Pentecostal Power!

Special Thanks to Rev. Dennis Marquardt of Vermont for the "seeds" to this message.

Stand & Read - Acts 1:4-8

?And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

[6] And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" [7] He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; [8] but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.?

?Pentecostal POWER!?

INTRODUCTION:

It is ironic today in the Body of Christ?how the subject of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit has divided us so badly.

-It is shameful how its topic has become so controversial.

-Even more so ironic, because of its beginning in the book of Acts?

For when the Holy Spirit came upon the Early Church believers?it came upon the believers because of their UNITY! It is recorded that they were, ?in one accord..."

-In fact, it further unified the believers?and marked them all as followers of Christ?(much like water baptism, but deeper too?)

Anxiety and tension?that what comes to mind in some when the subject is brought up concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians get nervous and uncomfortable!

-Yet, in the New Testament, there were none nervous with the Spirit?whether in baptism nor in the acceptance of the gifts?they were assumed to be a part of the Church and a part of the believer.

-And that it was for all the believers and all the Churches!

Even within our own Assembly?I believe that we could find varying views and opinions on the subject of the Holy Spirit?and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

-How could this be when we all read the same HOLY BIBLE???

Opinions?personal views?and bad experiences have jaded our reception of this paramount gift and distinction!

My friends, in these last days we cannot afford to be divided over this subject?

We all would agree that there is a new hunger for spiritual power in the Church today.

Indeed, the fastest growing parts of Christianity worldwide are the Pentecostals.

-But this foundational fact still remains?the Church and the Believer cannot do God’s work without God’s Spirit.

-My dear friends?It was a significant statement Jesus told the disciples when He said to "wait for the promise of the Spirit" before starting ministry!

IMPORTANT because?if the Early Church Believers (those who had been with Jesus and had seen Him do great and powerful things among them?being personally involved with Jesus) if THEY NEEDED the Baptism of the Holy Spirit before embarking on ministry?

?then why would we think we don’t today?

Maybe you don?t think you don?t need it, but you avoid it and don?t seek it?

-You are missing the most important and relevant GIFT that the Father has given for your benefit and mine, after Salvation?

ILLUSTRATION:

I want to share with you a question poised by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who is certainly not known as a Pentecostal preacher.

He was Pastor at Westminster Chapel in London?

He was known as the great preacher of Reformed theology?

Now, nearing the end of his life -- and some say at the very pinnacle of his ministry -- he asked his congregation a question.

He said, "I want to talk to you today about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may call it what you want, but I want to know, have you experienced the fullness of the Spirit? I know all of you listening to me come as I do from a Reformed background. But it’s not good enough. I know that all of you would want to say to my question about the Holy Spirit, ’Well, we got it all at conversion; there’s no need for any more experience.’ Well," said Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "I have only one other question to ask you. If you got it all at conversion, where in God’s name is it?"

You see?the Pastor had to ask the question because there was no evidence?

And coming form one whose mindset was that it was fulfilled at conversion, it speaks deeper to the thought that there must be MORE experience yet to be had?

-Because what IS seen AFTER the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts?is NOT seen today in the Modern Church?