TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?
TEXT
ACTS 2: 1 - 13
INTRODUCTION
THE DAY OF PENTECOST REPRESENTS THE FIFTHIETH DAY
AFTER JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WHEN WE GET READY TO
CELBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS THE WHOLE WORD PAUSES TO
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS - WHEN WE CELEBRATE JESUS’S
RESURRECTION, MOST OF THE WORLD CELEBRATES EASTER.
BUT TODAY IS PENTECOST WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US
TODAY? I BELIEVE IT IS FITTING TO SAY VERY FEW, BECAUSE HARDLY ANYONE REALIZES IT.
THIS DAY IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND THE DEATH OF CHRIST; IN THAT IT MARKS THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST CHURCH AND THE GOD GIVEN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE A PART OF IT.
THIS DAY MARKS THE FIFTHIETH DAY AFTER JESUS’S
RESURRECTION.
TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?
THREE POINTS TO BE MADE
(1) THE CREATION OF THE CHURCH AND IT’S PURPOSE
(2) THE DIVINE REVELATION
(3) BENEFITS IN PARTICIPATING IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
ACTS 2: 1 - 4
IT WAS, AS SAID, WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST CAME,THEY
THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. THERE CAME A
SOUND FROM HEAVEN AS A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND AND IT
FILLED THW WHOLE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. THEN
APPEARED TO TO THEM DIVIDED TONGUES AS OF FIRE. AND
THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO
SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES.
I. THE CREATION OF THE CHURCH
THE CHURCH WAS CREATED BY GOD - FOR GOD - FOR HIS
CHILDREN.
THIS INSTITUTION UNLIKE OTHER INSTITUITIONS IS AN
INSTITUTION DESTINED TO BE EVERLASTING. FROM THE
INCEPTION OF TIME - BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD,
GOD INTENDED THAT THIS INSTITUTION STAND AND BE CALLED
HIS CHURCH.
JESUS HAS DECLARED IN MATTHEW 16:18
AND I ALSO SAY TO YOU THAT YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS
ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HADES
SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.
JESUS ENTRANCE INTO THIS WORLD WAS A BLESSING AND WE
HAVE SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT.
EPHESIANS 2:20 SPEAKS OF THE CHURCH:
HAVING BEEN BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLE AND
PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNER
STONE
SO JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD & AFTER THE DEATH - THE
BURIAL AND THE RESURRECTION. THE CHURCH WAS FORMED
AND IT HAS COME INTO REALITY THE DAY OF PENTECOST.
TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?
WHO WILL CELEBRATE THE PENTECOST WITH US? WILL THE
SINNERS COME? IF THEY COMES LET THEM COME. WILL THE
ADULTERER COME? IF THEY COME LET THEM COME.
WHO WILL CELEBRATE THE PENTECOST WITH US? WILL THE
SAINTS COME? IF THEY COME LET THEM COME.
LET THE WORLD BE RENEWED THROUGH THE APPRECIATION OF
GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY.
LET THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL NOW SAY; GOD’S MERCY ENDURES
FOREVER
LET THE HOUSE OF AARON SAY; GOD’S MERCY ENDURES
FOREVER
LET EVERYONE WHO FEARS HIM SAY; GOD’S MERCY ENDURES
FOREVER.
GOD HAS BEEN MERCIFUL UNTO US IN THAT HE LEFT US AN
INSTITUTION THAT WE COULD BUILD THROUGH HIM A
FOUNDATION.
SO HE ALLOWED A SOUND FROM HEAVEN, AS OF A RUSHING
MIGHTY WIND, YES, LIKE A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND FROM
HEAVEN HE HAS ALLOWED HIS CHURCH TO BE FORMED FOR
HIMSELF THAT WE MAY GLORIFY HIM - NOT FOR US - THAT WE
MAY GLORIFY OURSELVES.
TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?
II. THE DIVINE REVELATION TO THE CHURCH
ACTS 1:8 SAYS
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.
AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH IS WHERE GOD; IS AND HAS
FORMED THE CHURCH. THROUGH HIS CHOSEN VESSELS THAT
THEY MAY BE WITNESSES TO A SELF DESTRUCTING PEOPLE.
