Exceeded Expectations

Exceeded Expectations

Acts: Church on the Move
Acts 2:1-13

Main Idea
Witnessing the power of God and recognizing its source is a great privilege.

I. The Spirit of God Arrived in Power

Acts 2:1-4
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.

• The sound of the Spirit was like a mighty rushing wind.

• The Greek word for Spirit, pneuma, also means wind (John 3:8).

• They saw fire resting on them, fulfilling what John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11.

• The Spirit empowered them to speak in known languages so everyone could understand.

• This miraculous event marked the Spirit’s arrival and empowerment but was not a repeated “normal” experience for all believers.

II. God Moves in Unlikely People

Acts 2:5-12
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language…

• Jews and converts from all over the world were present.

• They were amazed that Galileans spoke their native dialects fluently (dialektos).

• The Spirit enabled the apostles to proclaim “the mighty works of God.”

• The message was about Christ, not random speech—Spirit-empowered preaching of God’s Word.

III. When God Moves Do You Praise Him or Look for Other Explanations?

Acts 2:13
But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

• Two groups saw the same thing but drew very different conclusions.

• Why do people resist recognizing God’s power?

• Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ by revelation from the Father (Matthew 16:13-17).

• We must pray for eyes to see and hearts to believe.

Conclusion
What does this mean for us? As followers of Christ, we have the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit:

• He teaches us (John 16:13).

• He prays for us (Romans 8:26).

• He empowers our witness (Acts 1:8).

• He produces fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-23).

Communion
We remember that the Spirit was given because Jesus died and rose again. Communion reminds us of His sacrifice:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 — “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me…”

Taking the elements is serious—examining ourselves before the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)