The “Pentecosts” in Acts
Pentecost Sunday • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
The 5 Pentecosts of Acts. In the book of Acts Luke narrates the birth, development and expansion of the church of Christ.
Different outlines. Luke describes this development of the church through two key figures in the church:
Peter, through the first 12 chapters;
Paul, from chapter 13 to chapter 28.
Luke also describes the expansion of the Church from a geographical point of view:
It starts from Jerusalem;
It passes through Samaria;
Until it reaches Rome.
Yet, I believe that the real "outline" that Luke is inspired by is based on the five experiences of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In other words, we have key figures, three geographical regions of expansion of the Gospel, but 5 episodes that concern the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Luke is telling us that, without taking anything away from men and women who can give a great boost to the Church through their instrumentality, and without minimizing the fact that certain regions, cities or nations are well disposed to the expansion of the church, what really moves, gives strength and authority to the Church is the Holy Spirit of God.
The church is pneumadynamic, or created, gathered, gifted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.40
Gregg R. Allison
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath (spirit); prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
This passage reminds us of how our spiritual life depends on the breath of God.
The Spirit of God gives life to the church, as it gives life to the individual:
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Sermon's outline. We will focus on the 5 pentecosts contained in Acts to highlight 5 challenges that the Church of Christ must overcome when the baptism in the Holy Spirit occurs:
Derision (Acts 2:13-15);
Simony (Acts 8:17-20);
Resentment (Acts 9:13-14);
Prejudice (Acts 10:44-46);
Ignorance (Acts 19:2-3) .
N.1 - Derision
N.1 - Derision
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Pentecost of Jerusalem. It all begins in Jerusalem: about 120 disciples gathered in prayer receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In Jerusalem we find at least 16 representatives of nations, witnesses of this glorious experience (Acts 2:12).
In this wonderful atmosphere of reverence and adoration we find a group of people who mock the disciples and the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:13).
The expression "made fun" means to ridicule, to laugh at with contempt and derision.
When the power of God is manifested, two main reactions are created:
Faith and acceptance;
Disbelief and derision.
Obviously, drunkenness was a good explanation for the unbelievers in Jerusalem.
Even when Paul preached the Gospel in Athens, some had this reaction:
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
Even Jesus’ enemies said that He was just a drunkard:
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Others believed that He was even possessed:
“You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
Application. Living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit certainly involves ridicule and mockery.
The apostle Paul tells us why:
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The fullness of God’s Spirit will often mean being ridiculed. Are we willing to suffer ridicule and mockery in order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit?
Illustration. Disney movie Bambi and the Season of Love. When two people love each other, they express their affection regardless of whether some relatives may make fun of them. Their love overcomes all ridicule .
N.2 - Simony
N.2 - Simony
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Pentecost in Samaria. Through Philip the evangelist, the Lord sent a spiritual revival to a city in the region of Samaria.
After hearing about the revival in Samaria, the apostles sent Peter and John to check out what was happening.
Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritan believers, and the Lord baptized them in the Holy Spirit as well.
The Pentecostal experience was so overwhelming that a magician named Simon offered to buy the power of the Holy Spirit for money.
Simony describes the buying or selling of religious office, precisely what the Samaritan sorcerer wanted to do.
Kenneth O. Gangel
Simon's goal was to appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit so he could use it for his own purposes.
Application. We can still run the risk of meeting people like Simon today.
They view God's revival as an opportunity for profit.
This is how Jeremiah describes these people:
“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
Example. I have read of spiritual leaders who charged $30 per prayer. Pentecost is not for sale, nor can it be bought with money, for it is the "gift of God" (Acts 8:20).
N.3 - Resentment
N.3 - Resentment
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Pentecost of Damascus. The third Pentecost reported by Luke concerns the baptism in the Holy Spirit of Paul.
For the baptism of Paul, the Lord decides to use a disciple named Ananias, who was charged with laying hands on Paul.
So far nothing strange, except the fact that the man on whom Ananias was to lay hands was the number one enemy of the Church.
In Acts 9:13-14 we can see all the worry, pain and resentment of Ananias, because of the evil actions committed by Paul.
Application. One of the greatest challenges that the Church must overcome in order to realize the promised Pentecost, is the ability to forgive, to remove all resentment.
Resentment consumes you inside and prevents us from realizing the fullness of Pentecost:
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Yet it is so difficult to remove resentment.
750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 225: Forgiveness
In his book, Lee: The Last Years, Charles Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal Artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss.
After a brief silence, Lee said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.”
It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root, and poison the rest of our life.
Pentecost for you begins with removing all bitterness, all hidden resentment from your heart and extending Christ's forgiveness:
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
N.4 - Prejudice
N.4 - Prejudice
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Pentecost of Caesarea. In this episode, an entire family receives the promise of the Holy Spirit.
The family in question is that of Cornelius, a Gentile, who invites all his friends to his home to receive the message of the Gospel.
As we can see, that meeting was a success!
Yet, despite the undeniable manifestation of the Holy Spirit in Cornelius' home, Peter had to face criticism from the believers in Jerusalem:
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him
The believers in Jerusalem were prejudiced against the Gentiles.
They had a wrong concept, an idea about how God should work: only blessing the Jews, not the Gentiles. We are talking about prejudice.
You do not take up a prejudice. It takes you up, and controls you.
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)
Peter tells them the whole story and finally these Jewish believers understand that God is not prejudiced against anyone:
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Application. The challenges of prejudice about what the Holy Spirit can or cannot do, about who can baptize or not baptize, about who can use or not use.
Jesus, while talking with Nicodemus, describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit by comparing Him to the wind, a wind that knows no prejudice, that knows no limits, that knows no barriers:
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Mohandas K. Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule and considered the father of his country. He is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolence to achieve political and social progress.
Gandhi says in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert, since Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One Sunday, he went to a nearby church to attend services. He decided to see the minister and ask for instruction in the way of salvation and enlightenment on other doctrines. But when he entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. Gandhi left and never came back. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said to himself, “I might as well remain a Hindu.”1070
Let the river of the Holy Spirit break away every prejudice, every preconception, in fact Paul says:
For God does not show favoritism.
N.5 - Ignorance
N.5 - Ignorance
and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
Pentecost of Ephesus. We are in Ephesus and the apostle Paul meets with about 12 disciples.
Paul begins the conversation by asking the disciples of Ephesus a Pentecostal question.
N.B.: The baptism in the Holy Spirit, while not essential for salvation, is essential for living a victorious life in Jesus.
The disciples in Ephesus reveal their ignorance on this matter. Paul immediately supplies their ignorance: Acts 19:4.
After that, Paul lays his hands on the disciples and they are all baptized: Acts 19:6.
Application. The final challenge to overcome is that of ignorance.
It is enough to simply say it, tell it, pass on the Pentecostal teaching to future generations.
Ignorance can produce serious consequences: Hosea 4:6
my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
The apostle Paul also repeats this principle to the Romans:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Conclusion
Conclusion
5 Pentecosts. After reading the book of Acts we can declare that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a promise for all of us.
As the Church of Christ we want to fulfill this promise by overcoming the challenges of derision, simony, resentment, prejudice and ignorance.