THEY ARE SELF - DESTRUCTING IN THAT GOD HAS DECLARED IT
SO THAT HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT HE
WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE
HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
OF GOD. ( JOHN 3: 18 )
LISTEN, CHRISTIAN FRIENDS IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO SEEK THE LOST, IT IS UNCERTAIN IF WE MAY WIN THAT PERSON AT THE TIME OF INCEPTION BUT I BELIEVE WHAT PAUL SAID:
I PLANTED, APOLLOS WATERED, BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.
I CORINTHIANS 3: 6
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
CHRIST TO SOMEONE - ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO USE YOU - BE A VESSEL FOR JESUS CHRIST SHARE THAT NEW WINE TO THE
WORLD, DON’T BE ASHAMED.
FOR IT IS WRITTEN:
FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS
THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT
BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.
PAUL IS ONE OF MANY MEN THAT KNEW THAT HE HAD A SOLEMN
PROMISE TO GOD, TO TAKE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO THE ALL
OF THE WORLD, SO IT IS WITH OUR BELIEVING FRIENDS TODAY.
III. BENFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
ACTS 2: 42 - 47
THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A LOCAL CHURCH ARE
IMMEDIATELY APPARENT. THIS MESSAGE RECORDS THE FIRST
LOCAL CHIRCH. FROM THIS PASSAGE THERE ARE SEVEN
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
SEVEN BENEFITS
1) INTRODUCTION - CONTINUED STEADFASTLY
2) FELLOWSHIP - AND FELLOWSHIP
3) OBSERVANCE OF THE ORDINANCES - BREAKING OF BREAD
4) CORPORATE PRAYER - PRAYERS
5) EFFECTIVE OUTREACH - FEAR CAME UPON EVERY SOU
6) COMMON CAUSE - HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON
7) MUTUAL ASSISTANCE - DIVIDED ALL THEM AMONG ALL, AS
ANYONE HAD NEED.
BECAUSE THE CHURCH HAS THIS BENEFIT IT IS VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO UTILIZE THEM WHEN YOUAR NOT
PRESENT, LETS TELL THE TRUTH; PARTICIPATING IN THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NOT OPTIONAL FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, IT IS IMPERATIVE AND YIELDS ETERNAL BENEFITS.
HEBREWS 10:25 SAYS
NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, AS
IS THE MANNER OF SOME, BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER, AND
SO MUCH THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING
TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?
THE CHURCH WHICH IS HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS IN YOU.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS MANY OF YOU HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME
TRYING TO FIND A CHURCH OF CHOICE NOT TRULY UNDER -
STANDING THAT THE CHURCH IS IN YOU.
MANY OF US HAVE SPENT TIME LOOKING FOR THE CHRIST
WHEN IN ESSENCE THE CHRIST IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN US.
I CORINTHIANS 3: 16 SAYS
DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND
THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU?
STOP LOOKING FOR AND START LOOKING INTO.
CLOSING
TODAY THERE IS ONE THAT LOOKING FOR THE CHURCH AND
WANT TO CELEBRATE THE PENTECOST WITH US.
(1) THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS FOUND AN EMPTINESS WITHIN
THEMSELVES.
(2) THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE STORM.
(3) THERE IS SOMEONE WHO’S IN THE LIONS DEN.
(4) THERE IS SOMEONE THAT FEELS USED AND ABUSED.
(1) ALTHOUGH YOU ARE EMPTY
(2) ALTHOUGH YOU ARE IN THE STORM
(3) ALTHOUGH YOU’RE IN THE LION’S DEN
(4) ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN USED AND ABUSED
COME TO JESUS
COME TO JESUS
EMPTY - AND YOU SHALL BE FULL, IT IS SAID, BLEESED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED (MATT 5:6)
COME TO JESUS
IN YOUR STORM AND COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO
DIVERS TEMPTATIONS; KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF
YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. (JAMES 1: 2 -3)
COME TO JESUS
IN YOUR LIONS DEN AND BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DISPATCH HIS ANGEL AND SHUT THE LIONS’ MOUTHS AND SHIELD YOUR
INNOCENSE.
COME TO JESUS
USED AND ABUSED JESUS HAS SAID: COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO
LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM
GENTLE AND LOWLY IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR
YOUR SOULS.
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.
COME TO JESUS
TODAY IS PENTECOST
WHO WILL CELEBRATE WITH US?