The Day of Pentecost
NB. Sermon recorded at True Vine Church 19 May 2024
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1 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[a] 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 being spoken. 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; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—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.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. ...
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
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Witness
Setting the Scene
Begin with an experiment. Pour boiling water into a paper cup, let go when you can hold it no longer! An illustration of holding on and letting go.
Context
Some have suggested that “The Acts of the Apostles” might better be “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is mentioned over and over again. Chapter 1:2 the ministry of Jesus is described in terms of the work of the Spirit. Acts 1:5, Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:7, the disciples are told not to leave Jerusalem but to wait, and they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. Acts 1:8, as a result, they will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth. They were just about to find out how powerful the HS would be in spreading God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth and throughout history.
I would like to start by outlining what Pentecost was, then speak about the outpouring of the Spirit and finally to ask what should the outworking of should look like for Christians here today.
Outlining
Outpouring
Outworking
Outlining
Today is the Day of Pentecost, let me outline what Pentecost was to the people back then in Acts 2.
Passover was the slaying of a lamb (without blemish) to save the Jews from the last plague when they were slaves in Egypt. It was followed by the Exodus. Pentecost, to them, was 50 days later and was established to commemorate two things –the giving of the Law (10 Commandments) on Mount Sinai and also harvest (Shavuot Ex 23:16). That was what the Jews were there to celebrate on this day in Acts 2. This was a BIG holiday. Jerusalem would have been a mass with crowds celebrating Pentecost - 50 days after Passover.
Now, jump from that celebration to (Acts 2:1); the first Christian Day of Pentecost. It is 50 days after Jesus, the lamb of God was slain (crucified) and arose from the dead, ten days since Jesus ascended to God the Father having told them to wait for the Paraclete. On this day God chose to send the Holy Spirit (when they were remembering the Law). Does this seem like a coincidence to you?
I don’t think so!
This is the Sovereign God at Pentecost entering time from eternity with pinpoint accuracy 50 days after the resurrection. When crowds of Jews are in Jerusalem to commemorate the Law and harvest - THE SPIRIT COMES and 3000 firstfruits were harvested for God and given eternal life on the day of Pentecost, the feast of harvest. This is God saying the Law has had its day this is the era of the Holy SPIRIT poured out to endue people with power to witness to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Outpouring
Acts.1:13 tells us who was present (120 people); the disciples, the women and Mary (Jesus’ mother and others). They are being obedient to Jesus’ instruction in Luke 24:49 to ‘wait in the city until you are endued with power from on high.’ Acts 2 says “They were all together.”
Peter explained this phenomenon in this way, ‘this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: Acts 2:17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
Luke gives us important detail from his eyewitness accounts what they heard, saw, felt and spoke. When the Spirit came they heard a sound like a violent wind (something big is happening) their senses heightened, expectations are rising, this is not a natural storm, this is supernatural (from heaven).
Then they saw what seemed like (supernatural again) ‘tongues of fire’ (first as a flame which divided & rested on each, this is not s/thing from within (it’s an outpouring of God’s Spirit). They’d seen Jesus risen, and ascend and now they were to EXPERIENCE the outpouring - filled with HS (All of them). Acts 2:4 Like the filling of a cup, and that experience of filling, it was so powerful they couldn’t help but let go and let God do whatever he wanted (remember the experiment) They let go of control, let go of their pride, their inhibitions and fears - the experience of filing was so powerful that it poured over into EXPRESSION (Acts 2:4) they began to speak.
Stop the action here! Notice that word suddenly (Acts 2:2). -They were not sure what they were waiting for. At this stage they did not understand their global mission. The outpouring and experience of filling was so powerful that they just burst into (tongues). Perhaps it was primal, a childlike expression, Ba Ba Da Da Ma Ma - they had no idea what they were saying, they were just expressing the filling of the Holy Spirit. Overflowing with worship and praise (Acts 2:11) Such was the power of the spirit.
The whole commotion drew a crowd (countries far and wide Acts 2:9,10). Verse12 says ‘they were utterly amazed and perplexed.’ They were confused, someone from Asia here for the festival, heard an unshaven unwashed Galilean fisherman ‘declaring the wonders of God’ in their own language!
I recall a personal experience (teens) of being overcome in an FGBMFI service in Belfast – I felt I had to speak out, in tongues. Rev David McKee interpreted - it was a dialect of a tribe in India. The sole purpose seemed to be to Glorify and Praise and Worship God.
The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in that place caused an overflow. They could not hold it in. They spoke out as the Spirit gave them utterance. It was a language they had not learnt, it was given to them. One challenge from this message today is not to hold back. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to be brim-full to the top, it is to be overflowing. From that overflow you will spill over and influence and support your friends, relatives and acquaintances, wherever the Lord has placed you, you will affect those around you.
