Power from Pentecost, Pattern from the Prince
Acts 1:6-8; 2Cor 8:3-9
Take your Bible this morning and turn to Acts chapter 1. Now the scene we’re looking at is like this: Jesus has risen from the dead. He’s been appearing to the disciples over a period of 40 days, and now He's about to ascend into heaven, and the disciples don’t know it yet, but in 10 more days He will send the promise of the Comforter to them on the day of Pentecost. "Pentecost" means "fiftieth" and it refers to the Feast of Weeks or Harvest which was celebrated fifty days after Passover.
So, here He is, 40 days after His resurrection and He’s about to leave the disciples and ascend into heaven, and what do His disciples ask? Act 1:6 …"Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" After all this time they’ve spent with Jesus, listening to His teachings and watching Him heal the sick, they are still thinking politics, thrones, and triumph—fixing their nation, settling old scores.
You know, it’s easy for us to point the finger and make fun of them for still “not getting it,” but here we are today doing the same thing. We have had the teachings of Jesus in the word of God at our disposal for generations, and many of us still don’t get it either. We are more concerned today with the state of our country than we are the kingdom of God. We want this world to work like we think it should, dreaming of God handing us the good life on a silver platter, when the truth is that He's got something far bigger in mind.
But Jesus didn't scold 'em. No, He redirected them: Act 1:7-8 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; [8] but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Power. You shall receive power. Not for personal kingdoms, earthly alignments, or governmental status but for planetary proclamation. You’re going to receive power to tell the world about Jesus! Friend, that's Pentecost power! That is explosive, world-changing, turning fishermen into fearless witness’s power.
Now flip over to 2 Corinthians chapter 8:3-9. Paul writes to us about the churches in Macedonia, churches that were in deep poverty and under the boot of persecution, yet they begged to give. They gave beyond their ability, during a time of great trial, and with great joy. Why? Because they knew the secret: 2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Write this down someplace: *Power from above births poverty like the Prince. Poverty like the Prince. Princely poverty by sacrificial, generous, missional giving. Not hoarding but pouring out. Not comfort, but conquest. Our Lord Jesus became poor so that we could become rich in Him. And He leads by example, and we should follow. We are rich in Christ, but we should become poor for the lost around us. Giving of ourselves so that they too can discover the riches that are found in Christ Jesus.
Now beloved, these two passages in Acts and 2Corinthians are like bookends on God's strategy for His church. The disciples wanted restoration; Jesus gave them Holy Ghost revolution. The Macedonians had nothing; they gave everything because they saw the Savior's example. It's not about what we get—it's about the power that propels us to give like Jesus and to go like the Spirit commands. So, hang on, because friend, that's where the Holy Ghost fire falls.
1. Crushing Circumstances and Cosmic Commission
Now before we grab hold of the gold in these verses, let's set the scene—get the background right, or we'll miss the miracle. Put this down in your margin: *Context reveals the contrast.
Context reveals the contrast. This is a foundational rule of interpretation: the immediate literary, historical, and theological surroundings illuminate the intended meaning of a passage. Think of the black velvet and the diamond, and illustration I use alot. The blackness which is the immediate background highlights the brilliance of the diamond.
So, using this rule we see…
A. In Acts, the Disciples' Desperate Dream. They had seen miracles, walked on water's wake, listened to and wrote down much of what the Lord taught. But here they are with their hearts focused on a fleeting and temporary fix Act 1:6 …"Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
Politics over purpose. Rome's iron fist still held a firm grip over Israel and Jerusalem, their beloved city and center of worship. They had experienced and endured betrayal, burial, and then resurrection, but the resurrection still had not rewritten their agenda. Bless their hearts, they wanted national revival when Jesus had global redemption in mind. They were still thinking in terms of the here and now while the Lord was focused on the future of all mankind.
B. And then in Macedonia, we see the Merciless Misery. 2 Corinthians paints a picture of poverty you can feel. Paul spoke of their "great ordeal of affliction," amid "deep poverty."
Roman taxes crushed 'em, Philippi's jailers mocked 'em, Thessalonica's mobs chased 'em. Jews throughout Asia persecuted them. Yet, out of that furnace? Joy overflowed. Not silver spoons but lifted hands praising God.
Friend, imagine beggars begging to give—that is some crazy context! It really reminds of the Israelites at Sinai. They asked the people to give in order to construct the tabernacle and the new religious garments for the priests. The people gave so much that the contractors asked Moses to beg them to stop—they had received more than enough.
Now, can you imagine? The Israelites were slaves with nothing who gathered spoils from the Egyptians on their way out of Egypt. So, from rank poverty to untold wealth, and then when shortly after, asked to give, they impoverished themselves to such a point that Moses had to tell them, “Stop! No more! We have enough.” Can you imagine giving so much and so freely that the recipients beg you to stop?
