THE GOSPEL POWER

(S1) — Pinto/Camaro

Disciples had Jesus…things were moving along, like the pinto…then Jesus commanded them to go...

Matthew 28:19“...and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost was Like going from a Ford Pinto to a Chevrolet Camaro…0 to 60 in...

CONTEXT

After his suffering/death—Jesus appeared to them over 40 days—Taken up to heaven

— With Jesus no longer with them... how would/could they live up to their calling?

(S2) —

Luke's recalling of Jesus words...

Acts 1:4 “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So here they are, in a state of waiting and wondering. How would they go...to fulfill...

(S3) — SERIES/Evangelism/E2D—3 overarching ideas

— 1. GOSPEL? (1 Corinthians 15:5)

— 2. Gospel as GOOD NEWS

— 3. Embrace Christ imperative to SHARE it

We learned that the Gospel is uncontanable (ever expanding)—God PROMISE is to teach and equip us—Followers of Jesus are called to go…sent into the world to share the Good News of Jesus.

With all that’s going on in the world…like the disciples, we might find ourselves asking simliar questions...

— How do we navigate in the world and not be of the world?

— In times like these, where do we look in hope? For a miracle that all things would be made new and right again!

Before Jesus came into the world, the prophets words brought hope that God might act and breathe new life into the people of God.

Jeremiah words from the Lord of a better day

(S4) —

Jeremiah 31:33–34

(S5) —

Joel’s vision of a better day.”

Joel 2:28–29

(S6) —

John the Baptist's voice calling in the wilderness, after 400 years of silence

Matthew 3:11

(S7) — The Gospel POWER

A baptism of fresh wind and fresh fire...that calls, sends, and equips us for work of Jesus in the world.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

Do we underestimate the power of God given to all believers, at Pentecost?

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire story

Three DIVINE DISRUPTIONS of God’s Gospel power, that brought a fresh wind and fresh fire to the church, through Jesus resurrecting power...

May we embrace the power of God’s gift at Pentecost, to transform our lives, and revive our hearts for Jesus who will revive His church

PRAY

(S8) —

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

On (fulfill)—Pentecost (one of three Jewish observations of remembrance)

(Exodus)—Israelites...50 days...Mt Sinai...10 commandments...covenant relationaship...

In later Judaism, the feast of Pentecost, was when sacrifices were offered at the temple remembering God’s law in hope of the day when the yoke of Roman occupation would be removed.

— Reason for the disciples question of Jesus...

Acts 1:6 “So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?””

On this day...120 disciples had gathered in obedience to Jesus’s instruction

(S9)

OBEDIENCE put them in a position to RECEIVE God’s best!

Boy who went trekking on the mountain, when he realized that it was getting dark so he began climbing down. It was getting darker and darker, he could barely see. Suddenly, his feet slipped. He fell and caught hold of the branch of tree. Hanging on for his life, he began shouting, “Is there anybody to help me out.” No reply! He kept yelling and yelling.

Finally, he heard a soft still voice. “Yes, I am here to help you.” Greatly excited, he shouted, “Thank you, who you are?” Quick came the reply, “I am God. I will help you, but you will have to remove your hands off the branch. Not willing to do so, the boy kept hanging all through the night and finally died. The next morning, the villagers saw the dead boy and found out that the branch on which he was hanging was just two feet above the ground.

The disciples were only inches away from God’s best...

How has obedience to God, put you in the right place at the right time?

Dorothy/ER/Cancer

Pentecost was normally a big week long CELEBRATION...but God, had another plan...

— On that day, He would breathe NEW LIFE into his followers giving them the power to be his voice to the world…church

Acts 1:8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

(S10) —

2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

At the right moment and in His time…God rains down with the same power that created the world out of nothing... that raised Jesus from the dead.

— The disciples were sitting? More like cowering—nothing could have prepared them for this.

— Loud—Thick—God was everywhere...

(S11) — The first Divine DISRUPTION of the Gospel power

1. The OVERWHELMING power of a God’s Spirit!

baptizō — to be fully immersed—Jewish ritual—hands, feet—washing pots

Mark 7:3 “The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. 4 Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)”

The H.S. filling the house— Moral cleansing, something water alone is not able to do—Baptism of the Spirit sets us right with God…

— with the power of Jesus’ great commission…a new path, trajectory in life—discipleship

When Jews read scripture (breath/wind of God) — first breath of Eden that gave us life in the image of our maker…separating us from the animals and everything else God created.

