Parallel Events
1. The Law was given in Exodus 20. The Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2.
2. Celebration of the Festival of Harvest in Exodus 23. The harvest of 3,000 souls in Acts 2.
3. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God fell on special people at special times. The Holy Spirit was poured out on all people.
4. This phenomenon was prophesied in Joel 2:28-32 and experienced in Act 2.
In Acts 2:14-41, God works through a Spirit-led, Spirit-filled vessel of God. Through Peter, God reveals a powerful Kingdom Truth - Discernment!
Daniel 2:21-22 NIV
21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
James 1:19-20 NLT
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
1 Corinthians 11:31 AMP
But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged.
Acts 2:15 NLT
These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
Acts 2:17-18 NKJV
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:19-21 NKJV
19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts 2:36-37 NKJV
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Kingdom Truth
Relying on the Holy Spirit, you will speak with authority and wisdom. Scripture will be revealed to you when you need it, and people will hear and be moved in their hearts to ask, “What shall we do?”
Acts 2:38 NKJV
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Kingdom Truth
Repentance is not being sorry; it’s turning away from your own way of reasoning and justification (a form of baptism in Jesus Christ) and choosing to follow the way of a surrendered soul that LIVES under the LORDSHIP of Jesus.
Zechariah 12:10 NLT
“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
Kingdom Truth
Before you speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, He has gone before you and prepared the hearts to hear.
1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT
I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.
Acts 2:39 NKJV
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
TIFAW
I speak with authority.
I discern properly.
I’m empowered to BE a witness.
I trust the Holy Spirit to give the right word at the right time.
I make the truth clear.
I challenge people to a place of decision, knowing God has prepared their hearts to hear.
This is how the Church began, and this is how the Church continues.