Empowered by the Spirit: Living the Pentecost Promise
Summary
Pentecost is not just a date on the church calendar or a story we revisit once a year; it is the living, breathing reality of God’s Spirit moving among us today. The same Spirit who filled the upper room in Jerusalem is still at work, empowering ordinary people to live extraordinary lives marked by boldness, joy, and purpose. Pentecost marks the birth of the church, but more than that, it is the ongoing invitation for each of us to receive the breath of God, to be awakened, shaken, and filled with His presence so that we might shine as lights in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
The heart of Pentecost is threefold: it teaches us to wait on God, challenges us to trust His promises, and empowers us to share His love. Waiting is never easy—whether it’s a child longing for a treat or a disciple longing for God’s next move. Yet, the waiting is not punishment but preparation. The disciples were told by Jesus not to rush out in their own strength, but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. In their waiting, they were united in prayer, immersed in Scripture, and expectant for God to act. This is a model for us: to carve out time for silence, prayer, and surrender, trusting that God’s timing is perfect.
Pentecost also calls us to believe that God keeps His promises. The disciples waited with purpose, not passivity. They anchored themselves in God’s Word and in community, reminding each other of God’s faithfulness even in seasons of uncertainty or grief. The fulfillment of the Spirit’s coming in Acts 2 is a testament that God does not forget or abandon His people. In our own transitions—whether joyful or painful—we need the community of faith to help us remember and hold fast to God’s promises.
Finally, Pentecost is the empowering presence of God within us. The Holy Spirit is not just a force around us, but the very life of God in us, enabling us to experience His nearness and to share His love with the world. Just as a flashlight needs batteries to shine, we need the Spirit to illuminate our lives and empower our witness. The invitation is to yield ourselves afresh, to wait with intention, to return to God’s promises, and to ask the Spirit to fill us anew, so that we might live as Spirit-infused people for the sake of the world.
Key Takeaways
- Waiting on God is Preparation, Not Punishment
The disciples were instructed to wait in Jerusalem, not because they lacked passion, but because they needed to be empowered by the Spirit before stepping into their calling. Waiting on God is an act of trust and surrender, allowing Him to prepare us for what He has promised. In our own lives, waiting is often uncomfortable, but it is in these seasons that God shapes our faith and readiness for His purposes. [41:46]
- Active Waiting Anchored in Community and Scripture
The early believers did not wait passively; they gathered together, prayed constantly, and immersed themselves in God’s Word. This active waiting fostered unity and deepened their faith, reminding them of God’s promises even when circumstances were uncertain. Our own seasons of waiting are best navigated in community, where we can encourage one another and be reminded of God’s faithfulness through His Word. [47:16]
- God’s Promises Are Reliable Even in Transition
The fulfillment of Pentecost is a powerful reminder that God keeps His promises, even when we cannot see the outcome. Whether we are in seasons of joy or sorrow, God’s faithfulness does not waver. In times of transition, we need to return to the promises of Scripture and allow the community of faith to help us hold on to hope, trusting that God will show up in His perfect timing. [50:58]
- The Holy Spirit Is God’s Presence Within, Not Just Around Us
Pentecost means that God is not distant or merely surrounding us, but has come to dwell within us by His Spirit. This indwelling presence transforms us from the inside out, offering comfort, guidance, and empowerment in every circumstance. Experiencing the nearness of God is not reserved for special moments, but is the ongoing reality for those who yield to the Spirit. [55:22]
- Empowered to Shine and Share God’s Love
Just as a flashlight needs batteries to function, we need the Holy Spirit to empower our lives and witness. The Spirit enables us to shine as lights in our families, workplaces, and communities, sharing and showing Jesus to a world in need. Pentecost is the ongoing invitation to be filled afresh, to live not by our own strength, but by the power and love of God within us. [59:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:38] - Reflections on God’s Leading and Our Beautiful Home
[29:48] - The Ongoing Significance of Pentecost
[31:10] - The Spirit Still Moves Today
[32:53] - Pentecost: More Than a Historical Event
