Sunday | 02-01-2026 | Acts 21-41 | The Day of Pentecost

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Power is for You Now

The day of Pentecost marked a profound shift in how God interacts with His people. Before this, the Holy Spirit's presence was limited to select individuals for specific tasks. Now, the Spirit is poured out on all believers, regardless of background, to dwell within them permanently. This is not a distant event from history; it is a present reality for you today. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to you right now, not in some future unknown time. [01:15]

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: In what specific area of your life do you feel a lack of power or direction, and how might embracing the present reality of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence offer a new perspective or strength for that situation?

Day 2: Witnessing to the Risen Christ

The initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was not primarily about unusual experiences, but about bearing witness to the undeniable truth that Jesus is alive. Peter’s sermon clearly pointed to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation as Lord and Messiah. Any genuine work of the Holy Spirit will always direct people to the living reality of Jesus Christ. This is the foundational message we are empowered to share. [57:52]

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Reflection: Considering the core message of Jesus' resurrection, what is one way you can actively share this truth with someone in your life this week, not through forceful persuasion, but through genuine connection and testimony?

Day 3: Assurance of Salvation Through the Spirit

The Holy Spirit living within us provides a deep assurance of our salvation. This presence is God's promised seal and guarantee, a deposit that secures our inheritance. The Spirit comforts, assures, and testifies that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This means that no matter what trials you face, your future with Christ is secure, and it is well with your soul. [58:46]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Reflection: When you experience moments of doubt or anxiety about your future, how can you intentionally recall and lean into the assurance of salvation that the Holy Spirit provides, and what specific practice might help you do this?

Day 4: Power to Walk Away from Sin

Freedom from the grip of sin is not achieved through human effort alone, but through walking with the Holy Spirit. As you yield to the Spirit's leading, He produces His fruit in you—love, joy, peace, patience, and more—forming Christ-like character. This empowers true repentance and a transformed life, enabling you to turn away from what once held you captive. [59:06]

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Reflection: Identify one specific desire or habit that you know is not aligned with God's will. How can you consciously invite the Holy Spirit's power to help you walk away from that desire this week, and what small, tangible step can you take?

Day 5: Empowered to Be Witnesses for Christ

The Holy Spirit empowers believers for service, equipping each of us with gifts, service, and strength to testify that Jesus is alive. Pentecost marked the birth of the Spirit-empowered church, sent into the world. As you dedicate your gifts, service, and work to God, the Spirit works through you to build up the church and proclaim Christ to all nations, and especially to your community. [59:48]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
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: Consider a talent or skill you possess, even one that seems ordinary. How might you intentionally dedicate this talent to God this week as a way to be a witness for Christ and build up His church in your sphere of influence?

Sermon Summary

Many believers wrestle with the same impatient question: when will God restore, heal, or deliver? The response given here reframes that longing: the timing of God’s actions belongs to the Father, but the present gift belongs to the people—the Holy Spirit. Drawing on Acts 2 and the festival of Pentecost, the preacher traces how Pentecost marks a decisive shift: the Spirit no longer rests temporarily on a few leaders but dwells within all who turn to Christ. The initial outward sign—speaking in other tongues—served to announce to a diverse, international crowd that God's wonders were now being declared to every nation, not primarily to prove spiritual experience. Peter’s explanation of the event pointed squarely to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation, and called hearers to repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Spirit.

The presence of the Spirit is presented as multifaceted: it attests to the risen Christ; it is God’s seal guaranteeing salvation and final redemption; it supplies real power to turn from sin and to grow the fruit of Christlike character; and it equips each believer with gifts to serve and to witness. Practical pastoral invitations flow from these truths—if someone has trusted Christ but not been baptized, baptism is encouraged as the public step that aligns with receiving the Spirit. The Spirit’s work is not a one-time event but an ongoing filling—being filled continually as believers yield their lives. The address also warns against evaluating spiritual outpourings by ecstatic phenomena alone; a genuine work of the Spirit will always point people to Jesus and call for repentance. Finally, the Spirit’s empowerment extends beyond church ministries into ordinary vocations—construction, engineering, writing—where God’s people can visibly declare God’s wonders through faithful service. The tone is pastoral, urgent, and hopeful: though the timing of God’s future restorations remains hidden, the present reality of the Spirit gives assurance, transformation, and mission to every believer.

