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
Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
They are thrown into the fire and King Nebuchadnezzar looks in:
Dan 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." (25) "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." [8]
The Fire of the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are never alone. No matter what we are going through we can lean on the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit
God will take the fire and turn it into something miraculous.
(Isa 43:2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
They didn’t even smell like smoke when the came out!
God Answers by Fire – (God will answer by fire) Elijah on Mount Carmel
1 Kings 18 shows us another instance where we see fire and God’s working. Here Elijah is faced with a battle against 450 prophets Baal. They built and altar. The prophets of Baal went first and danced around the altar. The shouted, sand, and cut themselves to no avail. When it was Elijah’s turn he doused the altar with water. This included filling up the ditches. It was going beyond what was necessary. Elijah prayed a 63 word prayer and God sent fire from heaven and burnt the sacrifice. Ditches dried up.
Principle: God will answer by fire. We don’t have to be afraid. Or try to answer for ourselves.
Answer by fire
1Ki 18:24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
New Testament
Paul on the Island of Malita (fire will cause the devil to flee)
Principle: When the fire burns bright the serpent will come.
You want to know the best way to cleanse your life, build a fire. When you build a fire the enemy has to flee.
Act 28:1-10 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. (2) And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. (3) But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. (4) So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." (5) But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (6) However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. (7) In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. (8) And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. (9) So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. (10) They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.
When you start burning the fire of the Holy Spirit then the devil will come out and flee.
Conclusion
It is time to Stir up the Gift of the Holy Spirit and let the fire burn in our lives.
2Ti 1:6-11 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, (9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (10) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (11) to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. [2]
