The Generations of Pentecost

1 Vision The Sound of 2018: Pentecost: Forward Generations of Pentecost Joshua 24:13-15, 31 Judges 2:10 2 Joshua 24:13I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’ 14“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 31Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. NKJV Judges 2:10When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. NKJV Introduction: Story of successful minister who saved many but lost his kids. Song Solomon didn't keep her own vineyard… Song of Solomon 1:6They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept. NKJV 3 I. Intimace to Knowledge Only Notice the slight variations of the generations with their progression: Generation one - Knew God & His works Generation two - Knew His works Generation three - Knew not God nor His works We can see where people go from committed to non-committed. The progress of it: Gen 1 - Verse 15 Joshua says as for me & my house… Gen 2 Verse 31 is the slight variation they "had known." Psalm 103:7 – Moses was Gen 1; he knew God – Israel became Gen 2 they knew about God. 4 A. There is a fear of my grandchildren not knowing God nor His works. That they would say, I read about that in a book. I have heard about people speaking in tongues & miracles. a. Gen 1 knew God intimately – Gen 2 knew God but more distant, knew “about” Him – Gen 3 did not know God or His works b. Again: Gen 1 Saved & understand God demands the first day of the week & the first dollar of every 10 – Gen 2 Saved but not committed – Gen 3 backslidden & unsaved c. The only way Satan can get to you & conquer you is with your cooperation. d. You cannot live off of the other persons experience and of past generations. 5 B. Families to Churches a. Children can be raised in a family of Christians who are not completely sold out to God Gen 2 Christians. They cross paths with a few hypocrites & carnal minded Christians & they become calloused. 1. Gen 1 Committed Gen 2 Compromise Gen 3 Calloused. b. Gen 2 will never be happy with their walk in Christ, they have a hard time identifying their walk. They have one hand in the hand of God & one in the world. 1. The church is accepting every kind of wrong & sin, even the church is laughing at sin. Second Gen Church moving out of that first chair c. We must live Jesus, not self. 1. Gen 1 Dead to self 2. Gen 2 Concerned with self 3. Gen 3 Total regard for me, my, mine… 6 d. When people inquire about church they don't ask how many have been saved or filled with the Holy Ghost. They want to know what do you have to offer? What programs do you have for my kids? What style of music, what songs do you sing? e. The church has got to come alive & walk in power. 1. The church many want is not feeling "pressured" to be saved. Don't be a fanatic and give altar calls, let's not make people feel uncomfortable. 7 f. Second Gen Christians would rather have the Bible mixed with other things. 1. Mixed with positive thinking. The regurgitation of religious lectures by Seminary Professors. 2. The politically correct says never offend anyone. To the Holy Ghost they say, "Never convict a sinner. Never confront, be sinner sensitive. Greasy Grace & Sloppy Agape." g. Third Gen 1. The Bible is to narrow, many roads lead to Heaven. 2. The feminist doesn’t like it, the gay community doesn’t like it. 3. They say the Word is not true & inspired, it has faults & is archaic. 8 C. Partner with God & the Preacher. a. Gen 1 says "Save Souls!" "Pray people through to the power of the Holy Ghost." Lead people into an intimate relationship & worship of the Most High God." 1. Preach, Pray, Live the Word & we will be able to drag them from the third Gen to the second & maybe the first!!! 2. People are hungry for the things of God. b. We have got to move to Gen 1 experience. 9 2 Timothy 1:5-6, 3:14-15 (BIBLE) II. The Answer Remember the application: Keeping my children & grandchildren as Gen 1. 10 A. Three Generations who stayed with Gen 1 a. Lois, Eunice & Timothy b. "Three centuries ago in the early years of the seventeen hundreds, a small town pastor in Epworth, England, knelt in his study and cried out to God to send revival to his nation. The noise in the small house soon became quite loud and he frequently requested his wife to keep their 19 children from interrupting his prayer time. Scriptures tell us that if we are truly God’s people that… “… before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24") "That pastor, Samuel Wesley, probably never imagined that the answer to his prayer was already commanded by God and was running up and down the hallway outside his study. God was going to raise up two of those children, John and Charles, to not only shake a continent but also the world for Christ." 11 III. Conclusion A. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST 12