Pentecost Sunday - The Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday - The Holy Spirit

Theme: To show how Pentecost Sunday mark a monumental day in church history.

Text: Acts 1:5 – 8, John 14, 15, 16

Introduction (We missed Pentecost Sunday so we moved it to Memorial Day)

Today we celebrate Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is a remembrance of those who have died while serving. It is a day set aside so that we do not forget what it cost for us to have freedom. Men and women who have fought for freedom around the world.

Memorials and days were important in the Bible times also. Often when God would do something miraculous the people would “set up an altar of worship”. They were told when they crossed the Jordan River to carry over stones from the river and make a memorial. They would often refer to the deliverance at the Red Sea as a memorial. God gave Israel the ark of the covenant as a memorial and recognition of His presence. He gave them the tabernacle. God does not need a tabernacle but showed them His glory. These are all symbols and memorials to remind them what God has done, what He is doing and what He can do.

In the New Testament we have adopted the cross. It was a settled event but has become a symbol of freedom and forgiveness of sin as our Savior died on the cross for our sins. We have and empty tomb. We have the scriptures that connect us to what God has done in the past but what He is doing right now and what He will do in the future.

God also gave Israel festivals to observe.

1. Passover

2. Unleavened Bread

3. First Fruits

4. Pentecost

5. Trumpets

6. Atonement

7. Tabernacles

Each one a reminder and memorial. Maybe one day we will do a deeper study, but I want you today to notice the celebration of Pentecost.

“Pentecost is a Jewish feast that has been celebrated since the Old Testament, being called the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks in Jewish tradition. It is mentioned in five places in the first five books — in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deuteronomy 16.

Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest. In Palestine, there were two harvests each year. The early harvest came during the months of May and June; the final harvest came in the Fall. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, which meant that Pentecost always fell sometime during the middle of the month of May or sometimes in early June.

According to the Old Testament, you would go to the day of the celebration of First fruits, and beginning with that day, you would count off 50 days. The fiftieth day would be the Day of Pentecost. So First fruits is the beginning of the barley harvest and Pentecost is the celebration of the beginning of the wheat harvest.”

All from What is Pentecost and Where Did It Come From? (christianity.com)

The celebration of Pentecost also became a memorial to the church. Last Sunday was the day that recognize Pentecost Sunday. We look back to what God did as He began the Ekklesia, the church.

Let us review the events of the church’s introduction at Pentecost

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Why? Jesus told them to in Acts 1:4 - 8)

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."

(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."

(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.

1. a sound was heard

2. it was “as” a rushing mighty wind had come in

3. it filled the house

4. there appeared divided tongues (divided not one symbol of fire but each person had their own fire),

as of fire

4. they were all filled with the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit came into them and overwhelmed them