The Day of Pentecost

Introduction

3,000 people saved—people healed, delivered, and transformed.

How did it happen—and can it (or should it) happen today?

Jesus instructed his followers to wait in Jerusalem for the fulfilment of the Promise of the Father.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

For ten days, about 120 believers waiting for the Promise (Holy Spirit).

God chose the day of Pentecost to pour out his Spirit.

Feast of Weeks - when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one-day festival during which special sacrifices were offered.

This festival was associated with the renewal of the covenant made with Noah and then with Moses.

Near the time of Jesus’s earthly ministry, it was regarded as the day when the law was given at Sinai.

An interesting note: There was a rabbinic tradition that the law was promulgated by God in the languages of the nations of the world.

Text

Acts 2:1 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

The 120 believers were all together, unified. Unity in faith is the atmosphere necessary for the reception of God’s Spirit.

In THAT unity, God poured about his Spirit with THREE demonstrative signs.

Acts 2:2–4 ESV

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Central Idea: God wants to empower you to be his witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ to change the world!

On the inauguration of the Holy Spirit’s empowering work in the Church, the Church experienced an auditory, visible, spoken sign of God’s presence.

Point 1

What was Heard?

Acts 2:2 ESV

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

There was something audible.

It was sudden, it came from heaven—and it was a sound LIKE a might rushing wind—a windstorm—a tornado. This is a supernatural event.

In the Bible, the word for wind and Spirit is the same: pneuma.

In the Old Testament (Ez 13:13), the wind is a sign of God’s presence as Spirit.

Point 2

What was Seen?

Acts 2:3 ESV

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

There was something visible.

As a sound LIKE a might rushing wind could be heard, now there was something LIKE fire that appeared and divided so that a flame appeared over each person.

It was LIKE wind and it was LIKE fire.

Something supernatural and significant was happening in this upper room—among this gathering of Christ-followers.

In the Bible fire was also experienced as the presence of God.

The burning bush

The pillar of fire that led the people of Israel to the Promised Land.

The fire that John the Baptist associated with the Spirit—with fire as a means of cleansing and judgment (Luke 3:16).

There was something heard, and something seen.

Point 3

What was Spoken?

Acts 2:4 ESV

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

There was something spoken.

With these outward signs (of wind and fire) came the Holy Spirit as an inward reality of his presence.

120 believers were FILLED (the image of oil being poured out upon a king for anointing comes to mind).

This world (FILLED) is used when people are given an initial endowment of the Spirit to fit them for God’s service (Acts 9:17; Luke 1:15).

It was this moment that these 120 people began to speak “in other languages” they did not know or had ever learned.

Jesus referred to this as the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5).

TRANSITION

KEY POINT: 120 believers in Christ were now filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered and inspired to SPEAK supernaturally.

What was the Result?

At some point the people in the upper room left and went to the Temple area.

As they continued to speak supernaturally, the people (from many nations gathered for the Feast of Pentecost/Feast of Weeks), began to hear IN THERE OWN LANGUAGES about God.

What Did the Crowd Hear?

Acts 2:10b “We hear them telling in our own tongues the might works of God (what God has done).”

The empowered church gave testimony to the greatness of God.

What Did the Crowd See?

They were amazed and perplexed. Some thought they were drunk. They saw this group of people excited, bold, and determined.

What Did the Church Say?

Acts 2:14–17 ESV

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Peter (under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit) connected the Promise of the Old Testament with the Fulfillment in the New.

As Peter SPOKE, the crowd HEARD and SAW the reality of the Good News that Jesus saves!

So, what happened?

Acts 2:37–39 ESV

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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.”

Salvation and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment is available to all.

3,000 were saved. Miracles, healings, deliverances—the would would never be the same again.

Conclusion

What do you do with this (the Day of Pentecost)?

Is what happened then (The Baptism in the Holy Spirit)—should it be expected TODAY?

Is Jesus still the only hope for humankind?

Are there people that need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Do people still need to know the love and grace of God?

Christian—you need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit—in order the boldly and strategically proclaim the message that changes lives.

Altar Call/Response