Sermon Tone Analysis

HOLY GHOST’S STORIES PART 3

And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Southpointe, we have been in this series for the last two weeks on Holy Ghost’s stories.

So this week we are going to continue on the Holy Ghost Stories.

We are studying the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit came in power at Pentecost, enabling believers to do supernatural works.

Let’s look at some stuff this morning:

In the first chapter of Acts we are basically see the the disciples go from being disciples to be Apostles.

Disciple - means follower or learner.

Apostle— means messenger or missionary.

These men who were Jesus inner circle were get the assignment to spread the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

But they were need power to fulfill this assignment.

So Jesus tells them to wait for the promise and that promise was the Holy Ghost.

Understand they were 40 days into this:

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

After Jesus departed into Heaven, the disciples were obedient to Jesus’ words.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Jesus instructed His disciples to witness to the people of all nations about Him.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Amen.

But Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

If God has important work for you to do for Him, then you must and will need to do it by the power of the Holy Ghost and waiting could be required.

And waiting could be required

We often like to get on with the job and even if it means running ahead of God.

Put you see waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan.

My question to you this morning is: Are you waiting and listening for God’s complete instructions or Are you running ahead of His plans?

We need God’s timing and power to be truly effective.

10 days they had waited in the upper room.

So now that were sitting at 50 days after the Passover.

And they were entering into the Feast of the Weeks or it was also called Pentecost.

This was one of the three major annual feasts.

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

This Pentecost was considered a festival of thanksgiving for the harvested crops.

The Jews of many nations gathered in Jerusalem for this festival.

Now remember Jesus was crucified at Passover time and He ascended 40 days after His resurrection.

Now 10 days waiting.

It is the celebration of PENTECOST!

It was a celebration of giving, bringing to God the very best of the grain for the whole harvest season.

A celebration where the people praised God for His giving to them by their giving back to Him their very best.

There in They shall not appear before the Lord empty.

All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the LORD your God.

This is saying look at the way God has blessed you and give in according to that, for some it might be just their 10 % to other it might be more.

So this was that season of giving, and they were expected to give their very best.

This is a reflection of a real love relationship!

God got the “firstfruits” … not leftovers and not what they could spare, God got the best and the first of the produce!

Our relationship with God should be characterized by joyous giving; this was the meaning in the celebration of Pentecost.

Giving also shows that what we have has come from the gracious hand of God and that He is the rightful owner of all that we have, so we give back out of love.

"From the day after the Sabbath—the day you bring the bundle of grain to be lifted up as a special offering—count off seven full weeks.

Keep counting until the day after the seventh Sabbath, fifty days later.

Then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.

It would be spiritually and practically unhealthy for us to expect from God without giving in return!

(Yet, how many Christians do this today?)

God's desire was for a real relationship with mankind ... it’s a 2 way street.

God never gives less than His best to us ... and as in all loving relationships, He expects our best in return!

It was NOT the leftovers God asked for ... but the FIRSTFRUITS!

The finest of the grain!

Because people that are truly in love, this is NEVER an issue!

a.

The first pickings of grain were the best ... they were superior seed!

b.

This grain made the best bread, if pressed produced the finest oil.

When you're in love the object of that love is the FIRST in your heart, mind and spirit!

Pentecost was a time of joyful giving and celebration of abundance... of increase, this was also certainly true of Pentecost in the book of Acts ...

The entire focus of Pentecost was relationship giving, remember it’s a 2 way street, don't miss out on God's joy by making it a one way street!

b.

The entire focus of Pentecost was relationship giving... a 2 way street, don't miss out on God's joy by making it a one way street!

The entire focus of Pentecost was relationship giving, remember it’s a 2 way street, don't miss out on God's joy by making it a one way street!

Giving is a joyful experience, whether we give our resources or ourselves!

God's very nature is that of a giver ... of life, of provisions, of Himself!

He desires a loving relationship with us that allows us to also give; of our life, our provisions, of ourselves!

Don't just "count your many blessings" contribute them also!

We know the characteristics of God is a giver,

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

God gave His disciples the abundant power of the Holy Spirit and a great increase in the Church resulted!

This outpouring was foretold by the Prophet Joel.

"Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out My Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.

On the day of Pentecost Peter quoted these verses.

The outpouring of the Spirit predicted by Joel occurred on Pentecost.

While in the past, God’s Spirit seemed available to kings, prophets, and judges.

But Joel envisioned a time when the Spirit would be available to every believer.

Ezekiel spoke of an outpouring of the Spirit also:

And I will never again turn My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit upon the people of Israel.

I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

This was also a fulfillment of John the Baptist’s words about the Holy Spirit baptizing with fire.

John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

So let’s look at:

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Why tongues of fire?