Pentecost
What do you think of when you hear the words;
“Last Will & Testament”
Jesus’ “Last Will and Testament”,
Empower his followers to carry on his Mission and Ministry.
He left his Holy Spirit - to comfort, to guide, and to empower them
to be all that God had called them to be in their task of letting the world know of the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
Because Jesus fulfilled each of these positions perfectly,
The Holy Spirit now comes upon all Christians.
There is no longer the need for God to work through the system of Prophets, Priests or Kings as He did in the Old Testament.
“Invisible Kingdom”
Jesus is the ultimate Prophet, because he is the Word made flesh.
He is the ultimate Priest, because he made the once for all sacrifice.
He is the ultimate King, because he is the King of Kings.
THE EVENTS OF PENTECOST
Acts 1:4-9
Jesus gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
NO LONGER AFRAID
Before Pentecost – Fear of being next to be crucified.
After Pentecost - No longer afraid.
Ready to change the world.
The Disciples were very different people in Acts 1,
as compared to what they became after Acts 2.
“I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
-Joel 2:28
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a SOUND like the blowing of a violent WIND came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of FIRE that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own LANGUAGE 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites…” we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
-Acts 2:1-13
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOUND “LIKE” WIND
Wind or breath signified “Life”.
Remember that God breathed into Adam life.
SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT “SEEMED LIKE” FIRE
God was present in an earlier fire.
Do you remember Moses and the Burning Bush.
“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
-Exodus 3:2,3
The fire was self-sustaining.
BURNING BUSH FIRE
Was the very presence of the pre-incarnate Jesus, God, the Son.
PENTECOST FIRE
Was the presence of God, the Holy Spirit.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SPEAKING
Tower of Babel
“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech…
-Genesis 11:1,3-9
God SEPARATED them at Babel,
but UNITED them at Pentecost.
Jesus UNITES.
People DIVIDE.
People in sales are always “Reaching Out”.
We should be a million-more-times excited…
Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Without God’s strength,
we may be tempted to tell people what we think they want to hear,
rather than what God knows they need to hear.
WARRIORS NOT WORRIERS
SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST FOR YOU
Feast of First Fruits,
the Birth of the “Church”.
You play an important role…
JESUS IS COUNTING ON YOU AND ME
The good news is that WE ARE NOT ALONE.