SIDE EFFECTS

Empowered #3

Pastor Brandon Cross

Woodland Church

Sunday, October 18, 2026

(Acts 2:1-4) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

MAIN IDEA:

We should expect and urgently seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit so that we can be filled with power for living life as Jesus commanded us to and so that we can be empowered to share our faith and serve others in a way that points people to Jesus and convicts them of their need for Him!!!

What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?  

AG Fundamental Truth #7

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.

• Ref. Luke 24:49,  Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.

• Ref: Acts 8:12-17,  Acts 10:44-46,  Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9 

With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:

• an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8
• a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28
• an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42
• and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20

CONTEXT OF PASSAGE:

The believers were responding to Jesus’ instructions at the end of Luke and also in Acts 1:8 that we talked about last week. They were gathered in Jerusalem amongst thousands of other Jewish pilgrims from all over the world when a supernatural event occurred with actual “wind” as a sign and then believers supernaturally speaking languages that were not their native language, witnessing to Jesus and God’s plan, etc…

Public Reactions / Side Effects

1. Amazement and Perplexity (Ref. Acts 2:5-8)

• Intention: To point people to God; not themselves (v. 11)
• Forced onlookers to think about its significance (v. 12)

2. Questioning and Mockery (Ref. Acts 2:13)

3. Conviction of Sin (Ref. Act 2:37)

• Caused spiritual conviction
• Established a turning point in evangelism
• Caused surrender to God
• Initiated the birth of the Church

4. Mass Repentance and Conversion

• Proved the global and expansive power of the Gospel
• Established a faith and baptism pattern
• Demonstrated the New Covenant

The event established the Church!!!

Impact on Peter/Apostles / Side Effects (Ref. Acts 4:8-13)

1. Provided Boldness and Authority

2. Enabled Defense of the Gospel

3. Continued Empowerment

4. Impact on Other Believers

5. Spiritual Transformation: Courage and boldness

MAIN IDEA RECAP:

We should expect and urgently seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit so that we can be filled with power for living life as Jesus commanded us to and so that we can be empowered to share our faith and serve others in a way that points people to Jesus and convicts them of their need for Him!!! 

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Pray for God to unlock the supernatural boldness that accompanies being filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Pray for and develop the ability to “defend” the Gospel message through the power of the Holy Spirit AND through a commitment to learning God’s Word and how to defend what it says.

3. Pray that we would be used to encourage and embolden one another and other believers.

4. Pray for conviction of the Holy Spirit and for conversion of our lost friends and family through their relationships with us!