Pentecost Sunday - The Fire Of The Holy Spirit

The First of Pentecost

Theme: To show the significance of the fire on the day of Pentecost.

Text: Acts 1:5 – 8; 2:1-4

Act 1:4-8 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 [1] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Act 2:1-4 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.

Introduction

Pentecost Sunday – 50 days since the resurrection. Told by Jesus to go to the upper room and wait.

Acts 1:4-8 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 [1] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Founding of the Church

Maked by a supernatural experience

Sight and Sound

Sound of a mighty wind & tounges of Fire

Fire has always been an important part of the Bible

The Burning Bush with Moses (God’s anointing (holiness) Exodus 3

In Exodus 3 we see that God showed Himself to Moses in the “burning bush”. This got Moses attention because it was burning but not consumed.

There is a reverence to the first. There is something and someone greater than ourselves. God told Moses to take his shoes off. He is now on Holy Ground. Why? Because God had now entered this place. Before it was an ordinary place.

When God anoints something it is for His purpose. It changes what it is.

As Moses learned from the Rod.

This is where it all begins. Many people seek for the Holy Spirit in their life. I hear people wanting to speak in tongues. Surely this is the evidence but it begins by a heart and life that is separated for the work of God’s kingdom. Holiness (sanctification).

Pillar of Fire by Night (God will guide you) – Exodus 13

Principle: God will guide you by His Holy Spirit. Follow the cloud

When Israel came out of Egypt God led them to the wilderness. There was only one thing that Israel had to do and that was follow God’s instructions. The Bible says in Exodus 13 that the Lord would lead them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

When the could moved they moved, when the cloud stayed they stayed. Timing was not all the same but obedience was the key.

This reminds us that God will lead us by the fire of His Holy Spirit. Yet we must listen to what He is speaking and follow Him.

Three Hebrew Children Thrown into the Fire – (God will be with us) Daniel 3

Principle: God will be with us.

In Daniel 3 we see another instance where God uses fire in the life of His children. Here King Nebuchadnezzar had set up a golden image. At the sound of the music everyone was to bow down. Yet if you were there and heard the trumpet you would see 3 Hebrew boys standing.

This infuriated the king. So he ordered them to be thrown into the fire. I love the answers of