[33:55] - Reading Acts 2: The Arrival of the Spirit
[35:03] - The Miracle of Speaking in Other Languages
[37:15] - Lesson 1: Waiting on God
[39:56] - The Challenge and Gift of Waiting
[41:46] - Jesus’ Command to Wait for the Spirit
[43:33] - Waiting as Trust and Surrender
[45:46] - Waiting with God in Scripture and Prayer
[46:26] - Lesson 2: Trusting God’s Promises
[47:16] - Active Waiting in Community
[48:48] - Anchoring in God’s Word During Uncertainty
[49:37] - God’s Faithfulness Through Transitions
[50:58] - The Need for Community in Hard Times
[55:22] - Lesson 3: The Spirit’s Presence Within
[58:02] - The Holy Spirit as the Power Source
[59:23] - Empowered to Shine and Share
[01:00:08] - Pentecost: A Living Promise
[01:01:13] - Application: Waiting, Trusting, and Yielding
[01:02:28] - Invitation to Be Filled Anew
[01:03:12] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Pentecost – The Spirit Still Moves
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### Bible Reading
- Acts 2:1-12 (The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost)
- Acts 1:4-5, 8, 14 (Jesus’ command to wait for the Spirit, the promise of power, and the disciples waiting together)
- John 14:16-18 (Jesus promises the Holy Spirit: “I will not leave you as orphans”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Acts 2:1-12, what are some of the signs that show the Holy Spirit has arrived? What do the people in Jerusalem experience and how do they react?
2. According to Acts 1:4-5 and 8, what specific instructions does Jesus give to the disciples before Pentecost? What does He promise will happen?
3. In the sermon, what are some ways the early believers spent their time while waiting for the Holy Spirit? ([47:16])
4. How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-18? What does He promise to His followers?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem instead of immediately going out to share the good news? What might have happened if they had gone out in their own strength? ([41:46])
2. The sermon says that waiting is not punishment but preparation. How does this idea change the way someone might view seasons of waiting in their own life? ([42:58])
3. The early church waited together, prayed, and immersed themselves in Scripture. Why is it important to wait in community and not just alone? ([47:16])
4. The Holy Spirit is described as God’s presence within us, not just around us. How does this truth affect the way a believer might approach daily life and challenges? ([55:22])
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you had to wait for something important. How did you handle the waiting? Looking back, do you see any ways God was preparing you during that time? ([39:56])
2. The sermon encourages us to carve out time for silence, prayer, and surrender. What is one practical way you could create space in your week to wait on God? ([45:46])
3. When you are in a season of uncertainty or transition, who are the people in your life that help remind you of God’s promises? How can you be that person for someone else this week? ([50:58])
4. The early believers anchored themselves in God’s Word during their waiting. Is there a specific promise from Scripture that you need to hold onto right now? How can you keep it in front of you this week? ([48:48])
5. The Holy Spirit is described as the “batteries” that empower us to shine. In what area of your life do you feel like your “batteries” are running low? What would it look like to ask the Spirit to fill you afresh? ([59:23])
6. The sermon invites us to yield ourselves to the Spirit and to live as “Spirit-infused people.” What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control and trust God’s timing or power? ([01:01:13])
7. Pentecost is about sharing God’s love with others. Who is someone in your home, workplace, or community that needs to see the light of Jesus through you this week? What is one specific way you can show them God’s love? ([59:23])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, for patience in waiting, and for boldness to share God’s love in their daily lives.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit Today
Pentecost is not just a historical event but a living reality, as the same Spirit who filled the upper room in Acts 2 is still moving, speaking, and empowering believers today. The Holy Spirit is not a distant memory but an active presence, inviting us to yield ourselves, to be awakened, and to live lives filled with boldness, joy, and purpose. The question is not whether Pentecost happened, but whether we will allow the breath of God to fill our lives today, making us lights in our homes, workplaces, and communities. [31:51]
Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience the living presence and power of the Holy Spirit today? Will you invite Him to fill you afresh?
