The Glory of Pentecost

Passover to Pentecost  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  34:35
0 ratings
· 247 views

In this message by Pastor Mason Phillips discover the importance of the Day of Pentecost and why Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem after His ascension.

Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

The Glory of Pentecost

Acts 1:4–8 NKJV
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
I am beginning a series called “Passover to Pentecost” beginning now and ending on Pentecost Sunday (June 5th, 2022).
I want to talk you today about the glory of Pentecost and the promise of power to live a new life after Passover.
Passover is the feast that commemorates Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. It was on Passover that they sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on the doorpost so that the Angel of the Lord would see the blood and pass over those homes sparing them from destruction (Exodus 12.13-14).
On the night of Passover, Jesus was betrayed and put on trial (Mark 14.22-50). On the cross of Calvary, Jesus was the Lamb of God who took away our sin (John 1.29). He was sacrificed like the Passover lamb and His blood was shed for the remission of our sins and to consecrate a new and living way into the presence of God (Hebrews 10.16-22).
And on the third day, God raised him up alive and visible for people to see (Acts 10.40 MSG). For the next 40 days, Jesus met with and taught His disciples (Acts 1.3).
It was during this time that Jesus commanded His followers not to go out into the world to make disciples and teach them His ways until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28.18-20, Acts 1.4).
Their question to Jesus after hearing this command was associated with the establishment of the kingdom. They interpreted His command in light of establishing His rule and reign in the world.
Jesus redirected them and told them that they weren’t to worry about when God was going to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth fully. Instead, they were going to receive power so that they could accomplish the mission which He was sending them.
In other words, before they could go and do all that He taught and commanded them, they needed help. They needed power. They needed authority. They needed the Holy Spirit.
We are often like the disciples, looking for God to deliver us out of this world order and bring us into the heavenly kingdom now. But Jesus preached that for those who would enter in, the kingdom of heaven is available now (cf. Matthew 10.7, Luke 17.21).
With the kingdom of God comes new life.
Not just in heaven but here on earth.
Not just in some distant future but now, in this time.
Isn’t it frustrating, though, when you hear about the power of God to change and believe that it is real but struggle to experience it in your own life? Don’t you sometimes wish that God would just take you out of the pain and problems of this world and bring you into His presence in glory?
Jesus answer to us is life in the Spirit. We need to understand that without faith and the work of the Holy Spirit we cannot overcome in this world (cf. 1 John 5.4, Romans 8.2). That is why Jesus said, “Wait here. Don’t go. Until you receive the Holy Spirit you don’t have the ability to do it.” (And He said that to the people who He personally walked with and trained and taught over 3 years).
When we can have faith to receive the Holy Spirit we will begin to enter into new life in Christ—a life that is characterized by supernatural grace, power, and change.
Many people who claim to be Christian do so because they prayed a prayer to accept Jesus. In my experience simply accepting Jesus is not enough if you do not walk in Him (Colossians 2.6). Accepting His teachings on principle is not enough to change your life. Christ calls for us to trust Him and walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 8.6, John 14.15).
We accept the gift of salvation and forgiveness, but when it comes to offering Him a life worthy of that gift, we tell Him, “When I get older/richer/wiser/etc. then I’ll give you my whole life.”
Did He only come to forgive you or does His plan include making you new and delivering you from the power of sin and death to live unto Him as a different person?
Many people who claim to be Christian are practical atheists. They confess Christ but live as though He is not their Savior and Lord. Adding Christ to your life is not going to be enough to deliver you from sin and the problem of evil. Surrendering your life and living for Him is the only way to truly experience life (cf. Matthew 7.14, John 14.6).
Jesus told them to wait for their lives to be immersed in the Spirit (Acts 1.5).
Like the disciples, we need to enter into the glory of Pentecost by embracing a life in the Spirit. And this was Jesus’ plan all along (cf. Acts 2.38, John 15.26).