Key Takeaways

1. Pentecost proves Jesus is risen Peter’s sermon connects the Spirit’s outpouring directly to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation, so the event functions first as a public vindication of the risen Lord. The phenomenon of tongues announced an inbreaking reality: God has raised Jesus and now pours out his Spirit to confirm that truth to all nations. This means every genuine movement of the Spirit will point away from spectacle to the historical, living Christ. [39:27]
2. Holy Spirit seals salvation assurance The indwelling Spirit is presented as God’s seal and deposit guaranteeing the believer’s inheritance — not a vague feeling but a theological assurance grounded in Scripture. This assurance reframes suffering and uncertainty: present trials do not overturn the Spirit’s guarantee of future redemption. The Spirit’s presence comforts without cheapening the call to holiness; it secures hope and fuels perseverance. [50:40]
3. Spirit empowers turning from sin Rather than being mere moralism, repentance is framed as a Spirit-enabled reorientation of the heart that produces lasting change. The Spirit works within to displace the desires of the flesh and to cultivate the fruit that cannot be manufactured by willpower alone. Walking by the Spirit is an apprenticeship in holiness where human weakness meets divine enablement. [53:29]
4. Spirit equips believers for witness The outpouring is missionary by design: the Spirit furnishes diverse gifts so ordinary work becomes a channel of testimony. When believers dedicate gifts and vocations to God, the Spirit anoints those tasks to display God’s wonders, drawing others toward Jesus. Christian witness thus combines theological clarity with faithful service in everyday spheres. [55:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Waiting Questions: When, Lord?
[01:15] - The Power for Now: Holy Spirit
[02:25] - Announcements & VBS Planning
[08:16] - Call to Worship (2 Cor 3)
[30:30] - Series Intro: Church of Fire / Pentecost
[34:43] - Reading Acts 2:1–41
[41:38] - Pentecost Miracle Explained
[45:06] - Peter’s Sermon: Jesus Alive
[50:16] - Spirit as Seal of Salvation
[52:36] - Spirit Empowers Holy Living
[55:10] - Spirit Equips Believers for Witness
[57:25] - Four Key Takeaways
[64:10] - Communion & Invitation
[78:37] - Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:

Bible Reading

Acts 2:1-41 (ESV)
> 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all gathered in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
>
> 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in our own native language to which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocked them, saying, “They are filled with new wine.”
>
> 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, be known this, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
>
> 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
> that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
> and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
> and your young men shall see visions,
> and your old men shall dream dreams;
> 18 even on my male and female servants
> in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
>
> 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
> and signs on the earth below,
> blood and fire and vapor of smoke;
> 20 the sun shall be turned into darkness
> and the moon to blood,
> before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
> 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
>
> 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 But God raised him up, loosening the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
>
> “‘I saw the Lord always before me,
> for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
> 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
> my body also will rest in hope.
> 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
> or let your Holy One see corruption.
> 28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
> you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
>
> 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor his flesh saw corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are now seeing and hearing.
>
> 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
>
> “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
> Sit at my right hand,
> 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’
>
> 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
>
> 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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. 39 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.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added to them that day about three thousand souls.

Observation questions

The sermon summary mentions that the initial outward sign at Pentecost was speaking in other tongues, which served to announce God's wonders to a diverse crowd. What specific languages or regions are mentioned in Acts 2:9-11 as being represented by the crowd? [35:54]
Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 connects the outpouring of the Spirit directly to Jesus' death, resurrection, and exaltation. What specific Old Testament figures and scriptures does Peter reference to support his message about Jesus? [38:28], [39:37]
The sermon highlights that the Holy Spirit is a seal guaranteeing salvation. What does Ephesians 1:13-14 say about the Holy Spirit’s role as a seal and deposit? [50:40]
The sermon emphasizes that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for service and witness. According to 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, what are the different kinds of gifts, services, and workings that the Holy Spirit provides? [55:47]

Interpretation questions

The sermon summary notes that the timing of God’s actions belongs to the Father, but the present gift belongs to the people – the Holy Spirit. How does the initial question from the crowd in Acts 1:6 ("Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?") contrast with the response given in Acts 2:38-39 regarding the gift of the Holy Spirit? [00:20]
The sermon explains that the Holy Spirit’s work is not a one-time event but an ongoing filling. How does the Greek phrasing of "be filled with the Spirit" in Ephesians 5:18, as mentioned in the sermon, suggest a continuous action rather than a single event? [01:00:45]
The sermon warns against evaluating spiritual outpourings by ecstatic phenomena alone, stating that a genuine work of the Spirit will always point people to Jesus and call for repentance. How does Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:22-41 demonstrate this principle by focusing on Jesus’ death and resurrection? [45:06]
The sermon states that the Holy Spirit equips believers with gifts for service and witness, and that ordinary work can become a channel of testimony. How might the diverse vocations mentioned in the sermon (construction, engineering, writing) be seen as ways to "declare God's wonders" in a way that points to Christ? [01:01:56]

