Ground Zero: Pentecost

This morning we are going to talk about Ground Zero. The Day that we remember and reflect on as a significant day that changed everyone. These ground zero moments will change us.

We are forever changed from that moment on 9/11/2001. We remember what took place at Ground zero in NYC, Washington DC, and PA.

People recognized that life is fragile because in one moment, thousands of people died and people responded in prayer, in repentance, in going to church but then after a few months, when life went back to normal, and the desire to serve Jesus fizzled out. We have so many ground zero experiences like that…

Now, the monuments that are built to remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Ground Zero is usually associated with something explosive resulting in mass casualties.

But… According to the Oxford English Dictionary Ground Zero is defined as a site of devastation, disaster, or violent attack. But it can also be defined as a starting point or base for some activity.

We see that on the day of Pentecost was the beginning of something explosive, powerful, and changed the course of history. Pentecost was truly something amazing.

Jesus told the disciples to wait…

After HIS resurrection… After Jesus spent 40 days teaching about HIS Kingdom… After Jesus ascended into heaven.

While 120 believers gathered in the upper room waiting, praying, and preparing for this ground zero moment and boy was it worth the wait.

Pentecost is day one, the ground zero moment where the New Testament church exploded under the power of the Holy Spirit.

The church began to see incredible growth, mighty miracles, great boldness, signs and wonders, unity, a sacrificial love for God and love for one another like never seen before. This Spirit filled, supernatural life was the normal life throughout the Book of Acts.

We see that this Ground Zero moment has never fizzled because the Holy Spirit is still active and present in the church today.

Let’s look back at this incredible moment in Church history where it all began.

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

PRAY

What’s the Purpose of Pentecost?

This wasn’t the first Pentecost. The day of Pentecost is an OT feast, an annual feast celebrated 7 weeks after Passover. The word “Pentecost” means “fifty,” because it was celebrated 50 days after Passover. Originally it was called the Feast of the firstfruits of the grain harvest which is significant.

The “firstfruits” on this Day of Pentecost the church grew from 120 to over three thousand in one day. Plus those who came from different nations to celebrate the day of Pentecost heard of the wonders of God in their own language and they took that message back in their home countries.

To Fill believers with God’s power to fulfill God’s purpose.

They were all together in one place on the day of Pentecost and suddenly, from heaven came a sound of a rushing wind that filled the entire room. Then the appearance of tongues of fire came and rested on each individual person present.

Why tongues of fire?

It may be that “tongues” symbolized speech and the communication of the gospel.

“Fire” symbolizes God’s purifying presence… His presences burns away those undesirable elements in our lives and

That “Fire” sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others.

On Mount Sinai, God confirmed the validity of the Old Testament law with fire from heaven.

At Pentecost, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit’s ministry by sending fire.

At Mount Sinai fire had come down on one place, at Pentecost fire came down on many believers, symbolizing that God’s presence is available to all who believe in HIM.

This event fulfilled what John the Baptist said in Luke 3:16

Luke 3:16 (ESV)

16 “I baptize you with water, but HE who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Every believer in the room received this blessing; no one was excluded.

Acts 2:3–4 NLT

3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

It was clear to all who were present that God was a work. This Holy Spirit baptism could not be contained to just the upper room, this sound… the fire, the tongues, the shaking, the wind, got the attention of those on the outside. These are people from other nations, other cultures, other locations and languages.

The purpose of Pentecost is…

To Spread the Gospel all over the world

The Holy Spirit infilling provided the mechanism to take the Gospel all over the world. This fire began to spread and nothing could contain what the Holy Spirit started.

Acts 2:5–8 ESV

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

These people literally spoke in “other languages” — this international crowd who gathered in town for the feast witnessed this first miracle. All the nationalities represented recognized their own languages being spoken.

This gathering of the nations was a perfect platform for launching the worldwide mission of the church.

This event spoke of God’s intent to spread the gospel, the good news to all the nations in their own languages.

This incredible day for the church became the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy of the

Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel 37:11–14 ESV

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

Jews believed that spoken prophecy had ceased with the book of Malachi. They believed that from that point on, God spoke through the Torah as interpreted by scholars and teachers.

Pentecost became the start of of God speaking new life into dead, dry, religious bones. God was breathing HIS life into HIS people as HE put HIS Spirit within them.

People came from all over the Roman Empire…

Acts 2:9–11 ESV

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

This list includes the many lands from which Jews came to Jerusalem—some living in Palestine and others who had been dispersed throughout the world through captivities and persecutions.

The list begins from the east of the Roman Empire and sweeps to the south and west. Very likely, some of the Jews who responded to Peter’s message then returned to their homelands with God’s good news of salvation.

God prepared the way for the spread of the gospel across the world.

Throughout the book of Acts we see how God prepared for Paul and other messengers who went to the Gentiles encountered many people who had become believers at Pentecost.

What was spoken to individuals in their own languages? It wasn’t about sin, repentance, judgment, not even the gospel, but rather the proclamation of the mighty works of God.

Some have called this event at Pentecost “Babel Reversed.” They speculate that God seems to be saying: “I confused your languages thousands of years ago because you failed to obey me, but now I’ve got a message so important, I’ll reverse that program to get this message out.”

It’s important to remember that the first occurrence of “tongues” is for the purpose to get the message of Christ out to the world.

It was a sign for unbelieving Israel that the Messiah had come. The promised Spirit had been poured out as foretold in Joel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others.

It was also an effective sign for the spreading of the gospel message in an instant. A Spirit-given message in a foreign language that spoke of the glorious news of God’s work in the world. And that is exactly the point of Pentecost.

The faithful believers were waiting and praying. Then came the prophesied signal that something big was about to happen. When it occurred, God delivered his message to the world.

The Focus of Pentecost: The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the beginning of believers being the witness of Jesus to the world.

Acts 2:12–13 ESV

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

The Holy Spirit will give us the ability to discern the mighty works of God to others.

These two verses describe a typical response of the crowd, leading up to Peter’s speech. The crowd continued to be amazed, but their amazement led them to be perplexed and to try to figure out what was happening.

Some were mocking, others were speculating that the believers were drunk. Such confusion and the drawing of such wrong conclusions was just the prodding Peter needed to clear things up. The Holy Spirit gave Peter supernatural boldness and discernment on how to navigate the onlookers.

There will always be those who misunderstand the working of God, who mock it and call into question its integrity. Christians can either wring their hands and worry, respond in fear and be combative. Or… we can respond like Peter, under the power of the Holy Spirit he seize the opportunity to tell the watching world about the work of God in their midst.

When the gathered crowds recognized that something supernatural was taking place, they naturally wanted explanations and answers. At this point Peter stepped forward and explained the truth about God. This should be the pattern in our lives as well. We must be ready… We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Let your light shine and if we are “salty,” we will get the attention of others. They will surely want to know what is so attractive and different about us.

Then we can explain our “Christian hope”

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Take Away.

What is different about your life that other’s would notice?

What supernatural evidence would cause someone to stop you and say, “What does this mean?”

Have you sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

If you’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit are you continuing to be filled daily?

Take Away: