The Sermon The Voice by David McGee
Apr 19, 2015
The Voice (36:08)
Referenced Scriptures: Acts 2:1-16; Romans 10:9-10
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Acts 2:1-16
1) Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3) Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and it sat on each one of them.
4) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5) Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6) When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7) They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren‘t all these who speak Galileans?
8) How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9) Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10) Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11) Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!"
12) They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?"
13) Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."
14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15) For these aren‘t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16) But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
Romans 10:9-10
9) that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10) For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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Today I am going to speak about the voice of anybody seeing that television show on T.V. The Voice and what it is and have you been watching it I this is the first year that I've really even paid attention to it but there are a couple of Christian artists or Christian ones a song leader was on of is still on and off but there were song leaders from churches and and another end of it I think there's two or three of them nowhere from a Christian background from a church and they are on this program the voice and what they do is they have four individuals and their back is to the singers and the singers will sing their song and these four individuals will if they want to have that person on their team to train them. They'll hit the on and turn your chair around and these people can then go on to sing songs and then go on into compe ion and now it's a compe ion where the people call in and vote which one you think is going to be the best and they're down to like ten or eight or twelve or I don't know. Somewhere in there but the idea is that the individuals are singing and the people are listening the four judges are listening for a voice. Now that they want to they think can be on their team and they can train them to become better. Well today we're talking about Pentecost and the voice of the Holy Spirit and the reason I'm speaking of Pentecost is because tonight another T.V. show is the A.D. series in which they are doing the early church and Tonight's episode is about the Holy Spirit. And I thought that you know I usually don't advertise or think of television programs but our national office has been sending out. Recognitions in sending out flyers as it were for pastors to make mention of this for their congregation. So I'm uming that it will be pretty much right on target as to what our beliefs are and what the scriptural references and whenever we think of the Holy Spirit and the coming of Pentecost it's hard to visualize what that was like. It's hard to have a visual picture of what happened on the day of Pentecost when the people were in the upper room and in Acts chapter two it says when the feast of Pentecost came now there were three major feasts in the Jewish calendar and the feast of Pentecost as one of them and it is a feast of harvest the Feast of Weeks which is kind of a time that they have set aside. To celebrate the harvest of their crops. And so it becomes a feast of Pentecost the Feast of Weeks of Feast of the harvest. And so these three major feasts of the Jewish calendar require that people would come from all the surrounding areas and come to Jerusalem to celebrate this this feast before you know for the Jewish nation. And so the feast of Pentecost came and they were all together in one placing meaning the one hundred twenty that were waiting in the upper room. It has been fifty days since the Easter Sunday the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ten days for forty days after Easter after the resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven and then fifty days is the day of Pentecost. So on the in the scriptural text it's been ten days since Jesus told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and to go to Jerusalem and tarry to wait because there was a. A point to time that was going to have a divine visitation upon believers upon them to help them to empower them to make a difference in their lives. Now up until this point the disciples had after the resurrection they went to Galilee and they were kind of going back to their old way of habits their old habits their old way of making a living. They were fishermen. They were doing their thing. And for forty days Jesus would come and visit with them as it were. And when He ascended He says no I want you to go to Jerusalem. Well Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified and where the Roman army and the high priest and all them were still out looking for them they were probably in the post office with their pictures up there and wanted men that's a little ogy there. There was no post office I'm just kidding. OK So be the disciple the Romans would have wanted to arrest the disciples and they would have wanted to take them in and perhaps kill them crucify them or whatever. So one hundred twenty Now the disciples and the others had gone to this upper room a picture that I told you about it and I mentioned in the Sunday school and I never brought it back up. There is there's a place in Jerusalem that is considered the upper room and it is it is a it's thought to be the actual Rup upper room or one of the areas may not be the actual wrap up room but in the location because it says that David's tomb is within sight and above the upper room below the upper room is this two minutes all decked out and that's considered David's tomb so anyhow above that is this place called the Upper Room and we were there. And whenever we did our tour in Jerusalem. And it is a second story building second story room. It's quite large it's pretty large and there are these large open windows and while they were waiting there something happened and it will get through it if it comes up it comes up that's when the feast of Pentecost came they were all together in one place now in the King James It says they were all in one accord tabby could you have a cord for us a note just any note. OK do it again. OK everybody hit that same note. Hey that's pretty good I thought it I thought it. If you don't like it leave. OK everybody had that note. Boy you're really good. It's hard you know. OK it's hard to get everybody in on the same note. Want to court one accord court note and while it's not what it meant in this Scripture text but what they were trying they were there with one purpose and the purpose was serving Jesus and this is considered the upper room at this time and we don't know for sure if it's the actual upper room and I think that it was the building itself was destroyed and rebuilt later but we were in this room and I always remember Alice Repco standing here by one of the pillars and we wanted they wanted to sing. