"Holy Spirit Power"
Acts 2:1-13
A sermon for 6/5/22 – Pentecost Sunday
Pastor John Bright
Acts 2 “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.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You have to choose.
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I want to start off on a serious note – the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, wrote this in “Thoughts Upon Methodism,” – “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist in either Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast to both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.“ (in Works [vol. 13; Jackson edition, 1879], 258)
The early days of Methodism in Europe and America were marked by rapid increases in membership, vitality in reaching out to the least of these, and demonstrations of the power of the Holy Spirit. When John Wesley was asked "What may we reasonably believe to be God's design in raising up the Preachers called Methodists?” This was his answer, “To reform the nation and, in particular, the Church; to spread scriptural holiness over the land." That was the effect of the early Methodist class meeting in the beginnings of America.
Let me give you some stats – “In 1776 Methodists made up 2.5 % of religious adherent in the colonies. In 1850 Methodists made up 34.2 % of religious adherents! In seventy years they had increased from a tiny sect to the largest denomination in the United States. (In other words, in 1776 1 in 40 religious people in America were Methodist. In 1859 1 in 3 were.) And no other denomination was even close to the Methodists at this time. The second largest denomination was the Baptists with 20.5%.”
https://kevinmwatson.com/2009/06/17/the-explosive-growth-of-methodism-from-1776-to-1850/
That was then – what about now? On average, mainline Protestant denominations are declining about 1-2% every year. In the last 20 years, the UMC has lost 20% of its members in the US while it grows by leaps and bounds in places like Africa and South Korea.
What’s the difference? HOLY SPIRIT POWER!
The Power They Needed
We find this account of Pentecost at the beginning of Acts. I don’t think you could have the rest of Acts without this pivotal event for the Early Church. The festival of Pentecost was one of the festivals where Jews from many locations came to Jerusalem to bring their grain offerings to the Temple. The list of places is not only hard to read but gives us a snapshot of the world controlled by the Roman Empire at the start of the 1st century.
We have two groups of folks in this scripture – followers of Jesus (apostles and disciples) and the Jews from all over. Acts 1 tells us that there were 120 disciples and, after replacing Judas with Matthias, there were 12 apostles. In v. 5, those Jews that gather are described as a “multitude.” That means a lot! Later in v. 41 we find that 3,000 new Believers were added on that day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Early church.
I want to be really clear about what I believe happened that day – they were given a gift of power that was after the gift of salvation. These apostles had been saved back on the day of Jesus resurrection – John 20:22 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” There was no salvation, as we know it, without the blood of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary – amen? When we are saved, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus – John 14 “16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
In Acts 1, we find the promise of this second gift of the Holy Spirit – “4 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 in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” So when this promised gift of the Holy Spirit occurs, we move from the indwelling to the infilling – “4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Let me go on the record and say that I have never, ever claimed that you have to have the infilling of the Holy Spirit to saved and there is no way to make anybody “more saved.” This gift of Holy Spirit Power is all about ministry… which is hard so we let the pastors get burnt out doing all of it. That was never God’s plan for the local church. Hey - Why did you hear about the church that banned Wi-Fi? Why? Because they didn’t believe in an invisible power that people need every day! 😊
Last week, on May 24, we remember the date in 1738 when John Wesley had his heart “strangely warmed” in the Bible study on Aldersgate Street. I tend to agree with the folks that claim this is the day Wesley became a Believer and after that he had a great assurance of his salvation. Have you ever heard of what happened to Wesley on January 1, 1739 at Fetter Lane? They were praying all night and something started at 3:00am - “Mr. Hall, Hinching, Ingham, Whitefield, Hutching, and my brother Charles were present at our love feast in Fetter Lane with about 60 of our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of His majesty, we broke out with one voice, ‘We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.'” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetter_Lane_Society#cite_note-0
It was a second time the Holy Spirit came and did a second work in Wesley’s life. This was a common experience in the early days of Methodism just like we have other instances of the Holy Spirit being poured out in the Book of Acts. Have we lost something when we stopped desiring Holy Spirit power?
Speaking with Other Tongues
Well, tongues is usually the “elephant in the room” when we deal with this day of Pentecost - “4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” I hope you can suspend your disbelief for the next few minutes and allow me to show you what God’s Word clearly teaches, but it’s what we don’t want to believe.