Application questions

Many believers wrestle with impatient questions about when God will restore, heal, or deliver. Reflect on a time you've asked God, "When, Lord?" about a difficult situation. How might reframing that longing to focus on the present gift of the Holy Spirit change your perspective? [00:20]
The sermon highlights that Pentecost marks a decisive shift where the Spirit no longer rests temporarily on a few leaders but dwells within all who turn to Christ. If you have trusted Christ, how does the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit assure you of your salvation, even amidst present trials? [50:40]
The sermon emphasizes that repentance is a Spirit-enabled reorientation of the heart that produces lasting change. In what specific areas of your life do you feel the Holy Spirit is calling you to turn away from sin and toward Christlike character? [52:36]
The sermon states that the Holy Spirit equips each believer with gifts to serve and to witness, and that this empowerment extends beyond church ministries into ordinary vocations. How can you intentionally dedicate your daily work or talents this week to God in a way that visibly declares His wonders to others? [55:10]
The sermon encourages baptism as a public step that aligns with receiving the Spirit, especially for those who have trusted Christ but not yet been baptized. If this applies to you, what steps can you take this week to explore or pursue baptism as a public declaration of your faith and reception of the Spirit? [47:42]
The sermon reminds us that being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. How can you actively seek to be "being filled" with the Holy Spirit throughout your week, yielding your life to His continuous work? [01:00:27]

Sermon Clips

``Finally, fourth, the spirit living within us means that we have power to be a witness for the living Christ. I love this one. Specifically, the Holy Spirit empowers us for service to be an effective witness for Christ. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit means that Jesus is alive, and the spirit living within us means that we are then empowered to declare to the world that Jesus is alive indeed through spirit powered service, spirit powered works. [00:55:02] (33 seconds) #SpiritPoweredWitness

And the Lord says, it's not for you to know. It's not for you to know when I will heal. It's not for you to know when I will restore. It's not for you to know when I will deliver. It's not for you to know. It's not for you to know. But I'll tell you what is for you to know. What is for you to know and receive right now is the power of the Holy Spirit. [00:00:53] (31 seconds) #ReceiveSpiritNow

And then he explained to them what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit means. And if you look at Peter's sermon, if you've if you tear that apart, his explanation points directly to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He points directly to Jesus as the risen lord and messiah. So his explanation of what it means is that Jesus is alive. [00:45:09] (28 seconds) #JesusIsAlive

And his sermon was so compelling that the people asked, what should we do then? Or how should we respond to this outpouring of the spirit? And Peter said, repent. Be baptized in the in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive this gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is not only for you, but for your children and for all your descendants who are far off. [00:45:43] (29 seconds) #RepentAndBeBaptized

In acts chapter one, Jesus said, we talked about this last week, you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses to the whole world. The Holy Spirit empowers us with gifts and talents so that we will point others to Jesus through our work, and so that we will build up so that we can build up the church. [00:55:35] (26 seconds) #SpiritGiftsToServe

That's number two. The spirit living within us means that our salvation is assured, and that gives us such such hope. And it should give us such comfort that whenever we go through any kind of trials, no matter what it is, we can say, you know what? This is not the end. This is not the end. It's not the end of me because I have the Holy Spirit who guarantees that in the end, I will be saved, and I have that hope and that assurance. Amen? [00:51:33] (37 seconds) #SpiritAssuranceHope

God will bring his people into their kingdom, but it's not for you to know when. And my friends, many of us are stuck in an endless prayer loop asking the same kind of question. When, Lord, are you going to restore me back to full health? When, Lord, are you gonna take care of this problem that has plagued me? When, Lord, are you gonna set me free from this darkness in my soul? When, Lord are you going to end evil and sickness in this world? When Lord are you going to provide? When will you heal? When will you deliver? When Lord are you gonna cause our church to grow? [00:00:12] (41 seconds) #TrustGodsTiming

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to all the gathered believers in a mighty rushing wind, and tongues of fire separated out and came to rest upon each individual. And they were all filled with the holy spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the spirit enabled them. Meaning, they did not conjure this up under their own power. They were supernaturally enabled to speak in other tongues by the holy spirit. [00:41:27] (30 seconds) #PentecostFire

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Sunday | 02-01-2026 | Acts 21-41 | The Day of Pentecost

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Power is for You Now

Day 2: Witnessing to the Risen Christ

Day 3: Assurance of Salvation Through the Spirit

Day 4: Power to Walk Away from Sin

Day 5: Empowered to Be Witnesses for Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Sunday | 02-01-2026 | Acts 21-41 | The Day of Pentecost

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