Are You Pentecostal?
Acts 2:1-4
A Baptist preacher and his wife decided they needed a dog. Ever mindful of their congregation, they knew the dog must also be Baptist. They visited an expensive kennel and explained their needs to the manager, who assured them he had just the dog for them. When the dog was produced, the manager began giving it commands. "Fetch the Bible," he commanded. The dog bounced to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible, and brought it to the manager. The manager then said, "Find Psalms 23.” The dog, showing marvelous abilities with his paws, leafed thru the Bible, found the correct passage, and pointed to it with his paw. Duly impressed, the preacher and his wife purchased the dog. That evening a group of parishioners came to visit. The preacher and his wife began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The visitors were amazed. Finally, one man asked "Can the dog do normal dog tricks too?” ”Let's see" said the preacher. Pointing his finger at the dog, he commanded, “Heel!" The dog immediately jumped up on a chair, placed one paw on the preacher's forehead and began to howl. The preacher turned to his wife in complete shock and disbelief. "We've been swindled! That manager sold us a Pentecostal dog!"
The well-known author and pastor Fred Craddock tells a rather funny story about a lecture he was giving: A few years ago, when he was on the west coast speaking at a seminary, just before the first lecture, one of the students stood up and said, "Before you speak, I need to know if you are Pentecostal." The room grew silent. Craddock said he looked around for the Dean of the seminary. He was nowhere to be found.
The student continued with his quiz right in front of everybody. Craddock was taken aback, and so he said, "Do you mean do I belong to the Pentecostal Church?" He said, "No, I mean are you Pentecostal?" Craddock said, "Are you asking me if I am charismatic?" the student said, "I am asking you if you are Pentecostal." Craddock said, "Do you want to know if I speak in tongues?" He said, "I want to know if you are Pentecostal." Craddock said, "I don't know what your question is." The student said, "Obviously, you are not Pentecostal." -He left.
So the question I ask you is, Are you pentecostal?
Acts 2:1-4NIV When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This Pentecost is the earmark of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pentecost became foundational to salvation.
When you stop and consider the work of the Holy Spirit—there are three direct dimensions:
First, the Holy Spirit does an inward work in us. He is the One who administers justification, regeneration, and the new birth in our lives. He is the One who cleanses us within, who comforts us, and bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
• Second, the Holy Spirit does an upward work in us. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit is ever pointing us heavenward, to glorify Jesus and the Father.
• Third, the Holy Spirit does an outward work in us. The empowerment that took place on the day of Pentecost resulted in a powerful gospel witness and 3,000 people from a variety of background were radically saved!
Again, Acts 2:1-4MSG When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
Here’s an interesting note on the possible symbolism of the signs of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:
The rushing mighty wind—A symbol of the Spirit’s power (to convince, convict, and convert)
The cloven tongues of fire—A symbol of the Spirit’s purification (of sinners from the guilt of sin and of saints from the pollution of sin)
The speaking with tongues—A symbol of the Spirit’s worldwide proclamation of the gospel in many languages during the church age.
What was this? Jesus’ promise arrives, Acts 1:8KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Once again in, Luke 24:49KJV 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.
What are we talking about this morning? Is the church supposed to use the word Pentecost only as a noun or can it be used as an adjective?
And so I ask you: Are you Pentecostal?
The church, God’s church is unwilling for the word simply to be a noun, to represent a date, a place, an event in the history of the church, She refuses for it to be simply a memory, an item, something back there somewhere.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ, along with CECC, insists that the word is an adjective; it describes the church. We believe, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ believes. The word, then, is "Pentecostal."
Hear me clearly, “If the church is alive in the world it is Pentecostal.” (Many names but one distinct trait).
The church was firmly established on the day of Pentecost. -Everything forward marks, Pentecost.
-And you thought we were just, Church of God. No, we are the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ! We are part of a movement. P.H
How do we keep this aliveness, this fire burning, this spirit moving?
