All of a sudden, now he's now in front of all those people. [01:01:10]

You know, the Bible tells us that there is nothing, no temptation, no thing that comes against us that we don't have the power to overcome because we have Holy Spirit in our lives. [01:02:40]

That's what the power of the Holy Spirit does. The power of the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome those addictions as Pastor Rachel was talking about she felt like there was in here today there is freedom from addictions and i believe and as we've prayed and believed in faith that those addictions are broken off your life. [01:05:32]

The purpose of Pentecost was to equip the church with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit so that we would be witnesses to all nations resulting in his eternal glory amen that's why we need the power of the Holy Spirit because he helps us to do what God has called us to. [01:07:36]

But the ears of the people were open to hear what God was wanting to say to them that's why sometimes church it's just important for us to open our mouths and speak and speak and let the Holy Spirit breathe into people's lives. [01:11:04]

Do you know that right now is God's perfect timing for your life my life to be filled with the spirit that we would go and testify of the good things that God has done that there is salvation to the lost that there is freedom that you can overcome your addictions there is healing for the sick that is our time right now to step into that. [01:11:50]

So it's for them it is for us and it is for those to come amen but that means that you and I have to live in the fullness of that power. [01:12:38]

I tell you church when the Holy Spirit comes upon you you receive that power that power is power from the throne room of God and I tell you it it just does amazing things in our lives it's likened to if we use it in the to the dunamis powers is power from the the throne room of God but to liken it to English words or liken it to yours your day and my day it's like dynamite it's the dynamite power which means there is an explosion and there is an instant reaction to that explosion that's what the power of the Holy Spirit does. [01:17:06]

But that is the power of God at work through Holy Spirit you see the power of Holy Spirit in our lives he will put things in your heart to call out because he wants to do miracles to see God glorified to see God's name risen so it works in us the dunamis power it works for us but it also works through us. [01:19:54]

We have been equipped, we have been empowered, we've been released and it's important for us to actually go and do what God has caused to do. You see, Peter spoke a message that that day, 3,000 were saved. We are here today because that 3,000 were preached to and they went back to share of what God had done in their life. [01:21:41]

Who is it that you need to share with that's going to see their lives touched and changed that will change their world forever? Not just their world, but the world. Because you see, it was 12 disciples that went on to change the world. There's a lot more than 12 now, so what is it that we can do? [01:22:11]

Everybody was filled with the Holy Spirit. Everybody spoke in tongues. It wasn't some. It wasn't some. It was all of them. No matter the circumstance. No matter how they found themselves in that upper room that day, it was for them. No matter how you found yourself here today, this is for you. [01:23:44]

Praying in tongues really is our intimacy with God. It's intimacy with God. It's us. It's our heavenly language. When we speak in English, we can pray in English. And it's like God comes down to meet us here in our English language. But when we pray in tongues, it's us going, God, I'm coming to your throne room. I'm coming to you. [01:24:32]

So today, as we ask for Holy Spirit to come upon your life. It is a free gift. It's a gift from the Father, from the throne room of heaven. You don't have to do anything, but literally just go, God, I open my heart to you. Just begin to let that worship flow out of you. We know the Father that gives good gifts. Amen. Holy Spirit is a great gift to you and I. [01:31:04]

So today as you receive the holy spirit it's yours just receive it you don't have to fight get out of your brain because your brain's going to tell you different things and just listen to the people up the front that are praying for you listen to what they're saying to you they're going to lead you and then we're going to release the power of the holy spirit upon you but let that just let it fill up and well up inside of you to overflow just begin to whatever syllable comes to just let let it begin to flow don't be scared of it don't be embarrassed because guess what we'll all we'll be up here doing the same thing we're just going to speak it out because we know the power that comes from that so don't be scared of it embrace it and say god i thank you for it and just let it start to flow out. [01:33:31]

I believe in signs and wonders and miracles. I believe in the Holy Spirit moving upon every life. I believe that you've been equipped and you've been empowered. That as you leave this place today and you go and lay hands on the sick, they will recover. [01:55:56]

There is a fire burning in my spirit like never before. I feel emotional because it's the power of God moving. But I can see. I can see in the generations to come that the power of God moving. We will see Rockhampton and the surrounding region. We'll see Australia change because people are filled with the power of God that we choose to have a place to house the presence of God. And that place is right here in our hearts, church. It is not buildings. God wants to reside in our hearts. [01:56:13]

Don't walk away from this place today thinking, I didn't receive anything. That is a lie from the devil. And I'm telling you now, as the Bible says to us, ask, we shall receive. Seek, we shall find. Knock, and the door will be opened to us. And what is our word? So be it. Praise God. [01:57:39]

But I want you to see the generations to come that will praise God because of what we do today. Amen. [01:58:40]

Chatbot

What is the significance of Pentecost for believers today?

How does the Holy Spirit empower Christians for service?

What steps are involved in receiving the Holy Spirit baptism?