Pentecost: The Power In Pentecost

Congregational Prayer - Personal Evangelism

Fifty Prayers (Pentecost: Give Us Your Spirit)

Dear heavenly Father, we ask you now to give us all your Holy Spirit, and to give it continually, that it may awaken, enlighten, encourage, and enable us to dare to take the small and large steps of moving out of the comfort and into the world so that we may bring your peace, comfort, and hope to the broken world we dwell in.

Turn us away from ourselves and toward you so that we may live out the selfless love you demonstrate to us on a daily basis!

Do not allow us to hide from you! Do not let us do anything without you! Show us how glorious you are and how glorious it is to trust and obey you!

We would ask the same for all people, that the nations and governments may bow to your Word, and that they will be willing to work for justice and peace on earth, that your Word may be understood and taken to heart by all those who are poor, sick, imprisoned, troubled, oppressed, and unbelieving; that through the power of your Holy Spirit, through word and deed it may be made known to them; and that it may be perceived by them as the answer to their sighs and cries;

Let all Christian learn to recognize your power anew and serve it with renewed faithfulness; that your truth may be and remain bright here and now in all of humanity’s sin and confusion, until such a time as it shall ultimately enlighten all people and all things.

You are glorified, you who make us free in Jesus Christ, your Son, by confessing and standing on this: that our hope is in you.

Again, we say thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. The one who convinces us of the truth and power of Gospel, the one who leads us into Christ-like living, and the one who is the guarantee of our future entrance into your eternal kingdom

Amen.

Sermon

The Story of Pentecost

A traditional Jewish festival “The Festival of Weeks” occuring 50 days (the 7th Sunday) after passover.

Devout Jews and those Gentiles who became God-fearers would converge on Jerusalem.

Not as many as passover, but still the population of Jerusalem would swell.

During this time Jesus’ disciples were still in hiding and waiting .

They had seen the risen Lord,

Their faith and their joy had been restored,

Their excitement began to grow because they knew now that God had not abandoned them but in fact was about to send them out to forever change the trajectory of the world.

Acts 2:38-39 “38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””

Three Purposes of the Holy Spirit

1) To CONVICT the World of Sin and bring REPENTANCE. (John 16:8-11, 2 Cor. 7:10)

John 16:8–11 ESV

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Why do these verses matter? First, it matters to us personally and Secondly in how we share Jesus with others.

Many of us are hesitant to truly interact with Holy Spirit because the idea of facing our sin creates anxiety and pain.

It’s understandable because our world/culture is built on the avoidance of

Yes, conviction can be painful. But that pain is temporary and leads to joy.

Joy because

We experience the goodness of his grace,

We experience the freedom that comes from forgiveness,

We experience the

Many of us are hesitant to share our story for several reasons

we have believed the lie that it is my responsibility to convince.

Pentecost is seen by many as the birth of the church and the means by which He would make His Gospel known - That salvation is found in Jesus and is accomplished by Grace.

This is a huge, monumental mission and a weighty responsibility, but

God is not asking you to convince the world that He Lives and is True.

God is asking you to be faithful in telling the world about Him.

We have a hard time opening up about the struggles we have and how we needed God’s help.

2) To GUIDE Believers in Truth and RIGHTEOUSNESS (John 16:33, Rom 15:15-16)

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 15:15–16 ESV

15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

3) To Be Our SEAL and GUARANTEE. (2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13)

2 Corinthians 1:22 ESV

22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Prayer of Reflection

How Do I Apply His Truth To My Life? With Three Activities

We ASK and BELIEVE.

Peter’s promise to the crowd then God’s promise to us today.

Acts 2:38 “38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Have you asked for the Holy Spirit to be the revealer, the sanctifier and the guarantee of your Christian life

We YIELD to the Holy Spirit and CELEBRATE His sanctifying work.

The rhythm of the christian life is one of conviction mark by a godly sorrow that leads to repentance and life.

We MOVE forward in the work He has given us in confidence.

When we engage in these activities regularly, when they become the rhythm and pattern of our life, then we will Walk with the Spirit and know His

Communion

Fifty Prayers Pentecost: Give Us Your Spirit

Lord, our God, we come into your presence, in adoration of your majesty, in recognition of our unworthiness, and in gratitude for all of your good gifts that you continually grant us in body and spirit. We thank you especially for this Sunday and celebration day, on which we may consider how your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, after he returned to you, did not leave us orphaned, but wanted to be present and remain with us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Teacher, who gives us life, until he himself returns in his glory. And now, help us rightly to recognize you and praise you in this good work of yours, that your Word might rightly be proclaimed and heard, both here in this place and everywhere where your people call on you. Sanctify and bless this celebration of Holy Communion that we now want to observe together. May your light shine among us! May your peace be among us. Amen.