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place and it was there in a similar area such as this that this took place in Acts chapter two. There were one hundred twenty people in this place and they were there carrying waiting praying in and indeed the Jewish people that were followers of Jesus hadn't broken away from the temple the Jewish tradition because they felt that Jesus had come to fulfill the Jewish law not to start a separate church and so they were still very active in going to the temple going there prepared for prayers and to offering the sacrifices and so on. And they were they were very much involved with the Jewish customs in the Jewish traditions. Plus they were here in the upper room in prayer waiting for something whatever was the Jesus said that he was going to do. Well Jesus said he was going to send to them another comforter. And the word another it's very important that we understand this that another means exactly the same when the Holy Spirit comes. He is exactly as I am. So when the Holy Spirit is with us it's the same exact as Jesus himself standing there beside you. Because the Father Son and Holy Spirit the Triune are three yet one equal in all ways but yet distinct So the Holy Spirit's work working in our life is the very same as if Jesus himself were standing there reading the scriptures and being inspired by the Holy Spirit is Jesus had spoken the word. But when Pentecost came the disciples were empowered from on high and they were they stopped hiding. They stopped running. They they said they understood what Jesus was trying to teach them and that's our hardest point. Our hardest place in life is what is Jesus trying to teach us what is the Holy Spirit taught talking to us about when the difficulties the trials the tribulations the sicknesses the accidents the things happen and what is Jesus trying to teach us what is the word trying to encourage us. How are we being changed from the image from glory to glory. See where we are at is not where we're going to die. You know if if where we are at is where we're going to die. You got about ten minutes. You'll be dead. Why cuz I can't grow any more from here but you see we're not dead. OK everybody that's not dead raise your hand OK. No funerals today. So what it means is that we are alive in Christ in the Holy Spirit comes to empower that word what word comes to our mind. What word do you think of what scriptural text do you think of. Over and over again. Anyone But is that what you want to say again. What Scripture does what scripture comes to your mind over and over again. OK what does it say. I look up and down the hills from whence cometh my strength my strength coming from the Lord. OK so what makes it come to your mind a problem or a difficulty. So there is a problem that comes up and I look at the real somewhere. My how come crying my help comes from the hills from the Lord for the Lord. He was the one EVER so that I think see the Holy Spirit. It isn't the problem that brings that to mind. It's the Spirit the Holy Spirit speaking his word to our life or anyone else. Come on now what what verse any verse. Jeremiah twenty nine eleven for I know the plans I have for you say that the LORD plans to prosper not to harm to do a good work. What brings that to your mind. OK We have an uncertain future. We have an uncertain future why cuz where you know change is coming about and in that possibility of change. The Holy Spirit brings to our mind the scriptural text. Don't be afraid of change because I the LORD have a plan for you plans to prosper not to harm. So the Holy Spirit brings that much that word to our lives. Anyone else. When sadness comes when there's a hardship. Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. What are we saying that is the spirit giving us hope. Now when we do it when I did a lot of counseling you would sit down and you would talk with people and they would talk with you you know back and forth and things like that. And one of the main things was I'm not here to fix anything. Just here to listen to and then I would I had many depended on what was going on but most of the time I would ask them Well what do you think the answer is where is the answer. What I was what I was trying to do was to get them to listen. So the spirit speaking encouragement to them because if Jesus were sitting with you then gee if Jesus were walking with you and you face a difficulty there's change coming. What am I going to do. And Jesus would say I would whisper in our ear he would whisper his word then what word would he whisper. Those scriptures that come to your mind he is speaking that to us. It isn't just us coming up with it. It's the Holy Spirit come coming up with it speaking it to our lives. And here in in chapter two verse one two here we are and without warning there was a sound like a strong wind gale force. I've never been in a tornado but sometimes on our hill it sounds like a freight train coming and I know and I want to hear the sound of a freight train and if you feel this push up on the house from the wind hitting it OK and if you open the door you would be blown away. OK people who have witnessed a hurricane for tornadoes and things they would say it was like a freight train outside. Well here in the upper room there was a sound like a freight train a rushing mighty wind. But there was no wind. There was the sound and then there was fire fire. Well what will fire we think of things being consumed what about Moses and the burning bush. What about Moses on the Mount receiving the commandments and the fire of You see there was a fire that comes and the fire of the Holy Spirit is a fire. As it speaks of purification. A fire that burns up the impurities. We all have impurities in our life we all have difficulties that we face we all and know we're not perfect and so the Spirit is going to ignite those difficulties burn them as it were and then in the midst of that the Spirit is going to speak to empower to empower us to give us strength as your day is so show your strength be thing. So whenever we are looking at our days and thinking of the Holy Spirit brings thoughts I can do more I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Generally it's brought up when. Facing a difficulty that you have to you have to do this. You you know there's no quitting there's no giving up there's no going back there's only going forward as my day so shall my strength be all things work together for good. The Sovereign who created the heavens and the earth is watching over your life every step that you take every place that you go every thought that's in your mind. knows it all and he continues to come to us with His love His power His blessing his word to encourage us to make us complete to make us whole healthy. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind a gale force. No one could tell where it came from there was this big sound going on you know I would ask Jose to turn up some sound to the biggest of the greatest noise they could make through all the speakers and blast it and we go. Well what's he doing. What's that noise. Yeah. We don't open the windows and the people would hear what's that. No use in that church. Well we would say what's the speaker's And Jose playing OK but in the upper room there was no Jose at the P.A. system there was the Holy Spirit. They came and spoke to them empowered them and there was this great noise it was it was a great noise but what it was what was going on it was a great attraction. People came they heard it. So it wasn't just for one hundred twenty. It was something it was noised abroad and then the fire came as it were fire came inside upon each one and it was a fire of the Spirit. Same fire of Moses in the burning bush the same fire as in Moses. Yeah and them on the mountain. And which of the Fire descended upon it. It's the same thing. Same fire. Fire the Holy Spirit. It filled the whole building. Then like a wildfire like wildfire you know there's a high risk fire now you know. So don't go burning trash and burning things in the woods. Why. Because there's just so much material that's ready combustible material is in the woods at this moment that there's nothing to the fire and in our lines the combustion factor as we seek after as we seek after as we seek after it's that there's this there's this combustion all this material that's ready to be consumed by the Spirit and the spirit comes and consumes like a wildfire and burns up all these things and the whole Holy Spirit spread throughout their ranks and they spread they started speaking in a number of different languages as a spirit prompted them. So there. The Holy Spirit came and powered them and filled them to overflowing. We asked the question in Sunday school how can you fill a cup that's already full. You know whenever we are saved we ask Christ to forgive us of our sins. Our life is filled with But then at Pentecost there is a feeling again that there is a filling up it's a filling of the full you know it's like we're already full because it's to our people without See there were there was always I don't say always but there were doctrines that said well you can't get to heaven unless you have the Pentecostal experience. It's not what the Bible says the Bible says if you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive you of all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness that would fill our hearts to overflowing that he would you know that the Word of would wallow in us richly So we find that there is a filling of the full and that's the Holy Spirit filling refilling and then we see and hear that it's so moved upon these individuals in the upper room that they there was this great noise and people were drawn to the noise they were drawn to the visual effects of fire in a building that is not burning. And all of the what was going on in the people inside the building we're speaking Galileans and speaking in the language of the people who were visiting from other countries and we have a list of them here. Parthians Medes and evil knights and Mesopotamia Judea Kapell to see a punchers an Asia Egypt the Libya we have the all these different countries are represented represented at this in Jerusalem and they are all there outside of this building listening to what. Listening to the Holy Spirit speak through people who are local individuals telling them about Jesus in their own language. The power of the Holy Spirit to fill us to overflowing by His Spirit that we can speak that which speaks through us to touch the lives of others those who are in the dark. I need your light the most. You see if there is anything we have we have the light of and who who is receiving that light. Where is our lamp burning. Where is our light shining. That's what the Bible says Don't hide your light under a bushel basket. Do you know that you don't you see each of us have a light and who are we eliminate NG who to whom are we speaking. To whom is the Holy Spirit using us to speak to their lives and speak to their hearts. Our neighbors our friends our family you know the people we work with the people around us the people we meet those in the grocery store. Are we a light. When we have to wait in line you know that crazy person if she knew what she was doing should be able to wring that thing out quicker than this you know. Inpatient you know restaurant and meeting people see what type of person are we. And you see the Holy Spirit helps us become. So that we would do the right things for the right reasons that we would be the person that people the go to person on the go to person when people need a light they know where or who to ask. You know it's like smokers you know they they look around for somebody who has a cigarette because they know they have a light. I never smoked but you know I always know people how do you know they have a cigarette lighter have to let you know you can smell it good to tell it you know they have established they smoke well aligned you know they're drawn to people people in darkness need a light. It's you you know and I think I've done I don't know if you know seven or eight in the last eight weeks or whatever and letting all those different things in. All I want is to try to be the light in darkness. Are you trying to be a place where people find hope. You want to be the light that you want to be the Word of that is planted into someone's life that it stirs them helps them it. Then when somebody else comes into their life it reminds them of the light that you shown into their lives that you and you and I as each of us in our own way have been a lie to someone and you know they didn't understand it they didn't know much about it but somebody else comes in there and talks about the same light somebody else comes in they're in the same light as present. They begin to get a picture. How many times there's