“This is the second breath of the new creation. That separates us from all human driven initiatives, and allows us to be fully empowered by the Spirit to walk with God in mission to the world. “

Pool/water surrounds every inch of the person in it…the H.S. fills the recipient…a new begining, of sending them out, for God’s mission to the world

Obedience to the OVERWHELMING power of God’s Spirit, puts us in a position to receive God’s best

(S12) —

3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.

Not just a roaring wind…but fire without smoke—dancing around the room

—separating itself, and coming to rest on each of them...

(S13) — The 2nd Divine DISRUPTION of the Gospel power

2. The PURIFYING power of God’s Spirit!

The Jews interpreted fire as PURIFICATION from God. They would have recalled Elijah’s sacrifice

1 kings 18:30-39

1 Kings 18:38 “ Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!”

“This demonstrates God’s power over all human constructs...any alter we would build, that puts God as secondary in our life.

This is not just a moral cleansing…the purifying power of the H.S. setting ones heart soley devoted to God

— The disciples would not/could not go out proclaiming the Good News with a divided heart.

A church without the purifying power of God’s mending spirit will not evangelize...

A farmer noticed a highway department truck pulling over on the shoulder of the road. A man got out and dug a hole, then got back into the truck. Then the other occupant got out, filled up the hole and got back in the truck. Every fifty yards this amazing process was repeated. “What are you doing?” the farmer asked. The driver replied, “We’re on a highway beautification project, and the guy who plants the trees is home sick today.”

In a lot of churches evangelism is out sick...a church not focused on its mission, is digging lots of holes, but not doing any planting (evangelism).

James 4:7–8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

Jesus, who they had become dependent on, was no longer with them in the flesh...

— JESUS, abide in me (John 15)…now comes to light for disciples

“Incarnation of Jesus stepping into human flesh—Pentecost is about God’s Spirit stepping—into our lives, our bodies and our experiences.”

A purified heart set right and soley devoted to God, is a person who has experienced the OVERWHELMING, and PURIFYING, presence of God.

Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Obedience to the PURIFYING power of God’s Spirit, puts us in a position to receive God’s best

(S14) —

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Everyone was speaking…everyone was hearing…everyone was understanding…every person in the room was given abilities that they previously did not have.

(S15) — The 3rd Divine DISRUPTION of the Gospel power

3. The INFLUENCING power of God’s Spirit!

Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)—Confusion

“Reversing the curse of the past, looking foreward to God’s new creation—New Life in His influencing power on every person that would unite them for one mission and one purpose—edifying the name of Jesus

This power of God’s Spirit gave them INFLUENCE in the world ! Calling people to repentance through the forgivness of sins — GOOD NEWS

Mark 1:15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!””

Obedience to the INFLUENCING power of God’s Spirit, puts us in a position to receive God’s best

From being with Jesus…to being filled with God’s spirit…like going from a Pinto to a Camaro…

Influence of my parents/youth leader/pastor…when the H.S. got a hold of me...

A baptism of water and spirit gives the believer and the church the gift of —New Life—New Mission—New Vision

Psalm 85:6 “Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?”

(S16) — OVERWHELMING—PURIFYING—INFLUENCING power of God’s Spirit

Popping Metaphor (52)

“Popcorn doesn’t cook itself, but when its cooked, you don’t have to hawk it. People will find there way to you!

The disciples were obedient and found themselves in the right place at the right time! Evangelism started with an invitation—Peter

(S17) —

OBEDIENCE put us in a position to RECEIVE God’s best!

III. CHALLENGE

1. Do you believe the Gospel as Good News?

2. Do you trust the testimony of the Bible?

3. Do you love Jesus enough to share him with people? Do you love people enough to share Jesus with them?

4. What is one next step you can take, to fully embrace the overwhelming, purifying, and influencing power of God’s Sprit? Putting you in a position to receive God’s best?

Next week and beyond—INVITATION CHALLENGE

Romans 1:16 “ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes