“WHAT SATAN WITNESSED AT PENTECOST”
Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Luke 24:49
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
DESCRIBE ATOMSPHERE:
PENTECOST WAS A MAJOR RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL. IT WAS HELD JUST 50 DAYS AFTER PASSOVER. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE THERE. THE JEWS WERE CELEBRATING GOD’S GOODNESS BY OFFERING FIRSTFRUITS OF THE GRAIN HARVEST TO THEIR LORD. PEOPLE WERE EXCITED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WERE IN THE UPPER ROOM .
Acts 2:1-4
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I DON’T KNOW IF THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS COMING, BUT THEY OBEYED, AND RECEIVED.
I didn’t know exactly what to expect either, but I was taught that I was to tarry and in obedience I tarried and received. It was glorious.
IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THERE, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD?
1. FAMILIES COMIMG TO JERUSALEM BRINGING SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS.
2. MUSIC BEING PLAYED PEOPLE REJOICING.
3. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND A PARTICULAR HOUSE. LISTENING TO UNLEARNED MEN SPEAK IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, WONDERING WHAT THIS MEANS.
4. LISTENING TO A MAN (PETER) PREACH A MESSAGE THAT BROUGHT 3 THOUSAND SOULS TO SALVATION.
5. PREACHING THAT "THIS IS THAT" THAT GOD PROMISED HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THAT WOULD COME UPON THEM .
6. "THIS IS THAT" POWER THAT JESUS SAID THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE IN A FEW DAYS IF THEY WOULD TARRY.
How did Satan respond? Read the book of Acts and you will see his response. He tried to destroy the Church after the fire fell, obviously without any success.
YOU SEE, I BELIEVE HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE ROOM WITH THE BELIEVERS WHEN GOD POURED OUT HIS SPIRIT, WITHOUT ANY POWER TO STOP HIM.
It is impossible for Satan to contend with any success against Heaven and it’s host. He knows that, and don’t you know that Hell must have trembled when God’s people were indwelled by, were filled with, the Holy Ghost of God.
I’m sure that he was telling them that they were missing all the excitement and festivities that were going on in town. "What are you all doing, in this upper room, in a prayer meeting. You have all you need to be a successful Christian?"
DON’T YOU KNOW HE SHUTTERED WHEN THE SOUND CAME AND THE FIRE FELL AND THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK IN TONGUES.
WHAT DID THIS SOUND FROM HEAVEN BRING?
1. A UNITY SATAN COULD NOT DIVIDE:
A.CHRISTIANS PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER IN A LANGUAGE THAT HELL CONLD NOT DECODE.
B. A POWER TO BUILD EACH OTHERS FAITH BY SHARING WHAT GOD WAS DOING.
C. POWER TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY.
D. POWER TO GIVING TIME AND MONEY.
E. POWER TO AVOIDING GOSSIP AND DIVISION.
F. POWER TO EXALT CHRIST EVERY WHERE THEY WENT.
THIS IS WHAT KEEPS THE DEVIL DEFENSLESS?
The reason that so many, so called pentecostal churches today, have so many division and harmony problems is because they have stopped seeking the power and presence of the Holy Ghost and have started opperating in the power of the flesh.
When the Holy Ghost comes, even the hardest heads can get along with each other.
2. A TONGUE HE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND:
WITH ALL OF HIS KNOWLEDGE, HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE PRAYER LANGUAGE THAT GOD GAVE HIS SERVANTS.
DON’T YOU KNOW THAT CHAPPED HIM.
3. A FIRE HE COULDN’T PUT OUT:
A ZEAL TO WORSHIP, TO TELL, TO SHARE, TO WORK FOR GOD IN SPITE OF PERSECUTION.
4. A POWER HE COULDN’T HANDLE:
POWER FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRY, POWER TO TESTIFY, TO DELIVER, TO HEAL, TO LIVE ABOVE SIN.
5. A REVIVAL HE COULDN’T STOP:
PEOPLES HEARTS WERE STIRRED AND CHANGED AND THEY LOVED IT AND SHARED IT. WHATS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM HAVING REVIVAL? YOU CAN HAVE REVIVAL WITHOUT THE REST OF US IF YOU REALLY WANT TO.
6. RESULTS HE COULDN’T CHANGE:
LIFE CHANGING RESULTS. SIGNS FOLLOWED THEM. TO WORK, TO SCHOOL, TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, TO THE MARKET PLACE, ETC. WHEN IT HAPPENED SATAN COULD NOT STOP IT.
7. EVIDENCE HE COULDN’T DENY:
THESE NEW SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVERS HAD
A. A NEW LOVE FOR SCRIPTURE.
B. A NEW AWARENESS OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
C. A DESIRE TO BE LIKE JESUS CHRIST.
D. SOCIAL PRESSURES FROM THOSE CONVICTED BY THEIR CHANGED LIVES.
E. A DESIRE TO PROCLAIM CHRIST TO OTHERS.
F. A LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE NEED.
1. UNITY HE CAN’T DIVIDE.
2. TONGUE HE CAN’T UNDERSTAND.
3. FIRE HE CAN’T CONTROL.
4. POWER HE CAN’T HANDLE.
5. REVIVAL HE CAN’T STOP.
6. RESULTS HE CAN’T CHANGE.
7. EVIDENCE HE CAN’T DENY.
Now, can you see evidence that you need this baptism power in your life?
It is a promise to you. You have believed Him for salvation, for healing and deliverance. Come now and believe Him for this Baptism.
Do not seek to speak in tongues. Do not seek power. But seek the giver of both, Jesus Christ, and He will give you the promise.