Signs of Pentecost

Pentecost literally means, “50.” It signifies 50 days after the offering of the barley sheaf at the beginning of Passover (Leviticus 23.15-21, Exodus 34.22, Deuteronomy 16.10). It was called the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16.10), The Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23.16), and the Day of the First Fruits (Numbers 28.26).
It was one of three annual feasts. At it, Israel brought the first fruits of their harvest as an offering to the Lord. They would bake two loaves of bread from the finest grain and offer them unto the Lord.
From the Intertestamental period and after the feast of weeks was also recognized as a commemoration and celebration of the giving of the Law at Sinai.
The disciples, after seeing the resurrected Lord for 40 days, waited for 10 more until the feast began.
Acts 2:1–4 NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When the day of Pentecost had come the disciples were in the upper room. They had been praying and worshipping and waiting on the Lord.
And then the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Consider the picture at Sinai, when the Lord gave the Law and spoke to the people:
Deuteronomy 4:11–14 NKJV
11 “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. 13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.
Both events had some very important similarities:
Fire
Wind
God speaking
The first was a giving of a new way of living through keeping commandments and understanding the ways of God.
The second was a giving of a new way of living through the empowerment of the Spirit of God.
Both of these were inaugurations. They were indicators of a new season and a new way of living as God’s people.
Another clear connection: 3000 died at Sinai after the giving of the Law (Exodus 32.28); on the day of Pentecost after Peter’s sermon, 3000 souls believed and were baptized and joined the disciples (Acts 2.41).

This is That

The Spirit came and the disciples were filled and they went outside speaking in tongues. Because of the feast there were many Jews from every nation under heaven who were there and heard the disciples speaking in their language (at least 15 different ones) and glorifying God (Acts 2.5). It was so crazy that they thought the disciples were drunk.
But Peter tells them it is only 9:00 a.m. and they were not drunk but instead God was doing something:
Acts 2:16–21 NKJV
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
Peter points to a prophesy of Joel regarding the last days.
The outpouring of the Spirit was a sign that a new day had come. The world crossed into the threshold of the beginning of the last days.

The Promised Glory

There are three things that we need to identify that will be hallmarks that follow the outpouring of the spirit.

Supernatural Grace

When the Spirit was poured out on all flesh sons and daughters shall prophesy. They will see visions and dream dreams. These are included in the grace gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12.1-11).
Supernatural grace would accompany the infilling of the Holy Spirit and empower men and women to walk in wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God (cf. Ephesians 1.17).
When you receive the Spirit of God you will receive supernatural grace enter into an intimacy with God that reveals His will and ways (1 Corinthians 2.6-12).

Supernatural Power

Not only would there be gifts of grace but there would be signs and wonders that would be revealed.
Jesus declared that as we go into the world and preach the gospel there would be signs that follow those who believe (Mark 16.15-18).
There is a supernatural power that accompanies the Holy Spirit that serve as signs to point to the Lord and cause people to wonder in amazement at His awesome power.
When you receive the Spirit of God, you will receive supernatural power (Acts 1.8).

Supernatural Change

Finally, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit signified supernatural change—all who called on the name of the Lord would be saved.
The word for saved, sṓzō, also means to save, keep , free, bring into well-being, preserved through divine deliverance and help.
In the Spirit comes righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14.17). Where the Spirit is there is freedom from bondage (2 Corinthians 3.17). Through the Spirit comes deliverance and healing (Acts 10.38).
When you receive the Spirit of God you will not be the same. You will be made new (cf. John 3.3-6). There will be supernatural change in your life.

Conclusion

Peter concluded his sermon with the steps to receive these three things.
Acts 2:38 NKJV
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
If we want to receive supernatural grace, power, and change we need to receive the Holy Spirit.
We may need to repent for our sins and for our unbelief.
We may need to trust in Christ for our salvation and the removal of our sins (cf. Mark 1.15).
And then we need to receive by faith the gift of God.
Altar call: speak to repentance, faith towards God, asking for the gift of the Spirit — the glory of Pentecost.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more