Pentecost Power

Pentecost Power

We have one more week left in our series on James but today is a special day that I felt like we needed to take a break from the series to discuss.

Today is PENTECOST!

The day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to us!

After Resurrection Sunday, this is probably the most important day in Christian history.

So this morning we are going to look at that day of Pentecost and see what exactly happened and what that means for us today!

So my message today is called “Pentecost Power”!

First, Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after the Resurrection.

Pentecost actually means, “fiftieth” or “fiftieth day”.

You may be thinking but today is actually 49 days after Easter.

They count Easter Sunday as day 1.

This is the day that God sent the Holy Spirit to us!

So let’s first set the backstory here.

Jesus has died and was resurrected on the third day.

He then roamed around for 40 days.

Acts 1:3 NIV “ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

So for 40 days Jesus was just hanging out with people and showing them that He’s alive.

Preaching about the kingdom of God.

He then proceeds to tell them what to do next.

Acts 1:4-5 NIV “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So Jesus gave them direction to NOT leave Jerusalem until they receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit that God has promised them.

Think about that though.

These disciples had to be chomping at the bit to get out there and start telling people about how Jesus is alive and is the true Messiah.

But Jesus says to WAIT.

We’ll talk about why in a little bit!

So the disciples wait and the Holy Spirit comes 10 days later.

Now it’s amazing how God works and everything happens in His timing for a reason.

This is no different.

You see Pentecost did not start when the Holy Spirit came.

Pentecost was actually a Jewish holiday called, “Shavuot” which is the Hebrew word or “The Feast of Weeks”.

“Pentikosti” is the Greek word which we translate to “Pentecost” in English.

This took place 50 days after Passover

Which Jesus’ death and resurrection took place during.

Many Jews believe that God gave the law or the “Torah” to Moses on Mt. Siniai during the time of “Shavuot”.

So they would take this time to celebrate the giving of the law.

So leave it to God to plan this out just perfectly!

I was reading a blog about this topic where someone asked a question about why did God wait 10 days after Jesus ascended to send the Holy Spirit.

The author said, “I think the Lord wanted to send the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Pentecost was a memorial to the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, and on its anniversary the dispensation of Grace officially began.”

God was saying, I know you’ve been celebrating the giving of the law but there’s a NEW sheriff in town, and it’s the HOLY SPIRIT!

And He comes bearing the GIFT OF GRACE and POWER to help you on this journey with God!

This is a BIG deal!

Jesus even made a comment to His disciples earlier about how important it is that He leaves so the Holy Spirit can come.

John 16:7 NIV “ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

Did you catch what he just said?

Jesus said IT’S FOR THEIR GOOD that he leave!

Can you imagine what was going through the mind of the disciples?

How on earth can it be better that the Son of God who is standing here in the flesh leave?

Because that was the problem.

Jesus was there in the flesh.

So if they had a question about something or needed advice from Jesus they could only get it when He was with them.

Jesus was saying it’s better that I go so the Holy Spirit can come because when the Holy Spirit comes and he lives inside you, you now have 24/7 access to me and my Father!

If you have a question, just ask!

If you need advice, just ask!

If you need my power to do something, just ask!

Because of my Holy Spirit it’s going to seem like I’m with you every moment of the day!

In the Old Testament you will always read “God with us” In the New Testament it says “God in us”

A lot of people probably look at people in the Old Testament and are a little envious of what they experienced. (Elijah, Moses, David)

But I think when we get to heaven and ask David what it was like to slay Goliath, he’ll say “what was it like to have the Holy Spirit living in you?

So let’s see what took place when the Holy Spirit finally came.

Acts 2:2-4 “Suddenly, there was sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

So this mighty windstorm comes and everyone gets filled with the Holy Spirit and starts speaking in tongues or other languages.

So people walking by are hearing this craziness go on and they stop because they are amazed that a bunch of Galileans are praising God yet they can hear and understand them in their native language.

So all these people gather around and joke about maybe they are all drunk?

Then Peter comes out and addresses the crowd.

He says, we’re not drunk, it's only 9am!

And he proceeds to preach a killer message where 3,000 people get saved!

This is the same guy that a few weeks earlier denied Jesus 3 times.

He was too scared to admit he was a follower of Jesus.

Now he stands in front of a MASSIVE crowd and preaches with boldness and 3,000 people get saved.

What was the difference?

It goes back to Acts 1 when Jesus told them what was going to happen when the Holy Spirit came.

Acts 1:8 NIV “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit gives us POWER that we never had before.

That’s why Jesus told them to wait.

He’s saying, you can’t go minister to people yet because you don’t have the power you’re going to need to do what I’ve called you to do!

Picture Jerusalem as your family

Judea is your community

And Samaria is crossing racial lines

This POWER is going to give you the boldness you need to preach the truth.

This POWER is going to give you the words to say in that moment where you can’t come up with anything.

To me that was the difference for Peter.

Before Peter didn’t have the Holy Spirit and he lacked courage and boldness.

But now that he has the Holy Spirit inside him he struts right on out to those people and preaches like he never has before!

Listen to what kind of power we have access to now.

Romans 8:11 NLT “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

We have access to the same power that raised Christ from the dead!

That’s why the disciples did such amazing things.

And that’s why Jesus said it is so important that you wait!

Take a look at another situation with Peter and John

Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel and healing people.

They had to stand before all the priests and elders of the people and they asked them a question.

Acts 4:7-8 NIV “By what power or what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…

After he speaks, listen to what it says.

Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished…”

The Holy Spirit gives us that extra power to accomplish His will in our lives.

Why would we want to live without that and do things on our own?

Paul says this in Galatians 3:3 NIV “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”

You see some people started out by using that power of the Holy Spirit but for some reason they’ve decided to do things on their own and in their own strength.

It’s like those tough guys that never want help lifting anything. No matter how heavy, they want to show how strong they are.

They will get tired much quicker that way.

So the question is “how can I receive this power?”

It’s simple. You ask!

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Our Heavenly Father wants to give us good gifts and the Holy Spirit is one of the best gifts you can receive.

We must ask and seek him with our whole heart.

As a church we don’t just believe in the Holy Spirit and that he lives in us.

We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation today.

Yes when you become a believer you have the Holy Spirit living inside you to help you and speak to you.

But we also believe that you can tap into the gifts of the Spirit.

We call it Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The gifts that can come with that are…

Gift of Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

Gift of Knowledge

Wisdom

Prophesy

Faith

Healing

Miracles

Discerning of Spirits

These are things that at any time the Holy Spirit can do through us.

When you truly tap into the power of the Holy Spirit He at any moment could give you a word of Knowledge.

Or speak to you to pray for someone for healing.

I’ve seen it happen multiple times in my life.

Story of Tommy and Dana

The bottom line is the Holy Spirit is a crucial part of our faith.

To live the life God has called us to live and do what He has called us to do, WE NEED THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

So this morning I want to give you an opportunity to receive it.

First I would like everyone to bow your heads and close your eyes.

I’d like everyone to stand

Salvation call

Now if you want to receive more of the Holy Spirit or the baptism of the Holy Spirit I’m going to give you an opportunity right now.

Just raise your hands toward heaven and begin to ask for more of the Holy Spirit or a fresh infilling as I pray for you!