What must exist in us, around us, and through us, if we are to be Pentecostal? -Simply these three things:
1. We are to be of one accord.
Togetherness, it’s vital for growth. My sod thrives because I cut it high. My neighbors scalp their grass. Grass that grows together keep almost all weeds out.
Our mens ministry is all about, “togetherness.”
Men if you come to one of our meetings you will experience a team of leaders, and our strength is our humility. -Growing as a team.
And When, (Not If), we sin we don’t have to hide. -I said we don’t have to hide anymore! -And I’m assured our ladies ministry is the exact blue print.
Up until Peter declared who Jesus was, and not what men said. Again, It was Peter who replied to Jesus’ question, Matthew 16...Who do men say that I Am? Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
How did Jesus reply? It never gets old to me. “Blessed are you Simon, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you! And upon this rock, this declaration, that Jesus is Lord, I will build My church, and hells gate won’t prevail against it.”
Isn’t it fitting that Pentecost was prophesied by the prophet Joel 700 hundred years before it occurred. “I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.” -This promised Holy Ghost is always available!
Listen, CECC, this is the togetherness of which we stand. -We receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
One of my go-to-chapters in the Bible is, Psalm 133:1-3, it is one, of 14 Psalms sung as pilgrims walked up the paths to Jerusalem to worship at the 3 major festivals.
Psalm 133:1-3NIV How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Remember this, “Life is togetherness.”
God declares His blessings in togetherness.
Jesus states more about togetherness in, Matthew 18:18-20KJV Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
We need to always agree with what we know in heaven. Jesus is always in our midst!
If you're obedient to Yahweh, You are favored. You are blessed. You need to approach life as you are blessed!
Always remember, blessings are God's nature, Isaiah 1:19-20NKJV If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
CECC, declares Jesus Lord! We declare Jesus in the present tense. We are Pentecostal. We’ve experienced His oil flow. It’s flowing... -Now! Now! Now!
Declare, “It’s flowing!”
-Don’t dam it up. Refuse to stop the flow. Your personal life ought to declare Pentecost! P.H
2. What must exist in us, around us, and through us, if we are to be Pentecostal? We Are To Join Together Constantly in Prayer.
Truly everything we do is prayer. Prayer is our way of life. Before every meeting, and after every meeting, we pray. Before every service and after every service, we pray. I believe this place is bathed in prayer.
Personally, God is pleased as we make dialogue with Him. It doesn’t matter what it sounds like. Nothing should be wrong as we talk to our Creator. P.H
I have a word from the Lord, “The Lord Jesus loves to hear your voice. Why? He’s in love with you!”
Here are seven great prayers:
1) I surrender. Jesus said, Whoever comes to me I will never cast out, John 6:37ESV
2) Bring Your kingdom; have Your way. ...
3) Forgive me...Let me forgive myself.
4) Lead me....
5) Draw them to You. ...
6) Use me...or Anoint me...
7) Make me like You.
God’s word teaches, that Jesus demonstrated his love for us as we were sinners...Jesus died for us, Romans 5:8!
We were remade, recreated as a new creation. Old has been made new, 2 Corinthians 5:17!
3. What must exist in us, around us, and through us, if we are to be Pentecostal? -3. We Are To Repent.
So Pentecost moves on...Peter declared in, Acts 2:21KJV And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Remember this declaration was given by the Apostles Peter on the day of Pentecost.
Repentance isn’t bad, it’s good! When I repent I am promised this, Peter declares, as Luke the physician records in, Acts 3:19AMP So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Everything old made new. The prophet Isaiah 43:19ESV Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Repentance makes all things new. -Jesus is new!
Isaiah 48:6 You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
Revelation 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Of course once more, 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Number 3, Once more. What must exist in us, around us, and through us, if we are to be Pentecostal? -3. We Are To Repent.
Benediction. Repentance is good. Repentance offers newness. Repentance produces refreshing! Repentance equals authenticity.