a seed have to be watered before it sprouts you know when there's a seed you know if it's just setting on the ground sometimes the soil has to be dug up a little bit to get the seed covered and then it sprouts and and I think that's us. Well there were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then devout pilgrims from all over the world who when they heard the song. No and when they heard the tornado inside of a building on loudspeakers that didn't have loud speakers and they saw a house afire but not burning. It's like what's going on over there. What's what's what's that sound. What's that going on up in that upper room. Well what happened then when they heard one one after another their own mother tongues being spoken they were thunderstruck they couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on they kept on saying Aren't these all Galileans Are these all just local people. How do they know our language and how can they tell us about Jesus in our language and they don't know our language. How come how come we are hearing them talk in our various mother tongues. They were not a crazed group of individual they were individuals waiting and surrendering to an experience of which was the originator and the author and doesn't bring confusion. But when it or when there appears to be confusion he brings peace. He brings the answer to the troubled heart and to these individuals who were troubled over this. We have Peter in verse fourteen. That's when Peter stood up and backed by the other eleven spoke out with bold urgency that's what I like the bold urgency Peter up into this time Peter and the others had been hiding and they've been a little more encouraged by going back to Jerusalem but they're still in the upper room. And they're still hiding. Now most of the other Jews the other twenty that were up there they were being sought out by the Romans or or the priest in the Guards. They were they went to the temple and saw the pier. We don't see them doing anything we don't have them any recognition. But when the Spirit came Peter with bold urgency fellow Jews all of you who are visiting Jerusalem listen listen carefully and get this story straight. OK we're not crazy and we're not drunk. So get the story straight. These people are drunk as you suspect they haven't had time to get drunk it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen. You see he draws upon the Word of to bring to bring meaning. So the urgency and to the moment these people finding confusion. The will of the Holy Spirit will draw upon the Word of to speak to our lives to speak peace to speak healing to speak strength to give us direction when we don't think we have direction that will be there. He is the way maker he is the one that will make the mountains go down in the valleys in the crooked places straight and he is the one who will direct the path he is the one who will be the light that shines upon our path. It is who is speaking to us not just wishful thinking you know well I wish I wish upon a star studded wherever you are is not what it is it's it's the Holy Spirit speaking to your life and what is the spirit saying in thing a thing and the thing is so. Amazing is that when puts a thought in your mind and in your heart there will be just boom boom you turn around confirmation and say See I told you I told you I told you no it's just like three or four things five or six things will just pop up it'll all be in order and it's like I was the one speaking that message to you and has a way and you know isn't doing the you know the negative the bad is the one who speaks truth and love when he speaks his grace and His mercy He speaks about how that we're going to become and how that we're growing on from here and how that has a place for us. And you see I said about the voice and how that they the judges sit there and they listen to someone singing. OK And if they want that person on their team when they hit their on their chair turns around I think of the Holy Spirit is speaking through our lives and he wants to know if we'll turn around. And listen and say I want that experience. I want that love that word in my life. And is singing and he's knocking and he's trying to get us. Hit the on turn around I'm here. I've never left you I've never forsake you knew you were not alone in this. That all things are going to work together for good. That this message the of life and the things the hard things that we are experiencing there are only here temporary listen to my voice Listen to what I am saying listen to my voice. ROMANS Philippians excuse me Romans Chapter ten. This is the core of my preaching policy saying it say the welcoming word. Or to I say turn your chair around turn your life around and say the welcoming word to who is speaking to us. Jesus is my master. This is Romans Chapter ten verses nine and ten. Jesus is my master embracing body and soul. 's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. is doing a work in us that he did in Jesus and raising him from the dead the spirit turned the dead body of Jesus into alive. He's turning our life deadness of our sin into life. That's it you're not doing anything. You are simply calling out to trusting him to do it for you. That salvation. We can't save ourselves. Only can save us and so he is telling us to call out to and let do His work. With your whole being you embrace setting things right and then you say it right out loud. has set everything right between him and me. That's the song that is where is being spoken to us. Sung to us through the word wanting us to turn around and accept it into our lives. That's the Holy Spirit speaking to us and we want to fill us fill us the fish were already full of the fellas refill fill us overflow allow that word to speak through our heart for who has begun a good work in you will complete it. That's 's word. He will complete what he has started and we're just. Continuing on in 's word. Shall we stand. So what is speaking to you. What where what scripture I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things work together for good. has a plan for us for the purpose for us you know for good not for evil. What are some other promises in the others. Fear not from the Lord thy . I'm with you always seem to the ends of the Earth you're never alone. All things work together for good. Everything is part of a plan. We just have to see it you know. So those are some of the Scriptures when I try to when I don't try to stand and think about him I have a bunch to just rattle off to hear him trying to think of them inside. It's like OK so what is speaking forgiveness love peace strength. See I can do this I can make this the matter where I met is saying we can make a difference. Let the light of His