The Apostle Paul has the most complete teaching on Gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. In these verses, Paul uses two different words in the Greek to describe to actions in the Early Church. The first is “speak with tongues” – notice the plural like in Acts 2:4. This first action functions within worship as publicly speaking in tongues – 1 Cor. 12:30, 13:1, and 14:18. And yes, as you were probably told about ALL SPEAKING IN TONGUES – in worship we usually expect there to be interpretation, but Paul also describes a private prayer language. Listen to these verses and see if you can spot what is different:
1 Corinthians 14 “2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
“4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
“14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
Did you get it? The Greek word is now “tongue” – singular – and it is clearly described as prayer. So, there are two different actions – one is public and one is private. Please let me know if your translation differs in the way it uses “tongues” and “a tongue.” Most are just like I have described. Thanks to Dr. Dale Sides for teaching me this – “Diverse Kinds of Tongues” 2003.
In 1 Cor. 13:1, Paul mentions two functions of public tongues – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…” In Pentecostal or Charismatic churches there may be public tongues that require interpretation. Those would be angelic tongues. What happened on the day of Pentecost would be tongues of men – the supernatural ability to be understood in another language. I have read about missionaries who experienced this when directed by the Holy Spirit.
I spoke to you recently about having what we need but not using it – like the hoarse in the basement or the car that can drive at highway speed but you never go over 25mph. I heard a story about a guy who was looking at chainsaws at the hardware store. The salesman told him, “If you buy this chainsaw, you can cut twice as much wood.” Impressed with the promise, the man bought it on the spot. He returned it after one week and said he wanted his money back because he was still cutting the same amount of wood as before. The salesman gabbed the cord and pulled it. As it roared to life, the guy yelled – “Whoa, what is that?” 😊 Do we treat the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts the same way?
Misunderstanding & Rejection
“12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
“13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
One of the themes that runs throughout the Book of Acts is misunderstanding and rejection in the face of the gospel being proclaimed with power. They did the same thing with Jesus – Mark 3 “22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” 23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.”
In the past, the Jews had rejected the Word of God and miracles worked by the hand of Old Testament prophets. They rejected a walking, talking Miracle Man – Jesus. They rejected the New Testament Believers and accused them of “turning the world upside down” Acts 17:6. John Wesley and the Methodists were rejected because they worshiped with “enthusiasm.” Let me ask you – are we trying too hard to be accepted rather than proclaiming the Gospel in this day as the Apostle Paul did in his day – 1 Cor. 2 “4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I think we need more Pentecost Power and less polite praying to make a true impact on this world today! Amen.
TEACHING SHEET
"Holy Spirit Power"
Acts 2:1-13
June 5, 2022
John Wesley, from “Thoughts Upon Methodism,” – “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist in either Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast to both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.“
(in Works [vol. 13; Jackson edition, 1879], 258)
"What may we reasonably believe to be God's design in raising up the Preachers called Methodists?”
John Wesley said “To reform the nation and, in particular, the Church; to spread scriptural holiness over the land."
In 1776 Methodists made up 2.5 % of religious adherent in the colonies. In 1850 Methodists made up 34.2 % of religious adherents! https://kevinmwatson.com/2009/06/17/the-explosive-growth-of-methodism-from-1776-to-1850/
The Power They Needed
In v. 5, those Jews that gather are described as a “multitude.” Later in v. 41 we find that 3,000 new Believers were added on that day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Early church.
I want to be really clear about what I believe happened that day – they were given a gift of power that was after the gift of salvation. John 20:22 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 14 “16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Acts 1:4-8
I have never, ever claimed that you have to have the infilling of the Holy Spirit to saved and there is no way to make anybody “more saved.” This gift of Holy Spirit Power is all about ministry. Have we lost something when we stopped desiring Holy Spirit power?
Speaking with Other Tongues
Paul uses two different words in the Greek to describe to actions in the Early Church. The first is “speak with tongues” – notice the plural like in Acts 2:4. This first action functions within worship as publicly speaking in tongues – 1 Cor. 12:30, 13:1, and 14:18.
The second is a private prayer language. 1 Cor. 14:2, 14:4, 14:14
The Greek word is now “tongue” – singular – and it is clearly described as prayer. So, there are two different actions – one is public and one is private. Dr. Dale Sides “Diverse Kinds of Tongues” 2003.
Misunderstanding & Rejection
One of the themes that runs throughout the Book of Acts is misunderstanding and rejection in the face of the gospel being proclaimed with power. They did the same thing with Jesus – Mark 3:22-27
Let me ask you – are we trying too hard to be accepted rather than proclaiming the Gospel in this day as the Apostle Paul did in his day – 1 Cor. 2 “4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I think we need more Pentecost Power and less polite praying to make a true impact on this world today! Amen.