C. Friends, beloved, both scenes scream Human Limitations. The disciples were powerless without Pentecost, and then after, they were unstoppable and transformed a world. The Macedonians were penniless yet prompted to pour out from their poverty. No fanfare, no fortune; just folks at the end of their rope, ripe for heaven's rescue.
Both groups were limited in themselves. There was little they could do to affect any sort of change. But when the Holy Spirit empowers you, and the love of God in Christ Jesus fills you, the sky is the limit. What once seemed impossible is now achievable.
Which brings me now to my second point...
2. Promised Power and Perfect Pattern
Oh, friend, here's the heartbeat—the central command that ties these texts like a bow. Write this down: *Power and poverty find purpose in Christ. Not fluffy feelings, plush impressions, or cuddly textures, but fire from heaven and grace from the cross.
A. In Acts we see Holy Ghost Dynamite unleashed. Act 1:8 …you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Beloved, Jesus thunders within, after the Spirit saturates you. Not political punch, but witness wildfire! They’re to go to Jerusalem first, which is their home base. Then second Judea/Samaria, which is hostile territory. And then finally the remotest part of the earth last, or the remaining unreached realms around the world. A triplet trajectory, friend, because power propels proclamation.
Earlier, Jesus told them that they could do nothing without Him, and then later we will see the Holy Ghost dynamite turn timid tongues into tidal waves of testimony. Friends, we can do nothing without Him, but with Him, Php 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
In Acts, power, Holy Spirit power
B. But in Corinth that power crowns them with Christ's Poverty. Paul spotlighted the Savior when he reminded them of, 2Co 8:9 …the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Macedonia mirrored the Master. They gave 2Co 8:3 …beyond their ability. They didn’t give from abundance, but from affliction, fueled by their affection. The central truth here is that grace gifts generosity; it's not guilt, it’s gratitude exploding from deep within.
God has given us so much, we often want to repay His kindness toward us, but He already owns, literally, everything. So, as the psalmist asked, Psa 116:12 What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? And then as David said, 1Ch 29:14 "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.
The One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills needs nothing from us, so, all we really have to offer is surrender, submission, and obedience. Samuel told Saul that obedience was better than sacrifice, and we need to take this ancient truth to heart.
C. These two texts, Acts and Corinthians declares a Divine Exchange. The Holy Spirit's power for our paltry plans; Christ's poverty for our prosperous pretense. It’s no coincidence at all these pair up: Pentecost empowers witness, but the cost of Calvary loosens our wallets. Friend, that's the teaching—power from above, pattern from the Prince. Now, how does this affect us? When the rubber hits the road, what are we to do?
3. The Personal Pursuit, The Passionate Provision
Church, head knowledge means nothing without heart obedience. We have to apply what we know or we’ll forget it, so…
A. Crave the Spirit's charge. Don't disciple-dream like those in Acts; pray, "Lord, ignite me!" Fast from your agenda so you can feast on His assignment. Pray that Pentecost power hit you so that you can go and tell the world about what you have found. Friend, your Jerusalem is your job; Your remotest part is your unsaved neighbor, the stranger in the checkout line, the friend you invite over for bbq. Pray to be set on fire and filled with the Spirit.
Then you can also…
B. Cultivate Macedonian madness. In other words, give till it grips you, beyond your bank balance. Now, I know that I really don’t need to preach on giving to this church because I know full well of your generosity. I’ve experienced it myself, and I’ve seen it in the special offerings given to groups that come among us. Groups like Hutchinson County Crisis Center, The Wesley, Gideon’s, and several others I can’t think of their names right now. Your generosity is evident and it echoes from our Prince who pawned heaven for us
But for those who still need reminding, our Lord said that the woman who put her pennies into the offering gave more than those who dropped in handfuls of coins, because she gave out of her poverty while they gave from their wealth. It hurt the one but didn’t even put a scratch on the other.
So, the lesson here is learn to give at least until it scratches! And then…
C. Beloved, Commit to the cross-centered cascade. In other words, witness boldly, give bounteously, watch worlds change. No excuses—affliction's your ally, not your anchor. Friend, Pentecost power plus the Prince's poverty equals planetary provision.
Now listen, friend, it's not about your agenda or your abundance; it's about His witness and His wealth poured out in you. Remember this: True power propels you to proclaim; true poverty prompts you to provide.
Don't wait for perfect conditions—pray for Pentecost power for your Jerusalem, your Judea, your Samaria, your remotest parts. And when the need knocks, give like those Macedonians—beyond your means, with joy that overflows from Jesus who became poor so you might become rich.
Friend, the choice is yours today. Would you pray with me?
"Lord, fill me with Your Spirit's power. Make me a generous witness, emptied of self, full of You."
This is the abundant life—the power to witness, poverty embraced, and purpose fulfilled in the Prince of glory.
Oh Father, ignite us now with Pentecost fire and Macedonian grace, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