word shine in our lives. Father thank you thank you that you speak to us and you call out to last May We turn our chair around. May we hear your voice and respond. May we hear what you are saying what the Spirit is saying to us. May we hear your spirit your thoughts for your thoughts. The prophet said My thoughts are not your thoughts as high as the heavens are above the earth so are my thoughts above yours. we want to think your thoughts and they are so great and so far above what we can ever imagine. We are grateful Lord that you speak to us. Give us your peace your direction we pray in Jesus Name we asked and when he said Amen. bless you. The Voice Today I am going to speak about the voice of anybody seeing that television show on T.V. The Voice and what it is and have you been watching it I this is the first year that I've really even paid attention to it but there are a couple of Christian artists or Christian ones a song leader was on of is still on and off but there were song leaders from churches and and another end of it I think there's two or three of them nowhere from a Christian background from a church and they are on this program the voice and what they do is they have four individuals and their back is to the singers and the singers will sing their song and these four individuals will if they want to have that person on their team to train them. They'll hit the on and turn your chair around and these people can then go on to sing songs and then go on into compe ion and now it's a compe ion where the people call in and vote which one you think is going to be the best and they're down to like ten or eight or twelve or I don't know. Somewhere in there but the idea is that the individuals are singing and the people are listening the four judges are listening for a voice. Now that they want to they think can be on their team and they can train them to become better. Well today we're talking about Pentecost and the voice of the Holy Spirit and the reason I'm speaking of Pentecost is because tonight another T.V. show is the A.D. series in which they are doing the early church and Tonight's episode is about the Holy Spirit. And I thought that you know I usually don't advertise or think of television programs but our national office has been sending out. Recognitions in sending out flyers as it were for pastors to make mention of this for their congregation. So I'm uming that it will be pretty much right on target as to what our beliefs are and what the scriptural references and whenever we think of the Holy Spirit and the coming of Pentecost it's hard to visualize what that was like. It's hard to have a visual picture of what happened on the day of Pentecost when the people were in the upper room and in Acts chapter two it says when the feast of Pentecost came now there were three major feasts in the Jewish calendar and the feast of Pentecost as one of them and it is a feast of harvest the Feast of Weeks which is kind of a time that they have set aside. To celebrate the harvest of their crops. And so it becomes a feast of Pentecost the Feast of Weeks of Feast of the harvest. And so these three major feasts of the Jewish calendar require that people would come from all the surrounding areas and come to Jerusalem to celebrate this this feast before you know for the Jewish nation. And so the feast of Pentecost came and they were all together in one placing meaning the one hundred twenty that were waiting in the upper room. It has been fifty days since the Easter Sunday the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ten days for forty days after Easter after the resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven and then fifty days is the day of Pentecost. So on the in the scriptural text it's been ten days since Jesus told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and to go to Jerusalem and tarry to wait because there was a. A point to time that was going to have a divine visitation upon believers upon them to help them to empower them to make a difference in their lives. Now up until this point the disciples had after the resurrection they went to Galilee and they were kind of going back to their old way of habits their old habits their old way of making a living. They were fishermen. They were doing their thing. And for forty days Jesus would come and visit with them as it were. And when He ascended He says no I want you to go to Jerusalem. Well Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified and where the Roman army and the high priest and all them were still out looking for them they were probably in the post office with their pictures up there and wanted men that's a little ogy there. There was no post office I'm just kidding. OK So be the disciple the Romans would have wanted to arrest the disciples and they would have wanted to take them in and perhaps kill them crucify them or whatever. So one hundred twenty Now the disciples and the others had gone to this upper room a picture that I told you about it and I mentioned in the Sunday school and I never brought it back up. There is there's a place in Jerusalem that is considered the upper room and it is it is a it's thought to be the actual Rup upper room or one of the areas may not be the actual wrap up room but in the location because it says that David's tomb is within sight and above the upper room below the upper room is this two minutes all decked out and that's considered David's tomb so anyhow above that is this place called the Upper Room and we were there. And whenever we did our tour in Jerusalem. And it is a second story building second story room. It's quite large it's pretty large and there are these large open windows and while they were waiting there something happened and it will get through it if it comes up it comes up that's when the feast of Pentecost came they were all together in one place now in the King James It says they were all in one accord tabby could you have a cord for us a note just any note. OK do it again. OK everybody hit that same note. Hey that's pretty good I thought it I thought it. If you don't like it leave. OK everybody had that note. Boy you're really good. It's hard you know. OK it's hard to get everybody in on the same note. Want to court one accord court note and while it's not what it meant in this Scripture text but what they were trying they were there with one purpose and the purpose was serving Jesus and this is considered the upper room at this time and we don't know for sure if it's the actual upper room and I think that it was the building itself was destroyed and rebuilt later but we were in this room and I always remember Alice Repco standing here by one of the pillars and we wanted they wanted to sing. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place and it was there in a similar area such as this that this took place in Acts chapter two. There were one hundred twenty people in this place and they were there carrying waiting praying in and indeed the Jewish people that were followers of Jesus hadn't broken away from the temple the Jewish tradition because they felt that Jesus had come to fulfill the Jewish law not to start a separate church and so they were still very active in going to the temple going there prepared for prayers and to offering the sacrifices and so on. And they were they were very much involved with the Jewish customs in the Jewish traditions. Plus they were here in the upper room in prayer waiting for something whatever was the Jesus said that he was going to do. Well Jesus said he was going to send to them another comforter. And the word another it's very important that we understand this that another means exactly the same when the Holy Spirit comes. He is exactly as I am. So when the Holy Spirit is with us it's the same exact as Jesus himself standing there beside you. Because the Father Son and Holy Spirit the Triune are three yet one equal in all ways but yet distinct So the Holy Spirit's work working in our life is the very same as if Jesus himself were standing there reading the scriptures and being inspired by the Holy Spirit is Jesus had spoken the word. But when Pentecost came the disciples were empowered from on high and they were they stopped hiding. They stopped running. They they said they understood what Jesus was trying to teach them and that's our hardest point. Our hardest place in life is what is Jesus trying to teach us what is the Holy Spirit taught talking to us about when the difficulties the trials the tribulations the sicknesses the accidents the things happen and what is Jesus trying to teach us what is the word trying to encourage us. How are we being changed from the image from glory to glory. See where we are at is not where we're going to die. You know if if where we are at is where we're going to die. You got about ten minutes. You'll be dead. Why cuz I can't grow any more from here but you see we're not dead. OK everybody that's not dead raise your hand OK. No funerals today. So what it means is that we are alive in Christ in the Holy Spirit comes to empower that word what word comes to our mind. What word do you think of what scriptural text do you think of. Over and over again. Anyone But is that what you want to say again. What Scripture does what scripture comes to your mind over and over again. OK what does it say. I look up and down the hills from whence cometh my strength my strength coming from the Lord. OK so what makes it come to your mind a problem or a difficulty. So there is a problem that comes up and I look at the real somewhere. My how come crying my help comes from the hills from the Lord for the Lord. He was the one EVER so that I think see the Holy Spirit. It isn't the problem that brings that to mind. It's the Spirit the Holy Spirit speaking his word to our life or anyone else. Come on now what what verse any verse. Jeremiah twenty nine eleven for I know the plans I have for you say that the LORD plans to prosper not to harm to do a good work. What brings that to your mind. OK We have an uncertain future. We have an uncertain future why cuz where you know change is coming about and in that possibility of change. The Holy Spirit brings to our mind the scriptural text. Don't be afraid of change because I the LORD have a plan for you plans to prosper not to harm. So the Holy Spirit brings that much that word to our lives. Anyone else. When sadness comes when there's a hardship. Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. What are we saying that is the spirit giving us hope. Now when we do it when I did a lot of counseling you would sit down and you would talk with people and they would talk with you you know back and forth and things like that. And one of the main things was I'm not here to fix anything. Just here to listen to and then I would I had many depended on what was going on but most of the time I would ask them Well what do you think the answer is where is the answer. What I was what I was trying to do was to get them to listen. So the spirit speaking encouragement to them because if Jesus were sitting with you then gee if Jesus were walking with you and you face a difficulty there's change coming. What am I going to do. And Jesus would say I would whisper in our ear he would whisper his word then what word would he whisper. Those scriptures that come to your mind he is speaking that to us. It isn't just us coming up with it. It's the Holy Spirit come coming up with it speaking it to our lives. And here in in chapter two verse one two here we are and without warning there was a sound like a strong wind gale force. I've never been in a tornado but sometimes on our hill it sounds like a freight train coming and I know and I want to hear the sound of a freight train and if you feel this push up on the house from the wind hitting it OK and if you open the door you would be blown away. OK people who have witnessed a hurricane for tornadoes and things they would say it was like a freight train outside. Well here in the upper room there was a sound like a freight train a rushing mighty wind. But there was no wind. There was the sound and then there was fire fire. Well what will fire we think of things being consumed what about Moses and the burning bush. What about Moses on the Mount receiving the commandments and the fire of You see there was a fire that comes and the fire of the Holy Spirit is a fire. As it speaks of purification. A fire that burns up the impurities. We all have impurities in our life we all have difficulties that we face we all and know we're not perfect and so the Spirit is going to ignite those difficulties burn them as it were and then in the midst of that the Spirit is going to speak to empower to empower us to give us strength as your day is so show your strength be thing. So whenever we are looking at our days and thinking of the Holy Spirit brings thoughts I can do more I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Generally it's brought up when. Facing a difficulty that you have to you have to do this. You you know there's no quitting there's no giving up there's no going back there's only going forward as my day so shall my strength be all things work together for good. The Sovereign who created the heavens and the earth is watching over your life every step that you take every place that you go every thought that's in your mind. knows it all and he continues to come to us with His love His power His blessing his word to encourage us to make us complete to make us whole healthy. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind a gale force. No one could tell where it came from there was this big sound going on you know I would ask Jose to turn up some sound to the biggest of the greatest noise they could make through all the speakers and blast it and we go. Well what's he doing. What's that noise. Yeah. We don't open the windows and the people would hear what's that. No use in that church. Well we would say what's the speaker's And Jose playing OK but in the upper room there was no Jose at the P.A. system there was the Holy Spirit. They came and spoke to them empowered them and there was this great noise it was it was a great noise but what it was what was going on it was a great attraction. People came they heard it. So it wasn't just for one hundred twenty. It was something it was noised abroad and then the fire came as it were fire came inside upon each one and it was a fire of the Spirit. Same fire of Moses in the burning bush the same fire as in Moses. Yeah and them on the mountain. And which of the Fire descended upon it. It's the same thing. Same fire. Fire the Holy Spirit. It filled the whole building. Then like a wildfire like wildfire you know there's a high risk fire now you know. So don't go burning trash and burning things in the woods. Why. Because there's just so much material that's ready combustible material is in the woods at this moment that there's nothing to the fire and in our lines the combustion factor as we seek after as we seek after as we seek after it's that there's this there's this combustion all this material that's ready to be consumed by the Spirit and the spirit comes and consumes like a wildfire and burns up all these things and the whole Holy Spirit spread throughout their ranks and they spread they started speaking in a number of different languages as a spirit prompted them. So there. The Holy Spirit came and powered them and filled them to overflowing. We asked the question in Sunday school how can you fill a cup that's already full. You know whenever we are saved we ask Christ to forgive us of our sins. Our life is filled with But then at Pentecost there is a feeling again that there is a filling up it's a filling of the full you know it's like we're already full because it's to our people without See there were there was always I don't say always but there were doctrines that said well you can't get to heaven unless you have the Pentecostal experience. It's not what the Bible says the Bible says if you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive you of all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness that would fill our hearts to overflowing that he would you know that the Word of would wallow in us richly So we find that there is a filling of the full and that's the Holy Spirit filling refilling and then we see and hear that it's so moved upon these individuals in the upper room that they there was this great noise and people were drawn to the noise they were drawn to the visual effects of fire in a building that is not burning. And all of the what was going on in the people inside the building we're speaking Galileans and speaking in the language of the people who were visiting from other countries and we have a list of them here. Parthians Medes and evil knights and Mesopotamia Judea Kapell to see a punchers an Asia Egypt the Libya we have the all these different countries are represented represented at this in Jerusalem and they are all there outside of this building listening to what. Listening to the Holy Spirit speak through people who are local individuals telling them about Jesus in their own language. The power of the Holy Spirit to fill us to overflowing by His Spirit that we can speak that which speaks through us to touch the lives of others those who are in the dark. I need your light the most. You see if there is anything we have we have the light of and who who is receiving that light. Where is our lamp burning. Where is our light shining. That's what the Bible says Don't hide your light under a bushel basket. Do you know that you don't you see each of us have a light and who are we eliminate NG who to whom are we speaking. To whom is the Holy Spirit using us to speak to their lives and speak to their hearts. Our neighbors our friends our family you know the people we work with the people around us the people we meet those in the grocery store. Are we a light. When we have to wait in line you know that crazy person if she knew what she was doing should be able to wring that thing out quicker than this you know. Inpatient you know restaurant and meeting people see what type of person are we. And you see the Holy Spirit helps us become. So that we would do the right things for the right reasons that we would be the person that people the go to person on the go to person when people need a light they know where or who to ask. You know it's like smokers you know they they look around for somebody who has a cigarette because they know they have a light. I never smoked but you know I always know people how do you know they have a cigarette lighter have to let you know you can smell it good to tell it you know they have established they smoke well aligned you know they're drawn to people people in darkness need a light. It's you you know and I think I've done I don't know if you know seven or eight in the last eight weeks or whatever and letting all those different things in. All I want is to try to be the light in darkness. Are you trying to be a place where people find hope. You want to be the light that you want to be the Word of that is planted into someone's life that it stirs them helps them it. Then when somebody else comes into their life it reminds them of the light that you shown into their lives that you and you and I as each of us in our own way have been a lie to someone and you know they didn't understand it they didn't know much about it but somebody else comes in there and talks about the same light somebody else comes in they're in the same light as present. They begin to get a picture. How many times there's a seed have to be watered before it sprouts you know when there's a seed you know if it's just setting on the ground sometimes the soil has to be dug up a little bit to get the seed covered and then it sprouts and and I think that's us. Well there were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then devout pilgrims from all over the world who when they heard the song. No and when they heard the tornado inside of a building on loudspeakers that didn't have loud speakers and they saw a house afire but not burning. It's like what's going on over there. What's what's what's that sound. What's that going on up in that upper room. Well what happened