Outside These Walls - Pentecost for Everyone

Do you know what Pentecost is or why it is important in the life of both Christians and non-Christians?

Pentecost is much more than an event or a denominational belief.

Pentecost is way more than rolling around on the floor, running around the room, climbing the walls, swinging from the chandeliers, or getting a goose bump.

Pentecost was God’s outpouring of power and equipment for Christians to live a supernatural and impactful life outside the walls of the church building.

Luke 24:49 NKJV

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Endued = To put clothing or apparel on someone

How many of you get dressed in some kind of clothing before you leave the house?

Jesus told His disciples to stay & to expectantly await being clothed with power from Heaven!

They didn’t know exactly what day they were waiting for or how long they would need to wait, but they knew that they were waiting for the day of they would be clothed with the apparel of power from Heaven.

This happened on the day of Pentecost.

Pentecost - One of 7 Feasts in Israel celebrated on the 50th day after Passover. Also 50 days after Jesus laid down His life on the cross at Calvary.

Pentecost (Gr.) is the same celebration as the Jewish Feast of Weeks & Feast of First Fruits or Shavuot (Heb.) when the First Fruits of the yearly Harvest were brought to the Lord.

Acts 2:1–21 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

The 120 in the Upper Room were the First Fruits of the Harvest of men & women filled by the Holy Spirit and clothed with power from on High!

There was only ONE Upper Room & it spilled outside the walls.

God never told His people to wait for power again & or to memorialize that Upper Room - They simply got filled with what they needed & went out to change the world!

Acts 17:6 NKJV

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

No one turned the world upside down before the Holy Spirit moved in!

Church Gatherings are Essential:

Church is not just a place for a moral makeover & for self-improvement

Church is a place to receive training & equipping-power from the Holy Spirit to make a difference outside the walls of the church through the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20).

Ephesians 4:11–12 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Acts 2:43 NKJV

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:46–47 NKJV

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

People who need saving are almost exclusively outside these walls.

We need the Holy Spirit!

If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to be effective in His destiny, so do we!

Acts 10:38 NKJV

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

John 20:21–22 NKJV

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is just as easy as breathing in someone else’s breath

Acts 2:38 NKJV

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:11–13 NKJV

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Just One Thing:

We need the Holy Spirit and we need church so that we are equipped and trained to be effective Outside These Walls!

Discussion Questions:

What’s wrong but sounds right?

What did you learn from the sermon that really blessed, challenged, inspired, or stuck with you? Share a little…

Please read Acts 17:6 and Acts 10:38 and share what these verses minister to you.

What does being filled with the Holy Spirit mean to you (e.g. doctrinally, practically, personally)?