What’s The Point of Pentecost?
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Ac 1:6–8
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Ac 2:1–4
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.
Ac 2:40–41
40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Pentecostal Christianity has lost the plot.
Pentecostal Christianity has lost the plot.
We define ourselves by our expressive worship. But, buckin and shoutin is not the point of pentecost.
We define ourselves by the activity of gifts…especially speaking in tongues. But, gifts and even tongues is not the point of pentecost.
Some of us, if we do speak in tongues, we ought not tell anybody.
Some of us, if we do speak in tongues, we ought not tell anybody.
You speak in tongues, but you’re mean as a rattlesnake.
You prophesy, but you don’t tithe.
You go down in the spirit, but you just as easily lay down in the bed of fornication and adultery.
AND SOMEBODY WATCHING YOU IS SAYING, “IF THAT IS THE HOLY GHOST, I WANT NO PART OF IT”.
AND SOMEBODY WATCHING YOU IS SAYING, “IF THAT IS THE HOLY GHOST, I WANT NO PART OF IT”.
What is actually happening at Pentecost?
What is actually happening at Pentecost?
What you have on pentecost is a group of believers who were desperate for the Kingdom of God to be manifested on earth.
What you have on pentecost is a group of believers who were desperate for the Kingdom of God to be manifested on earth.
That’s what they asked for in Acts 1
Jesus had been with them 40 days after the resurrection casting a vision for the Kingdom.
What you have on Pentecost is a group of believers committed to a mission.
What you have on Pentecost is a group of believers committed to a mission.
Jesus says, don’t focus on the “when” of the Kingdom. Focus on the “how” of the Kingdom.
He gives them a part to play in process: Kai aimee eggo martus (and you will be my witnesses)
Through the testimony of your life
Through the testimony of your words
That’s how the Kingdom is going to be manifest in the earth
What you have at Pentecost is a group of believers in need of supernatural power.
What you have at Pentecost is a group of believers in need of supernatural power.
You see the disciples had asked Jesus if he was going to restore the Kingdom to Jerusalem.
But Jesus says, the Kingdom is not coming just for Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Yes, I want you to preach this kingdom to your family and your community (Jerusalem)
But, I also want you to take to strangers, to the people you don’t know (Judea)
And not only that, I want to take it to your enemies, the people you don’t like, that don’t like you (Samaria)
And I even want you to take to the people you’re not even sure that they exist; people in the far reaches of the world where you have never been before.
It was an impossible task. And it required supernatural power.
If you stop reading Act Chapter 2 at verse 4, you will think that the point of pentecost is tongues of fire. But, if you read on to verse 41, you’ll see the real point.
If you stop reading Act Chapter 2 at verse 4, you will think that the point of pentecost is tongues of fire. But, if you read on to verse 41, you’ll see the real point.
3,000 souls saved.
16 nations
One day
True Pentecostal Christianity is not about being the most spiritual, the deepest, the ones with the most power. Pentecostal Christianity is desperate to see the Kingdom of God manifest in earth as it is in heaven; and because it is an impossible task, we are completely dependent on help of the Holy Ghost.
True Pentecostal Christianity is not about being the most spiritual, the deepest, the ones with the most power. Pentecostal Christianity is desperate to see the Kingdom of God manifest in earth as it is in heaven; and because it is an impossible task, we are completely dependent on help of the Holy Ghost.
If you don’t want the Kingdom, you don’t need the power.
If you don’t want the Kingdom, you don’t need the power.
So, the invitation today is not: do you want more of the spirit’s power? The invitation is this: do you want to want the Kingdom more and more.
So, the invitation today is not: do you want more of the spirit’s power? The invitation is this: do you want to want the Kingdom more and more.
Discussion questions:
Discussion questions:
Be honest — when you hear "Pentecostal," what's the first picture that comes to mind? How close is it to ?3,000 souls, 16 nations, one day?
Jesus maps the mission as Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → ends of the earth. Can identify people in those first 3 groups in your life? (Jerusalem = family & community, Judea = Neighbors/Strangers, Samaria = Enemies & Outcasts)
What would it look like this week to desire the Kingdom of God to reach the hearts of people more than you want a spiritual experience of ecstacy for yourself?