then when they heard one one after another their own mother tongues being spoken they were thunderstruck they couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on they kept on saying Aren't these all Galileans Are these all just local people. How do they know our language and how can they tell us about Jesus in our language and they don't know our language. How come how come we are hearing them talk in our various mother tongues. They were not a crazed group of individual they were individuals waiting and surrendering to an experience of which was the originator and the author and doesn't bring confusion. But when it or when there appears to be confusion he brings peace. He brings the answer to the troubled heart and to these individuals who were troubled over this. We have Peter in verse fourteen. That's when Peter stood up and backed by the other eleven spoke out with bold urgency that's what I like the bold urgency Peter up into this time Peter and the others had been hiding and they've been a little more encouraged by going back to Jerusalem but they're still in the upper room. And they're still hiding. Now most of the other Jews the other twenty that were up there they were being sought out by the Romans or or the priest in the Guards. They were they went to the temple and saw the pier. We don't see them doing anything we don't have them any recognition. But when the Spirit came Peter with bold urgency fellow Jews all of you who are visiting Jerusalem listen listen carefully and get this story straight. OK we're not crazy and we're not drunk. So get the story straight. These people are drunk as you suspect they haven't had time to get drunk it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen. You see he draws upon the Word of to bring to bring meaning. So the urgency and to the moment these people finding confusion. The will of the Holy Spirit will draw upon the Word of to speak to our lives to speak peace to speak healing to speak strength to give us direction when we don't think we have direction that will be there. He is the way maker he is the one that will make the mountains go down in the valleys in the crooked places straight and he is the one who will direct the path he is the one who will be the light that shines upon our path. It is who is speaking to us not just wishful thinking you know well I wish I wish upon a star studded wherever you are is not what it is it's it's the Holy Spirit speaking to your life and what is the spirit saying in thing a thing and the thing is so. Amazing is that when puts a thought in your mind and in your heart there will be just boom boom you turn around confirmation and say See I told you I told you I told you no it's just like three or four things five or six things will just pop up it'll all be in order and it's like I was the one speaking that message to you and has a way and you know isn't doing the you know the negative the bad is the one who speaks truth and love when he speaks his grace and His mercy He speaks about how that we're going to become and how that we're growing on from here and how that has a place for us. And you see I said about the voice and how that they the judges sit there and they listen to someone singing. OK And if they want that person on their team when they hit their on their chair turns around I think of the Holy Spirit is speaking through our lives and he wants to know if we'll turn around. And listen and say I want that experience. I want that love that word in my life. And is singing and he's knocking and he's trying to get us. Hit the on turn around I'm here. I've never left you I've never forsake you knew you were not alone in this. That all things are going to work together for good. That this message the of life and the things the hard things that we are experiencing there are only here temporary listen to my voice Listen to what I am saying listen to my voice. ROMANS Philippians excuse me Romans Chapter ten. This is the core of my preaching policy saying it say the welcoming word. Or to I say turn your chair around turn your life around and say the welcoming word to who is speaking to us. Jesus is my master. This is Romans Chapter ten verses nine and ten. Jesus is my master embracing body and soul. 's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. is doing a work in us that he did in Jesus and raising him from the dead the spirit turned the dead body of Jesus into alive. He's turning our life deadness of our sin into life. That's it you're not doing anything. You are simply calling out to trusting him to do it for you. That salvation. We can't save ourselves. Only can save us and so he is telling us to call out to and let do His work. With your whole being you embrace setting things right and then you say it right out loud. has set everything right between him and me. That's the song that is where is being spoken to us. Sung to us through the word wanting us to turn around and accept it into our lives. That's the Holy Spirit speaking to us and we want to fill us fill us the fish were already full of the fellas refill fill us overflow allow that word to speak through our heart for who has begun a good work in you will complete it. That's 's word. He will complete what he has started and we're just. Continuing on in 's word. Shall we stand. So what is speaking to you. What where what scripture I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things work together for good. has a plan for us for the purpose for us you know for good not for evil. What are some other promises in the others. Fear not from the Lord thy . I'm with you always seem to the ends of the Earth you're never alone. All things work together for good. Everything is part of a plan. We just have to see it you know. So those are some of the Scriptures when I try to when I don't try to stand and think about him I have a bunch to just rattle off to hear him trying to think of them inside. It's like OK so what is speaking forgiveness love peace strength. See I can do this I can make this the matter where I met is saying we can make a difference. Let the light of His word shine in our lives. Father thank you thank you that you speak to us and you call out to last May We turn our chair around. May we hear your voice and respond. May we hear what you are saying what the Spirit is saying to us. May we hear your spirit your thoughts for your thoughts. The prophet said My thoughts are not your thoughts as high as the heavens are above the earth so are my thoughts above yours. we want to think your thoughts and they are so great and so far above what we can ever imagine. We are grateful Lord that you speak to us. Give us your peace your direction we pray in Jesus Name we asked and when he said Amen. bless you. The Voice