Notice the flame rested upon everyone gathered (Acts 2:3), not the super-spiritual, not just the worship team, nor the disciples – everyone. All of us are included in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Notice something else, they were enflamed but not consumed by the flame. Does that remind us of another flame that burned but did not consume? Yes. Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:2). It did not burn out and it did not consume the bush.
‘Ardens sed virens’ was the Latin Inscription on the stained glass window on the wall at Ahorey Presbyterian church where I attended in my youth. It means ‘Burning but flourishing.’ How I wish that for each of us, burning and flourishing. God does not need anything from us, he doesn’t need us as fuel to burn, like wood for a fire. God is all-sufficient, he will not harm or scorch us and he does not burn out and it is not in his will for us to burn out through over work or stress. As the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we flourish. That is a Pentecostal message for us today. There was not a person the flame did not alight on in that upper room and there is not one person here today that God has not a plan for, a plan for you to flourish in Him
For many of us church is a place of renewal through the worship, the word and through the fellowship and in serving - that is good - like a filling station. Let us say to God – fill me anew - I want to let go, I don’t want to hold back, I want to be free to express your filling of the Spirit.
Help me Holy Spirit to abandon my fears, myself, my pride - speak out, dance, whatever expression the Spirit leads you into I urge you to let go, let the power of the Spirit pour over you today into expression.
Outworking
The outworking of Pentecost was the empowering of people to witness and global evangelisation (ends of the earth).
If ever there was a case study of the outworking of the Holy Spirit’s power, then Peter is that case.
See what God’s power can do in us: Peter - who denied the Lord three times, was one of those who let go at Pentecost and spoke in tongues. Acts 2:14 says Peter stood up and raised his voice - this time not to deny the Lord. It was 9 am in the morning and Peter (a Jew) was empowered to stand up and explain to Jews, at a Jewish festival that they were witnessing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as spoken of by the prophet Joel.
Despite referring to the prophet Joel, Peter said the best way to understand Pentecost is not Joel but Jesus. His first words in his first sermon are about Jesus. “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth a man accredited by God to you…” Acts 2:22.
a) v22, their Christ/Messiah had lived among them, b) v23, they crucified him and c)v24-32 God raised him from the dead, d) v33-36, He had Ascended to glory.
Peter tells them that if they repent/believe — they will receive two promises (1) “Forgiveness of sins” and (2) “The gift of the Holy Spirit”. This is a great summary of what it means to become a Christian.
As we share the Gospel today, speak in a way that resonates with your friend (FRANC) but focus on Jesus, as Peter did. The outworking of Pentecost is in bold sharing the good news and bold prayers for healings and wonders. We cannot share the GoodNews without Jesus. These 120 people gave this testimony of what happened on that first day of Pentecost, what they witnessed and experienced and about what Jesus has done in their lives.
If ever we needed a demonstration of what God’s power does in us, look at Peter after he spoke. It says in Acts 2 that three thousand people turned to follow Christ on that day.
There are many stories of Christians who held back, resisted the Holy Spirit until they let God and allowed God to empower them in his service.
Jackie Pullinger is one well known testimony. When she first served in the Walled City, Hong Kong, she told them of Jesus and how loved and died for them, how He rose again from the dead, and how He would change them. But Jackie found little success until one day a couple from China prayed with her and she was baptised in the Holy Spirit - ‘endued with power from on high.’ After that she began to see powerful results. As she walked about the Walled City praying in the Spirit quietly under her breath, hearts were miraculously opened and lives changed! Drug addicts and gang members began to receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
The Biography of D.L.Moody tells the story of two women in Moody's church who prayed for him to receive the filling of the Holy Spirit. It irritated Moody. Eventually, he agreed to pray with them every week. On 2nd November 1871, Moody's church was burnt down. It hit him hard, his biography records that ‘day and night he would walk the streets desperate for the touch of God's power in his life. Then suddenly, “One day, in the city of New York—oh, what a day!—I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name . . . I can only say that God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of his love that I had to ask him to stay his hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted..”’ (W.R.Moody, The Life of D.L.Moody p. 149)
In Moody’s case, the Spirit came suddenly and the effect was Pentecostal, not with tongues, but in the harvest that followed. When the Spirit comes in power, he comes suddenly—on his own terms and in his own time—and he comes for harvesting. The Holy Spirit blows when he wills where he wishes (John 3:8).
Throughout Christian history, awakenings and revivals come periodically. Many will have heard of the Welsh revival of 1904-6 and Hebridean revival 1949-53. There has not been a major revival here in the UK for 80 years. You can’t put a sign up saying revival meeting here today and expect the Lord to obey your sign. God is sovereign, awakenings and revivals are in Gods time. But something is stirring in our time. Let us cry out, intercede, long for times of refreshing and extraordinary outpouring of God's Spirit. Pray that we may be a part of a new awakening in the nation and see revival within the church.
Will you seek today him? He is here for you. Do not hold back, Come Holy Spirit. Let us pray.
