Pentecost; What Next? Series

Pentecost; What next?

Acts Chapter 2:1-13

Prayer

Father today on this Pentecost Sunday, may your Spirit fall fresh on us and have us respond to your leading and your Spirit direct us into new truth… into living the abundant life that you promise to believers who have put their faith in you.

I pray that each one of us receives a word from you both corporately and individually. Amen.

Turn to Acts chapter 2:1-12 (Don’t read it yet)

Introduction-

We are continuing in our series “Toolbox of Faith”

We have looked at our faith and shared a few things that can define our faith and increase our faith.

Today, On Pentecost Sunday, I want to talk about the Holy Spirit of God.

I am not talking about a tool that you pull out of the FAITH toolbox this morning. I am talking about a person of the Trinity that you need to be walking with every step of the way in your life since you have committed your life to Christ.

We feel like once we come to Christ, that our salvation is secure in Jesus, that we kind of coast to the finish line praying that God will bless us and keep us safe and I am here to tell you that salvation of your soul is the beginning of the exciting times and what God wants for your life.

Let me set the text this morning- Acts chapter one

40 days after the resurrection, Jesus went about telling followers about the kingdom of God

After His resurrection, He presented Himself for all to see, spoke of his sufferings, allowed all the doubters to see him and spoke about believers coming together and waiting for God to do something amazing and different then they have ever seen.

He said come together… do not leave until it happens.

Jesus said-You have heard me talk about the Holy Spirit of God.

You have seen certain men anointed by the Spirit, but I want you to wait and be filled with the Spirit of God.

You won’t be given a date when it will happen but be together in one accord and be praying for it to happen.

When it does happen- He (Holy Spirit) of God will come and empower you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts Chapter 2:1-13 Read slow and with power

(Pentecost) 50 days they waited for God to come and baptize them and accomplish what He has said would happen.

The Spirit of God filled the room

The Spirit filled them and they began to speak other languages.

All these different nationalities heard God speak to them in their own native tongue.

They admitted they were amazed and perplexed. They asked the question- what does this mean? I would ask the question- What is next? What happens now!

Go back to chapter one and we know what happens-

They received power from God.

They were to use that God given power to be witnesses in all the world.

Jesus had to go so the Holy Spirit of God could come and they were to be witnesses to those they had contact with and spread the gospel message that they themselves were given.

Here’s where we miss a very important part of the plan of God

Jesus came/ incarnation

Jesus Died/ crucifixion

Jesus was resurrected… That is salvation, but He loves us that much that it does not stop there.

Jesus ascended to the Father

Holy Spirit descended so that we can have the power to live the lives that God intended for us.

Not only desires to save us but empower us to be his witnesses and live lives that are meaningful.

When we think of Pentecost, we often think Pentecostal.

When we think of Pentecostals, we think of a few denominations that have prided themselves on “fullness of the Spirit”

I want you to know that no denomination owns the right to Pentecost.

I come from that background and I respect and love my Pentecostal brothers and sisters but they are not the only ones that have the fullness of His Spirit!

I consider myself charismatic in nature but I am a Nazarene.

I believe the Nazarene doctrine and believe that the fullness of the Spirit is available to all who asked to be filled with His Spirit the same as every man and women that was in the Upper room waiting for the fullness of the Spirit.

The world today seems to base it on certain external things

Base having His Spirit on how loud and long we sing.

Wither we stand or sit during worship.

Wither you clap and move your hips.

All those things are fine and you are welcome to do that as the Spirit of the Lord leads you, but I want you to know that you can quietly worship, you can be sitting or standing. You may be on your knees and not moving a muscle and that can be worship.