The Day of Pentecost

Bottom line

We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to have the kingdom impact we are meant to have.

Opening Line

Have you ever been asked or told to do something you were completely unqualified to do? Have you ever volunteered to do something you had no business doing, but you didn’t want to admit it?

Introduction

I often feel like that in ministry, especially in the early years. I was fresh out of Bible College, had my shiny new bible school degree in my hand, and arrived in Carlyle thinking I was going to change the world. Then September hit, and I actually had to prove I knew what I was doing.

I remember as the numbers steadily grew at the youth centre, and I was trying to help 60 teenagers discover what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. I spent so much time on my knees, asking God for help. I was mean to volunteers, mostly because I was insecure and I didn’t really know what it meant to be a leader. I honestly felt like I was just flying by the seat of my pants. People would ask me what I was doing differently that was having such an impact, and I didn’t have an answer for them.

Main Point

I can’t help but wonder in the believers in Acts had the same feeling. Remember, as Jesus is ascending, he tells them to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Wait what? Jerusalem we can handle, maybe even Judea. But Samaria? Jews didn’t like Samaritans, and they certainly didn’t like the idea of going out into the world of the Gentiles. Are you kidding me?

Why it matters

I tell you all this to reassure you that as we are talking about mission, going out, being disciples who make disciples. It is easy to feel unprepared or unqualified for such a task. The anxieties and doubts start to creep in, and you worry that you might mess it up.

This morning, you are going to see that this mission that Jesus gives us was never meant to be accomplished on your own. The truth is, if you and I were left to fulfill the mission on our own strength and ability, we probably would mess it up. Which is why God gives you everything you need to be effective as a disciple in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

With that, we are in Acts 2, the story of Pentecost. Just a little update on the timeframe. Jesus was crucified during the Jewish festival of Passover. Luke, in chapter 1, told us that after this resurrection, Jesus spent about 40 days talking to the believers. Pentecost happens 50 days after Passover. So the believer have been waiting and praying for 10 days, and then on Pentecost, this happens.

Acts 2:1–4 NLT

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

The Holy Spirit Comes

So the believers are gathered together, and suddenly a sound from heaven like a roaring of a windstorm. The reason that is significant is that there is often the sound of roaring or thunder when God enters a story.

blank

In Exodus, the cloud and thunder descended on Sinai, and the people were so scared they didn’t want God to speak to them any more. When Jesus was baptized, God says, This is my son in whom I am well pleased. But some gathered only heard thunder. The roar is simply signifying that what is happening is coming straight from heaven.

Before I touch on the ability to speak in other languages, I want to read the rest of this passage, just to give some context

Acts 2:5–13 NLT

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

The Gift of Tongues

So what is happening here? Well, in the Jewish calendar, there were three feasts in which the Jews were to gather in Jerusalem to worship, called the pilgrim feasts. Pentecost was one such feast, so the city was packed with people from all over the world. Luke lists around 15 different nationalities in this passage. Not only are they gathered, but as the believers are speaking, some are hearing their native language being spoken by these uneducated fishermen and such. I said some, because there are some in the crowd who clearly only hear jibberish because they accuse the believers of being drunk.

blank

So what is happening here, and what is the gift of tongues? Some believe that it is simply the miraculous ability to speak in languages you didn’t previously know, or the supernatural ability to learn new languages. Based on this story, that makes a lot sense. The only criticism I have of that is this: If I had 5 other people up here, and each of us started speaking in 5 different languages all at the same time, what would all of you hear? Chaos. It would be hard to determine anything be said in the midst of the chaos.

The other understanding, and the one I would stand on, as well as our church, is that the believers are speaking a heavenly language. In this story, the miracle isn’t what is being spoken, but the fact that God has opened the ears of the people to hear what they need to hear at that moment. I have two reasons for landing on that understanding, and they are both from experience. The first is simply in preaching. There have been times when someone will come up to me and say, “Pastor, I really appreciated when you made this point.” I’m glad you were blessed by it, but I never said that. I used to think it was a sign that people were falling asleep, but I now believe that God can even speak through my sermons and people hear what they need to hear, even if I didn’t say it.

The other example is actually more closely connected to this story. I was at a Pastor’s Retreat, and one night we were having a late worship session. The staff of the place were staying were politely trying to clean up while everything was going on. One of the pastors started speaking in tongues, and to the shock of one of the staff, they heard the gospel clealy spoken in their language. What is significant is that there was two workers, both from the same country, but only one heart the gospel in their native tongue. It wasn’t that the person was speaking the language, but that opened the person’s ears to hear it.

Regardless of which interpretation you hold to, there is one thing we can agree on. The Holy Spirit came, just as Jesus said it would, and the believers were empowered to be witnesses the world, just as Jesus said they would be. In order for you to have the kingdom impact that God has called you to have, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In order for that to happen, it requires you making time in your day to get into God’s word, to pray, to ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, and for you to wait for it to happen. The problem is that many people expect the Holy Spirit to fill them on their time, instead of making the time for God to move.

Transition to Application

As a result of this Holy Spirit boost, watch what happens. We are going to jump over Peter’s sermon, don’t worry we’ll come back to it next week. I want you to jump down to Acts 2:37-41

Acts 2:37–41 NLT

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Repent, Turn to God, and Be Baptized

As a result of each person hearing their own language being spoken, as a result of Peter’s preaching, the people are convicted and respond. What should we do?

blank

Peter tells them to repent, turn from their sin and wickedness, turn to God, and be baptized. 3,000 people were baptized! Could you imagine, 120 believers baptizing 3,000 people. That’s 25 each! I don’t know about anyone else, but my arms would be getting tired.

Main To Do

None of this possible without the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. When you allow the Holy Spirit to fill you, you never know what you may be able to accomplish.

Closing Line

At this time, I am going to say farewell to our online audience. Baptism, along with child dedication, is not something that we stream. We believe that these family moments, and if you want to be part of it, you need to be here. So, to our online audience, God bless, thanks for tuning in, and we will see you next week. To our baptismal candidates, it is time for you to get ready.

Baptism!

Do you confess that Jesus is Lord of your life?

I do

Do you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead?

I do.

Then by your confession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?