The Holy Spirit Fell Upon All

Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Introduction:

Last week we ended with the climax of Cornelius’ prayers was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

• While Peter was going about his ministry of preaching the Holy Spirit took over the service.
• This would have likely been called out of order by some people today.
• We like to try and lead the Holy Spirit instead of follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.
• It makes no Biblical sense, or good ole fashion logic, or is it stated anywhere in the Word that every believer, Preacher, minister and leader should not expect for the Holy Spirit to continue to fall as He wishes, when He wishes, and in any way that He wishes…
• Also, each believer should pray and expect for the Lord Jesus to pour out His Spirit into your life.

1. The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

1.1. Fell upon all.

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.”

1.2. They heard them speak with tongues.

1.2.1. The evidences of the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured were:

1.2.2. Hearing them speak in tongues.
1.2.3. And extolling God.

1.3. The gift was given not earned or in this case even expected.

1.3.1. Ela… He fell upon:

1.3.1.1. to fall upon

1.3.1.2. to rush or press upon

1.3.1.3. to lie upon one
1.3.1.4. to fall into one’s embrace

1.3.1.5. to fall back upon

2. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out.

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

2.1.The gift of God

2.1.1. If you knew the gift of God you would simply ask.

John 4:10 (ESV) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

2.1.2. A perpetual spring of water flowing from within.

2.2. The gift was poured out.

2.2.1. Jesus is the one who pours out the gift.
2.2.2. He does not pour using a dropper or measuring cup.
2.2.3. Instead He distributed largely upon us and all who believe and ask.

2.3. The biggest hinderance from receiving the full benefits of the Gift being poured out into your life is your own thoughts, misinformation, and/or misperceptions:

2.3.1. Cannot buy the gift of God.

Acts 8:20 (ESV) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

2.3.1.1. Thinking we can pay is not far off from thinking we can earn or work for it…

2.3.2. Being misinformed.

Acts 19:2 (NKJV) he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

2.3.2.1. Ela… A child before they have glasses and everything was blurry and she did not know there was a solution…

2.4. Fan the gift of God to fire.

2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

2.4.1. Salvation does not come with the laying on of hands.

3. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the great unifier.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

3.1. Let’s get some historical context as to better understand the need for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and prayer language of tongues.

3.2. As the time line goes there was creation which was soon followed by the fall, and not too long after the flood… then sometime between the flood and Abraham’s covenant there was the tower of babel.

3.3. In Gen. 11 the whole earth spoke one language.

Genesis 11:1 (NKJV) Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.

3.3.1. Just think of the natural barriers that would be removed if all the earth still spoke one language.

3.3.1.1. Travel and commerce would be simplified in ways unthought of.

3.3.1.2. Ela… for one there would be a whole multi-billion dollar industry ended in a moment of time… linguist, interpreters, translators, language softwares and Apps, ect…

3.3.1.3. Communication is key to any Nation, Business or Relationship success.

3.4. When the inhabitants of the earth, the descendants of the flood survivors, did not continue to fill the earth but consolidated efforts to build a city and a great tower God mixed up their language.

Genesis 11:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

3.4.1. The people were scattered and confused.
3.4.2. God was not impressed with their efforts of making a name for themselves.

Genesis 11:7 (NKJV) Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

3.4.3. I wonder if the Lord would be impressed with what we have built today.

3.5. Making a name for ourselves is not the goal.

3.5.1. One of my favorite scriptures as a new believer was: Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NKJV) A good name is better than precious ointment,

3.5.1.1. But I think I was lead wrongly and thought wrongly about this passage; thinking that it was my aim to make a great name for myself and family…

3.5.1.2. Having a good name and setting out to make a name for ourselves are two different pursuits.

3.5.2. This was not Jesus’ approach at life.

Philippians 2:5-7 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

3.5.2.1. Made Himself nothing.
3.5.2.2. Make it your aim to be nothing; while doing something.

3.5.2.3. Not, doing something to make yourself someone.

3.5.3. “The Pastor who said “I will be someone one day”

3.5.3.1. This mentality sounds good enough but the motive is all confused.

3.5.3.2. In the process of being who God called us to be and doing what the Lord Calle due to do, while being nothing and small in our own eyes, and doing the Lord’s will, Jesus makes us into someone and builds a reputation for our name.

3.5.4. The key is posture and motive of the heart.

3.5.4.1. It is the easier decision to make to do something so that we can be someone.
3.5.4.2. But to do something with the motive to remain nothing is the harder path to choose.

3.5.5. One of the only ways to combat against allowing success to creep into our view of our self is by continually giving back to the one who gave.

4. On the Day of Pentecost the Lord began reunifying His people once again.

4.1. As our heavenly language of tongues unifies God’s people with one Heavenly language.

4.2. Not a language that we will each understand but that in the Spirit accomplished great miracles of unification every time we engage it.

1 Cor. 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

4.3. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and tongues is part of God’s plan for His Church.

Luke 11:13 (NKJV) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”