Pentecost Sunday - The Holy Spirit
Theme: To show how Pentecost Sunday mark a monumental day in church history.
Text: Acts 1:5 – 8, John 14, 15, 16
Introduction (We missed Pentecost Sunday so we moved it to Memorial Day)
Today we celebrate Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is a remembrance of those who have died while serving. It is a day set aside so that we do not forget what it cost for us to have freedom. Men and women who have fought for freedom around the world.
Memorials and days were important in the Bible times also. Often when God would do something miraculous the people would “set up an altar of worship”. They were told when they crossed the Jordan River to carry over stones from the river and make a memorial. They would often refer to the deliverance at the Red Sea as a memorial. God gave Israel the ark of the covenant as a memorial and recognition of His presence. He gave them the tabernacle. God does not need a tabernacle but showed them His glory. These are all symbols and memorials to remind them what God has done, what He is doing and what He can do.
In the New Testament we have adopted the cross. It was a settled event but has become a symbol of freedom and forgiveness of sin as our Savior died on the cross for our sins. We have and empty tomb. We have the scriptures that connect us to what God has done in the past but what He is doing right now and what He will do in the future.
God also gave Israel festivals to observe.
1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. First Fruits
4. Pentecost
5. Trumpets
6. Atonement
7. Tabernacles
Each one a reminder and memorial. Maybe one day we will do a deeper study, but I want you today to notice the celebration of Pentecost.
“Pentecost is a Jewish feast that has been celebrated since the Old Testament, being called the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks in Jewish tradition. It is mentioned in five places in the first five books — in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deuteronomy 16.
Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest. In Palestine, there were two harvests each year. The early harvest came during the months of May and June; the final harvest came in the Fall. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, which meant that Pentecost always fell sometime during the middle of the month of May or sometimes in early June.
According to the Old Testament, you would go to the day of the celebration of First fruits, and beginning with that day, you would count off 50 days. The fiftieth day would be the Day of Pentecost. So First fruits is the beginning of the barley harvest and Pentecost is the celebration of the beginning of the wheat harvest.”
All from What is Pentecost and Where Did It Come From? (christianity.com)
The celebration of Pentecost also became a memorial to the church. Last Sunday was the day that recognize Pentecost Sunday. We look back to what God did as He began the Ekklesia, the church.
Let us review the events of the church’s introduction at Pentecost
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Why? Jesus told them to in Acts 1:4 - 8)
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."
(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."
(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.
1. a sound was heard
2. it was “as” a rushing mighty wind had come in
3. it filled the house
4. there appeared divided tongues (divided not one symbol of fire but each person had their own fire),
as of fire
4. they were all filled with the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit came into them and overwhelmed them
5. they all began to speak with other tongues
6. only as the Spirit would give it to them
(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.
So this was a powerful purposeful event. It was intentional.
Promise of the Holy Spirit (or Priority)
This should not have been surprising to them. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come in Joh 14:26
John 14: 26 But the (Comforter) Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
He told them in Acts 1:8 to go and wait on the Holy Spirit
Then Peter reminds us that in Joel 2:2h8 -28 that this was prophesied in the Old Testament
Jesus gives them even more description of who the Holy Spirit is what the role that He would play in the believer’s life. In the remainder of the message, I would like to explore a few.
Presence of the Holy Spirit
Jesus reminded them that although He was leaving there would be an ever-present Helper who would be with them. John 16:5 - 7
John 16:5-7 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' (6) But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Abides with Us – John 14:16
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-
Not just be present with us but abide.
Abide: Original: µe´?? - Transliteration: meno - Phonetic: men'-o
- Definition: from Strongs and Brown, Driver, & Briggs Dictionary
1. to remain, abide a. in reference to place 1. to sojourn, tarry
2. not to depart 1a
b. to continue to be present 1a
c. to be held, kept, continually
d. in reference to time
1. to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure 1b
e. of persons, to survive, live
f. in reference to state or condition
1. to remain as one, not to become another or different
2. to wait for, await one
The Holy Spirit will Indwell inside of us – John 14:17
John 14:17 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.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
In other words He is not just walking around us like a protecting angel but He is inside of us to give us guidance.
