"TRANSFORMER"

Dr. Glen A. Thorp June 12, 2001
(All Rights Reserved) ActS 2:1-11, Rm 8:10-14

“TRANSFORMER”
(Pentecost Sunday)

INTRODUCTION: What comes to your mind when I say, transformer? Electric trains? AC adapters - power cord for computers? Boxes on electric poles? Toys turned transformed into robots and adapted into a movie franchise? The latest: “Dark Side of the Moon” will be released 7.1.11.

“A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors — the transformer's coils or ‘windings’. A varying current in the first or ‘primary’ winding creates a varying magnetic field in the core or cores) of the transformer. This varying magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force (EMF) or ‘voltage‘ in the ‘secondary’ winding. This effect is called mutual induction.”- (Wikipedia)

Webster's Dictionary says: “A device containing no moving parts and consisting of essentially of two or more coils of insulated wire that transfers alternating current energy by electromagnetic induction from one winding to another at the same frequency but usually with changed voltage and current values.

A person or thing that changes a condition or nature
Changes a personality or character.” Conversion.

Ultimate transformer is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-11 tells of coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers and the birth of the Church on Pentecost, a Jewish festival 50 days after Passover called Shavuot. I will describe this later.
Pentecost comes from the Greek word 50 and is one of the major
“Holy Days” in the Christian Year.

Scripture describes a Three Step Process by which followers of Jesus, who 50 days earlier were hiding behind locked doors were transformed.

Filled: All were filled with the Holy Spirit. v.4
Fulfilling what the Prophet Exekiel 39:29
I will pour out my Spirit upon them ...
The Prophet Joel said: 2:28-29
I will pour out my Spirit on all people ...

Up to that time the Holy Spirit was available to kings, prophets and judges. Each was anointed with oil, as a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit,
coming upon them when crowned, commissioned or installed:
Like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard ...
down upon the collar of his robes. (Psalm 133:2)

The Prophets envisioned a time when the Spirit would be available to every follower of God. John the Baptist(Luke 3:6) speaking of the Messiah: All mankind will see God’s salvation. and in 3:16
I baptize with water He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire...

Before Jesus’ ascension 10 days before Pentecost, (which we discussed last week) he told his disciples: You will receive power when -
the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

The Tongues of Fire: were God’s purifying presence
: Speech, Communicating the Gospel
Ignited their hearts with the desire of reaching others and Available to All

Read: Romans 8:10-14. The Entire Chapter is on the Holy Spirit.
High Power of the Holy Spirit transformed ...
Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, the Spirit lives in you.
Romans 8:14 Those led by the Spirit are children of God
Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness ...
We don’t know what we are to pray for. The Spirit intercedes for us with groans words cannot express.

Enabled: Began speaking in other languages
as the Spirit enabled them. v.4

The disciples exploded on to the streets, enabled by the Spirit, telling everyone of Jesus. All of a sudden, everything they had heard and experienced over the last three years made sense. The miracle that ocurred was that pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean area, heard the message in her or his own language. The commotion drew a crowd.
Amazed and Bewildered: they asked one another,
What does this mean? Some said: They have hadtoo much to drink when they Saw the Effects of the Presence & Power of Holy Spirit.

“Thin Places” is a Celtic metaphor describing places were God is present, ie retreat centers & sanctuaries, Garden of Eden, Mt. Sinai, Pillars of Smoke & Fire,Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem. Shavuot was a
Feast of Weeks (Lev. 23:15-16, Deut. 16:16) called Pentecost that commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai and the Jews giving of “First Fruits,” of their Spring harvest in gratitude to God.

Jesus is the ultimate place where God’s presence is revealed most directly. Those following Jesus, enabled by the Holy Spirit, carry on God’s “thin place” wherever they go home or in another country.

Peter enabled by the Holy Spirit spoke to an international audience. What the Holy Spirit started through Peter, continues as worldwide harvest today.

Used: Peter stood up with the Eleven...spoke-v.14

Witnessing to what they had seen and heard while with Jesus. Affirmed that what looked like a defeat of Jesus and his teachings was a victory. For God raised Jesus from the dead.
We are all witnesses of the fact. 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. (Acts 2:32-33)


The Holy Spirit enables us to adapt the true story into our story. Holy Spirit uses us in transmitting the story to others. Pentecost reminds us that we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is present and will enable us, if we allow Him. God is a living, dynamic, active, passionate, reality in our lives.

After Jesus’ ascension and descent of the Holy Spirit, God chose to make himself know to the world through you and me (the Church, eklesia)
God is not limited. God can reveal himself in many ways and places. But, from God’s Word we learn the Church is primary way he has chosen to tell the story of the Tranforming love of God, (Good News).

Jesus did not tell his disciples to argue with people. He said:
You will demonstrate the Good News through your life-Love, Joy and Peace your Relationships with each other and me.

Pentecost demonstrates that no barriers; language, culture, geography or laws can stop the Holy Spirit.

(Next week I will discuss more fully the role of the Holy Spirit as part of the Godhead, as we look at the way God is revealed in Scripture.
What we cal the Triune Nature of God, The Trinity.)

CONCLUSION: Transformed from death to life.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The Holy Spirit renews, re-educates and redirects,
our minds are we truly transformed/transformers.

Romans 8:5 Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
:6 The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We don’t know what we are to pray for,
but the Spirit intercedes for us
with groans that words cannot express.

Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon ordinary people fulfulling the prophecies of Joel and Ezekiel. It celebrates the birth of the church (those called into community with Jesus Christ and
the Transformer of God’s energy the Holy Spirit who:
Fills
Enables
Uses

Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father
will testify about me.You will testify about me
you have been with me from the beginning.
When the Spirit comes ... guide into all truth.
The Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you.
(John 14:17ff)

That the world may see and respond to God’s Transforming Love.
The Book: Acts of Apostle’s is really Acts of Holy Spirit through
the Apostles and Us?