Day 2: Waiting on God with Trust and Surrender
Waiting is never easy, yet Pentecost teaches us the value of waiting on the Lord—not as punishment, but as preparation for what God wants to do in and through us. The disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem, not rushing ahead in their own strength, but surrendering to God’s timing and trusting that He would show up. In our own seasons of waiting, we are invited to carve out time to be with God in Scripture, silence, and prayer, trusting that there is power that comes after the waiting. [43:33]
Acts 1:4-5 (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.”
Reflection: Where in your life are you struggling to wait on God? How can you intentionally create space today to wait quietly in His presence and trust His timing?
Day 3: God Keeps His Promises
Pentecost challenges us to believe that God is a God who keeps His promises. The early disciples waited together, united in prayer and immersed in God’s Word, believing that what Jesus said would come to pass. Even in seasons of hardship, transition, or delay, we are reminded that God is faithful—He has not forgotten us, and His promises are true whether we feel it or not. In community, we help one another remember and hold fast to these promises, trusting that God will see us through. [50:58]
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Reflection: Who in your life needs to be reminded of God’s faithfulness today? How can you encourage them with a promise from Scripture?
Day 4: Empowered to Share God’s Life and Love
The miracle of Pentecost is that God not only surrounds us but comes to live within us, empowering us to experience His nearness and to share His life and love with others. The Holy Spirit is the “batteries” to our faith, enabling us to shine as lights in our homes, workplaces, and communities. We are not alone; God’s presence changes us from the inside out and equips us to show Jesus to the world around us. [59:23]
John 14:16-17 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can show the love and presence of Jesus to someone in your community today?
Day 5: Yielding to the Spirit’s Ongoing Work
Pentecost is not a relic of the past but a living, breathing promise of God fulfilled in our lives today. The Spirit’s movement is ongoing, inviting us to yield ourselves daily, to wait with intention, to return to God’s promises, and to ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people, filled with God’s extraordinary power, are called to live holy lives and to be bold witnesses for the sake of the world. Will you let Pentecost happen in you today? [01:01:13]
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Reflection: What is one area of your life you need to surrender more fully to the Holy Spirit’s leading today? What step can you take to yield yourself to Him?
Quotes
Pentecost is not this relic of the day we just remember and we move on to the next Sunday. It is this living and breathing promise of God fulfilled in our lives today. It is this continuing movement of God. It is the movement of heaven that has come rushing to earth and to our lives if we will yield ourselves to God. [01:00:39] (34 seconds)
Pentecost isn't just about what God did once. It's about what God is still doing today and what He wants to do in our lives this very day. So the question is not, did Pentecost happen? Then, the better question is will we let Pentecost happen in us? To be a light in our lives. today? Will we let Pentecost, the breath of God, breathe into our very souls this day and in our lives? [00:33:35] (31 seconds)
Today we've seen that Pentecost teaches us to wait, challenges us to believe that God's promises are true, and empowers us to share in His life and in His love, not by our own efforts, but by His indwelling presence and the gift of the Holy Spirit. [01:01:30] (19 seconds)
That God doesn't just surround us, but God has come to live in us. To change us from the inside out. That God invites us to experience his nearness. Not because I was around church people or in the building, but because I've experienced the very presence of God and the very nearness of him in my own life. [00:55:22] (29 seconds)
Pentecost isn't only about what God once did. Pentecost is not only about what God did once a long time ago. Pentecost is about what God is actually still up to. What God is actually still doing in our lives and in the life of the church. For the same Spirit who filled the upper room, I would submit, is still moving today. [00:31:04] (33 seconds)
The Holy Spirit is the batteries to our faith that enable us to shine a light in our homes, at work, at play. To share and to show Jesus. Pentecost empowers us and enables us to experience the life and the love of God personally and also to share him with the world. [00:59:55] (33 seconds)
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