The Promise 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.”

Pray for today to be the day that we receive the promise of God.

Over the last few weeks we’ve looked at the glory, purpose, and power of Pentecost. Today is Pentecost Sunday and I want to talk to you about the Promise of Pentecost.

Passover was the chosen time that God redeemed the world through the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Pentecost was the chosen time that God released power and birthed the church (cf. John 3.3-8, Acts 2.40-41).

What was the promise of Pentecost? It was the gift of the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit came power for purity and purpose.

We receive power to be witnesses. We receive power for our own transformation and power to help others.

But how frustrating is it when you don’t have power?

Illustration: toaster oven that was not plugged in.

It may be bad to not have power for little things, but how much worse is it when we don’t have power for the major things in our lives?

The promise of Pentecost isn’t limited to power in this life, but it is the down payment or guarantee of the heavenly eternal life (cf. 2 Corinthians 5.1-5).

We need to realize that in the face of an unknown future God offers us the Holy Spirit so that we are able to rise up and meet the challenges ahead.

This present moment in time is a perfect illustration of the uncertainty of the time that we are living in.

Illustration: Russia invading Ukraine. Consider how life would suddenly be turned upside down. The impact of that invasion on the global economy which was already shaken by COVID-19.

The Holy Spirit is given to us to lead us, guide us, and empower us for such a time as this (Romans 8.14, Acts 1.8, Esther 4.14).

Think of the confidence you would have if you knew God was leading you.

Think of the boldness you would have in the face of any challenge if you knew you had access to God’s power.

Think of what it would mean for you to be able to change and walk in holiness.

Consider how eager you would be to share God’s good news if you knew you had power to do miracles, signs, and wonders to demonstrate the goodness of God.

When you receive the gift promised by the Father, you will have power for purity and purpose as well as the confidence that comes when you know God is with you!

Another Way?

One of the key challenges to us walking in and receiving the Promise of Pentecost is that we’ve believed that it is possible to be a “good” Christian without the Holy Spirit, or more specifically apart from His active involvement in our lives.

What we have done is learn to replace godliness with busyness.

We have substituted the need for the power of God with good systems and wise works.

Put simply, we have put our faith in religious duty and our own efforts instead of leaning on and putting our complete trust in the presence and power of God.

Illustration: A strong relationship is not built on a one time “I do” and just showing up. It requires interaction and attentiveness and responsiveness. It requires devotion and time and trust.

Part of our problem is that we have believed that just showing up—praying a prayer, attending church whenever we can…that these things are enough to break out of the sinful, fallen, broken life. But it is not.

In addition to believing a lie, there are three other things that keep us from walking in the power and presence of God and receiving what we need to fulfill our purpose.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the multitudes after receiving God’s power. At the end, the people were prompted to respond.

Acts 2:37–39 NKJV

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 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. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was offered to all. But notice that Peter started by saying that they needed to repent and put their faith in Jesus for the remission of sins.

Jeremiah 5:25 NKJV

Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you.

In addition to sin withholding good from us there is an emotion that works against us: shame.

Many people struggle to receive the promises of God because of their sin. Where guilt is associated with what we’ve done, shame is associated with who we are.

The Bible says that our heart can condemn us (1 John 3.20). And shame is a tool that the devil uses to make us feel unworthy for God’s blessings. In his hands it brings condemnation and under the weight of shame we have a hard time looking up and opening our hands to receive God’s blessing.

One more thing that becomes a major hindrance to receiving the promises of God is control. As they say, “Knowing is the enemy of learning.” In the same way, if we have the need to maintain control and dictate to God what He can and can’t do with the gifts He has for us, we will never receive them.

Not only can activity masquerade as true spirituality but sin, shame, and a need for control prevent us from life-changing power.

In the face of this, God makes a promise. Receive the Holy Spirit and you will receive power.

Receiving Power

The good news is that God wants you to have power.

God wants you to know your purpose and flourish in life (cf. John 10.10).

And because He wants you to have power and know your purpose, He has made a promise.

I want to look at three ways that we can position ourselves to receive that promise.

Ask God

Luke 11:9–13 NKJV

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 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!”

Jesus makes a shockingly simple statement as it pertains to the gift of the Holy Spirit: your heavenly Father will abundantly give this incredible gift to those who ask Him.

Do you want the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you need that power?

All you need to do is ask. Ask God for the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to fill you with supernatural power.

So, ask and it will be given to you!

Trust and Receive God

Luke 11:10 NKJV

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

God’s part is simple, you ask and He gives you that which He promised.

Our part is not always as simple, we receive.

But to receive, we have to trust.

When God gives you the Holy Spirit, He gives you a good gift. Not a stone, not a serpent, not a scorpion…in other words, not a demon or something that will do you no good. He is going to give you exactly what you need.

You can trust God to give good and perfect gifts (James 1.17). And because you know that what He gives you is for your good, you can open your heart in faith and receive His gift of the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8.28).

Keep Asking and Receiving

The gift of the Holy Spirit was not meant to be a single event.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

The language here says to be filled and keep being filled with the Spirit. To keep being filled, we need to keep asking.

Luke 11:9 AMP

So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.

In Acts 2.1-4 the disciples were filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Later, as they were obeying God and joining in His purpose to bear witness to His kingdom they faced trouble. In Acts 4.27-31 they prayed for God to give give them power.

Acts 4:31 NKJV

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Just as we are called to follow Jesus daily, we need to receive His power regularly and consistently.

Conclusion

God has a great plan for your life and He has called you to an incredible purpose.

The Promise of Pentecost means power for us to be pure and to walk in our purpose.

When we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from our God and Father, we will have a supernatural advantage and power to live the Spirit-filled life.

Ask God, trust that He will give you good things.

Receive the promise of God.

Pray and keep on praying. Receive and keep on receiving.

There is power available to you. If you want it.

Invite people to pray and ask God for power.