The Purpose of Pentecost

Colossians 2:16–17 NKJV

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Pray for God to help us to discover His purpose for the church.

All of the feasts of Israel were given by God to point people towards His work in Christ.

I want to talk to you about the purpose of Pentecost.

Pentecost was also called the feast of harvest (Exodus 23.16). It was when the first fruits of the grain harvest were offered to God in a holy convocation (Leviticus 23.10, Numbers 28.26).

After Jesus rose from the grave, He spoke to His disciples for 40 days and gave them instructions about how they were to continue when He ascended to the Father (Acts 1.3, Matthew 28.18-20). They knew they were supposed to preach and demonstrate the kingdom of God like Jesus taught them.

Jesus told them that before they could do that, they needed to wait until they received power (Acts 1.8). And 10 days later, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples as they waited and prayed. As the disciples went out of the upper room people were shocked that they were speaking in different languages and glorifying God. Peter preached to the crowds and they responded by repenting, getting baptized, following their teaching, and spending and sharing life together as they learned to walk and live as faithful followers of Jesus (Acts 2.40-47).

In this environment, the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2.47).

Have you ever been excited to start something or be a part of something? Have you ever experienced the loss of joy when the newness wears off? Or have you ever had to remind yourself why you joined in the first place?

It is difficult to continue in something when the joy wears off if we lose sight of our purpose.

Illustration: New Years, 2005. In school full time. Working in a call center. Two babies. Schedule so tight that it was hard to maintain connection to God and the church. Growing dissatisfied and discouraged. Until I read the prophetic words and prayed and God spoke to me about His purpose and my future. My joy was restored when I was reminded of and reconnected to His purpose.

You may remember that last week (in “The Glory of Pentecost”) we talked about how Pentecost came to be celebrated as the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. It was a celebration of a new season and a new era.

On that day in Jerusalem and citing the prophet Joel, Peter told the crowds in his sermon that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a sign of the beginning of the end times, prior to the day of judgment (Acts 2.16-21).

The response was powerful…people were added to the church. Or, we could say that they were the first of the “end times harvest” that precedes the Lord’s second coming.

Harvest Time

Jesus spoke often about the harvest.

John 4:35–36 NKJV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

We know that Jesus wasn’t simply talking about grain harvesting.

Luke 10:1–9 NKJV

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

While He was with them, Jesus sent the disciples into the harvest fields to do the works that He had been doing.

The harvest fields were the cities and places around them. They went speaking peace, healing the sick, and declaring the kingdom of God. Just as He had been doing.

He was preparing them to continue His mission—to enter into the purpose for which He was sent (cf. John 12.27, John 20.21). He came to seek and save the lost and bring many sons and daughters to glory (Luke 19.10, Hebrews 2.10).

This is the purpose of Pentecost—to empower the church to continue in the work and ministry of Jesus.

In other words, the church exists to bring the kingdom of God to earth and to seek and save the lost.

Church is not about so much of what it has become.

Church is not a business, though it has business that it must do.

Church is not a concert, though we worship and praise with music and lights.

Church is not a social club, though we fellowship and share life together as members.

Church is the assembly of called out ones who have responded to the message of the King and His kingdom. It is made of people who once were sinners but have found love and forgiveness and mercy and grace from God in the name of Jesus. And those people follow the ways and teachings of Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.

Jesus left His church in the world to represent Him and to continue His work.

Luke 19:11–13 NKJV

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

Luke 19:15–17 NKJV

15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

Jesus taught this parable because they thought the kingdom was coming immediately. But it wasn’t. He was going away and His servants would be left to work. And He would come back, inspect their work, and expect them to be focused and productive.

Why does this story matter to Pentecost? Because we need to understand that Jesus is expecting us to enter into His purpose and enter the harvest fields and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28.19).

The church has been like Martha, distracted by many things (Luke 10.41). The one needful thing is to learn of Jesus. To follow Him along the highways and byways into homes and businesses and into people’s lives inviting them to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Matthew 22.10).

If you’ve lost your joy and the excitement of your faith, could it be that you have forgotten your purpose? Have you stopped following Jesus on His mission?

Are you trying to find your purpose apart from the plan of God? It’s time to return to the joy of your salvation and walk with the Lord!

Help for the Harvest

There is a temptation for many of us to delay going out until we know enough or feel ready. The truth is that Jesus sent His disciples often immediately to go and testify what He has done.

Knowledge puffs up but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8.1). Religion kills but the Spirit of God brings life (2 Corinthians 3.6). Faith without works is useless (James 2.20).

When we first were new to the things of God and we had just been saved there was a joy and passion to learn and grow and go. When we lose sight of our savior and the mission of God, we fall away from our first love.

Jesus’ answer to those who have left their first love is to repent and do the first works (Revelation 2.4-5).

God called you to Himself. He created you to enter into His kingdom and His work (Ephesians 2.10). It is time to make His purpose your own. And when you do, great things will happen!

Entering Into Purpose

It is not God’s will that any should perish (2 Peter 3.9).

One way that you can guarantee that your life will matter and you will have an impact now and leave an eternal legacy is to enter into the will and purpose of God.

Here are three ways that you can get started.

Acknowledge and Respond to God’s Call

When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was in awe. He saw the glory of God and was overwhelmed and knew he needed God’s grace or he was doomed.

God showed him mercy and cleansed him from his sin. But God didn’t stop there.

Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah’s immediate response was to acknowledge and respond to God’s call to go.

If we want to experience God’s active presence and power in our lives this is our starting point.

Make yourself available to God. Tell Him you will go wherever He sends you.

He sent Isaiah and He will send you.

Ask God for Empowerment

Jesus told the disciples to not try to carry out their purpose without help. He said that they needed to wait for the Holy Spirit so that they would have power to be His witnesses (Acts 1.8).

On one occasion, Jesus taught the disciples about prayer. And He concluded that teaching by saying the following:

Luke 11:13 NKJV

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

We need to ask God to empower us. Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit so that you can do what He called and created you to do. With God, all things are possible (Luke 1.37). He strengthens us for our work in the harvest field (cf. Philippians 4.13).

Act in Faith Believing God Will Use You

John 11:40 NKJV

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

God has commanded you to shine like a light and you can do it (Matthew 5.16). Whether it is a flicker or a flame start where you are and God will give the increase (cf. 1 Corinthians 3.7).

If you step out in faith, believing that God is with you, then you will see the power of God. Signs, wonders and miracles follow those who believe (cf. Mark 16.17).

Go and do all that the Lord taught and He will use you greatly!

Conclusion

Luke 15:8–10 NKJV

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Feast of Harvest was a celebration of God’s provision. It was a reminder that God was faithful to provide in every aspect and area of life.

As we enter into the purpose of Pentecost we enter into the joy of the Lord.

To enter, we need to acknowledge and respond to God’s call.

To be empowered, we need to ask and receive power from God through the Holy Spirit.

And to be effective, we need to act in faith believing that God will use us.

When we do, we will enter into the joy of the Lord. As a church we will constantly be rejoicing because God is in our midst saving people and adding to the church daily.

And we will become more like Jesus as we follow Him in the work that He is doing.

Pray for people to respond to God’s call. Ask God to give us His Spirit and power. Ask God to give us courage and boldness to act as kingdom people. Amen.