Communion – The Holy Spirit is Present
1. The Holy Spirit is present during the Lord's Supper and is convicting us of our sin and pointing out the truths of the cross
2. By faith, the Holy Spirit acts to nourish, grow, transform, and abide in us through the Supper
3. The Holy Spirit's goal is to sanctify, and he achieves this by the Supper
4. According to Calvin, by faith, believers partake of the body and blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit who pours the life of Christ into them
5. The Lord's Supper is a proclamation of the death of Jesus, the inauguration of the new covenant, and the participation and fellowship in Christ unto the Father and with one another in Christ5.
Performance (Purpose of, work of) of the Holy Spirit
Conviction – John 16:8
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John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) of sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; (11) of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Convict of Sin because they don’t believe in me – They don’t trust Him enough to allow Him to help them overcome the sin
Convict of Righteousness because I go to my Father – Jesus ascended back to heave and sat at the right had of God. This was an approval of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He is the one who can bring righteousness. No other religion claims this.
Convict of Judgement because the ruler of this world is judged – Do you really want to find yourself in the same company?
Other Works of the Holy Spirit
Teacher
John 14: 26 But the (Comforter parakletos It means someone who is summoned or called to one’s side, especially in order to help, someone who pleads another’s cause before a judge. It is a counsel for defense, a legal assistant, an advocate, an intercessor.) Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
“ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21 AV)
According to ( I C o r . 2 : 1 0 , 1 2 ; J o h n 1 6 : 1 3 ; I J o h n 2 : 2 0 ) H e e n a b l e s y o u t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e B i b l e a n d g r a s p
s p i r i t al t r u t h s Y o u r a d v a n t a g e i s t h a t t h e A u t h o r o f t h e B i b l e l i v e s i n s i d e o f y o u !
He is our Advocate
He is an Intercessor
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Bear Witness of Jesus
John 15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Guide us – led by the Spirit
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Puts us in the Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Holy Spirit Points us to Christ
Joh 16:13-14 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
H e m a k e s t h e b e l i e v e r l i k e J e s u s ( I I C o r . 3 : 1 7 - 1 8 ) ( F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t i n G a l . 5 : 2 2 - 2 3
H e a s s u r e s y o u d a i l y t h a t y o u a r e a C h r i s t i a n ( R o m . 8 : 1 5 - 1 6 ; G a latians 4 : 6 ; I J o h n
3 : 2 4 ) H e m a k e s s p i r i t u a l t h i n g s “a l i v e” ( J o h n 6 : 6 3 ; I I C o r . 3 : 6 )
Give us Power
Power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 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."
Resurrection Power
H e i s y o u r r e s u r r e c t i o n p o w e r w h e n J e s u s r e t u r n s ( R o m . 8 : 1 1 ) T h e s a m e S p i r i t t h a t r a i s e d J e s u s f r o m t h e t o m b w i l l r e s u r r e c t y o u r b o d y a t t h e R a p t u r e !
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Conclusion
I don’t think we should miss tPhe opportunity to know the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to work in our life. Allow Him to give us the boldness we need. Trust Jesus who promised the Holy Spirit.
Receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism:
“Note three things about those first disciples:
First, they loved the place of prayer (Acts 1: 14).
Second, they were in “one accord” (14)—no grudges, place-seeking, or cruel gossip!
Third, they really believed the promise, “Ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit” (5).”
From Baxter, J. Sidlow. Awake My Heart: Daily Devotional Meditations for the Year (J. Sidlow Baxter Library) (p. 350). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
Let the Holy Spirit do the work. People focus on the evidence and less on the Holy Spirit.
