It is so good to be together once again. Today is Father’s Day and I recognize that this is another one of those days that could have so many different meanings for all of us. Maybe this is a great day because you’re a dad or because you have a great relationship with your own father. Or maybe this is a tough day because you feel like you’ve done a terrible job as a father, you think you’ll never get to be a father, your father is no longer alive, or you’ve have a broken or non-existent relationship with your biological father. For every boy, young man, older man and every man in between – we see you. We esteem you. We value you all here at Epic Church.

Our family has been saving our airline miles for the past 7 years and this summer we’re going to cash them in. We thought the kids would want to do Hawaii. But then it occurred to me, knowing each of them – they would actually love to do a place that’s all-inclusive. So I told them about it and they voted “yes” 4-0. And now I’m telling them – You can eat as many meals as you want. You can order room service. You can do all of these things. They’re all included. Can you imagine if when we go, they only access a small percentage of what’s already been paid for? 

Here’s a burden I’m living with for us: Jesus has already paid for so many things, but many of us are barely accessing all that He’s included. There is so much more available to us. Let me ask you this:‍

Have you been missing out on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit?‍

God has given us access to so much more than many of us are tapping into…especially when it comes to what I’m calling today’s message – “Promise of Presence and Power”.

While the Spirit of God had been present from the beginning of time, there were prophecies and promises given regarding how He was going to show up one day in a more prominent way. Here is one example from the prophet Ezekiel:‍

Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.‍

New heart. New spirit. Something has to be removed and something else must replace it. Heart of flesh? In the New Testament, flesh = self, worldly, leads to death. That is not what is meant here. It’s meant as a contrast to a heart of stone. Stone is hard and isn’t pliable. A heart of flesh means our hearts are soft enough to let God mold them.

‍The only way we can live a life that pleases God is if we have God living in us.‍

And the Holy Spirit was going to give them the power and divine authority to do all that God had purposed for them to do. What kinds of things were they going to do? What things does Jesus intend for us to do? I want to show you. But before I read this to you, I need you to know that I think this is one of the craziest and most exciting things Jesus ever said.‍

John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.‍

What Jesus? If I believe in you, I’m going to do the works you’ve been doing? And we’ll do even greater things? Is this not stunning to you?

When Jesus says we’ll do greater works, He isn’t talking about the quality of our works being greater than His. I mean, He caused dead people to come back to life. I’m pretty sure you and I aren’t going to top that one. What does He mean?

Jesus restricted Himself to a single human body. He’s saying we’ll do greater works because the Spirit can be in all of us at the same time.‍

If the Holy Spirit is living in you, do you think He can do these works through you?‍

After the resurrection of Jesus, here is how He instructed His disciples:‍

Luke 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.‍

Here’s what Jesus was saying to his disciples and I believe He’s still saying this to us today:‍

You need the Holy Spirit to do what I am calling you to do.‍

And here comes what is called the Day of Pentecost – that day the prophets and Jesus had promised would come.‍

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.‍

The time of waiting was over. Jesus had kept His promise. The Spirit comes at Pentecost.‍

The Holy Spirit fills places and people. 

Most of our time today is about how the Holy Spirit fills us as individuals, but I do want to say that I regularly spend time asking the Holy Spirit to fill places. I do this most often with asking the Holy Spirit to fill my home and to fill our church spaces. Start doing this in the spaces you inhabit – in your home, in your office, and in our church.

I’m sure it stands out to you that everyone began to speak in tongues. We’re going to talk about this in a message in July, but let me say a little about this moment regarding tongues. The Spirit enabled those speaking to speak in the native tongues of those present . 

What I really want to draw our attention to is the last phrase in verse 4: “as the Spirit enabled them”. ‍

The Holy Spirit enables us to do what God has called us to do with our lives.‍

From this moment, Peter goes on to tell the crowd that these people are not drunk, but filled with the Spirit…just like Joel said would happen. I mentioned this in my first message in this series. Peter tells them what Jesus did on the cross and about his resurrection.

‍Acts 2:32-33 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.‍

I want to show you how people respond to this message. And as you hear about their responses, I want you to know that we pattern our response time after this incredible moment.‍

Acts 2:37-41 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.‍

Cut to the heart – Spirit at work

What do we do? What is our part? “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.” We repent of sin, trust Jesus, and we become Christians. What about the baptism mentioned? Baptism is an outward expression of the inner reality that we now belong to Jesus and we are His followers. 

And when this happens, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We’ll spend a couple weeks in this series teaching on spiritual gifts. But know this today:‍

The Holy Spirit is the best spiritual gift you will ever receive.‍

Who is this promise for? It is for everyone.

‍The promise of the Holy Spirit is still for everyone who genuinely places their faith in Jesus.‍

The Holy Spirit is how we:

- Experience God

- Come to faith in Jesus

- Fulfill His mission in the world

- Do the Greater Works Jesus said we would do

If you are tired of doing everything on your own.

If you want to live a life that pleases God, but it just isn’t happening yet.

If you want to have the power of God demonstrated in your life.

Then there’s a promise for you. That you can be filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. 

Let’s create space for one of those response moments now. I think recalling the promise from Ezekiel could be a great way to enter in.

God, give me a new heart and your Spirit. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart that You can mold. I want to live a life that pleases you. I want to orient my entire life around you, but I can’t do that on my own. Fill me with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, come and fill this place. Fill each person with your presence and with your power. We’ve done so many things on our own and we’re just not that good. We are desperate for you.