October 26, 2003
Morning Worship
Text: Acts 4:23-31
Subject: The Pentecostal Experience
Title: Living the Pentecostal Experience
103 years ago on New Years Day 1900, a group of Bible students led by Charles Parham assembled in a house in Topeka Kansas. They were seeking an “Apostolic” experience—to speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance—just like the apostles did on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:4. On that 1st day of the new century, and for several days after, most of those assembled received the experience of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. Some students left the Bible school and traveled to Houston Texas and Los Angeles California spreading the new message of “speaking in tongues is the evidence that the believer has received the infilling of the Holy Ghost” (in harmony with Acts 2:1-4). Six years later, another group assembled in a rundown former Methodist Church. They too had heard about this strange new exciting experience of “Speaking in Tongues” and sought the experience. They also received the apostolic experience of speaking in other tongues, and within a few years, this Azusa Street troupe had carried the good news of this Pentecostal phenomenon around the world. As news of Azusa Street spread people throughout the world came to the Azusa Street Mission to experience “Pentecost” for themselves. Just what is the “Pentecostal Experience”? We believe that it involves the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We believe that the initial physical evidence of the baptism is speaking in other tongues. It is exciting. It is emotional. And unfortunately, many of today’s Pentecostals stop there. They forget the real purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Power! (Rev. Curtis W. Bond)
Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten gallons of gasoline, for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channeled through the engine of a Datsun in a controlled burn and used to transport a person 350 miles. Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power. The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, He exploded on the scene; His presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God’s power. But He also works through the church--the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit’s power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power. How should we respond to this Pentecostal experience?
One) There is a life changing experience.
Two) There is intensified worship.
Three) There are supernatural consequences.
Four) There is obedience to what the Spirit says.
Have you experienced Pentecost? Most of us would say yes! But have you experienced it to the fullest? Let’s see what Luke tells us about Living the Pentecostal Experience.
I. Our experience is identified. (23-24a)
A. A sense of excitement. After being before the Sanhedrin (vs 5-22) to be questioned and perhaps punished, a funny thing happened. The door was opened wide, by the council, for Peter to speak. And the very thing that Jesus had prophesied to them was coming to pass. Mark 13:9, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My sake, for a testimony to them”. Those who wished to condemn heard the gospel. Can’t you just imagine the electricity that must have been in the air as the Peter and John stood before the council and spoke, remembering the words that Jesus spoke to them? Once they were released, I am sure they could not wait to get back to the other believers to tell them what had happened. Not that they wanted to go back and lift themselves up. But they wanted to go back to encourage the others. Our Pentecostal experience should stir up an excitement in us to the point where we can’t wait to tell others about what God is doing in our lives.
B. A sense of humility. Peter and John knew what was going on and who was in control. They understood that they were just vessels being used by the Lord for Jesus had told them, “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Their purpose in returning to the brethren was to testify to the words of Jesus. The very episode that sparked their arrest – the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful gate – shows us the attitudes of their hearts. Acts 3:12, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we made this man to walk?” Webster’s dictionary says that humility is, “the quality of being without pride.” Humility knows that I am nothing but “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Humility is saying, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Humility is setting aside self for the good of the whole.
C. A sense of unity. “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord…” The Pentecostal experience is a Holy Ghost experience. One of the things that the Holy Spirit always does is to glorify Jesus. John 16:14, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” As the Holy Spirit touches the church and we begin to see more and more of the scripture promises come to life, we will become unified in our spirits. On the day of Pentecost the visiting Jews said, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” And Peter stood and said, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel…” The Bible was coming to life. Even though we saw that the 120 waited in the upper room in unity, now we see them moving in the Spirit as individuals but unified in their actions and glorifying God. Notice that the Bible says they lifted up their voice. The NIV says voices, but the word here is singular. It signifies that they began praying to God with one voice. Whether that means that one prayed and all agreed with him in prayer or they all lifted up their individual voices as one (I prefer this explanation) they were unified in their prayer. As Pentecostal excitement, humility, and unity begin to take hold in our lives, what can we expect next?
II. Our worship is intensified. (24b-28)
A. An increased understanding of God’s nature. “Lord, you are God.” The Greek word translated “Lord” is Despota. It literally means “Our Master and Sovereign Ruler.” Lord, You are God! The Greek word used for God is unique in that even though we know God as Father, it encompasses all genders –masculine, feminine and neuter. He is the Father who protects and cares for His children, yet Deuteronomy 32:11 says He is like ‘an eagle who stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings”. In other words, God is able to be everything we need Him to be and more! And HE is the all - encompassing God who created all things. We worship the Creator and not the creature. We are created in God’s image rather than creating Him in our image. As we live the Pentecostal life, God’s nature should be increasingly magnified in our lives.
B. An increased desire for God’s word. As the disciples pray together here, why do they pray from Psalm 2? Because the Holy Spirit has enlightened them to understand what is happening around them in light of God’s word. From this Psalm they can see that they should expect this kind of opposition and not be alarmed by it. It is all part of the big picture that God sees and we may not always understand. “The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” The world system is anti-Christ. We acknowledge that but are not alarmed by it. We rejoice knowing that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. As we begin to see our circumstances in the light of God’s Word, we can praise Him for His mercy and grace and power. We worship Him knowing that, “what He promised, he is also able to perform.”
C. An increased desire to share our testimony. Even though opposition may rise against us, we can pray for the boldness to speak the word. What is the purpose? So God can be glorified. It is all part of our worship. If we worship a God who is so great, then why do we tell so few about Him? The amount of seed we sow is in direct proportion to the importance we place in Him. So you say, “I can’t do that!” There is good news for you. You don’t have to. That is, if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. You can tell everybody about Jesus and what He has done in your life. That is part of your worship. A changed life brings glory to God.
III. Our expectations are amplified (30)
A. “By stretching out your hand to heal…” Isn’t it odd how we have come so far in knowledge over the past 20 centuries, but have somehow become so smart that we let our knowledge rule our spiritual lives instead of our hearts. We have seen healing take place in this church in the past few months. We must continue to expect it. I think it is interesting that the apostles prayed that God would stretch out His hand to heal. A healing had just taken place through their hands. They prayed for more. When we see healing take place, does it increase our faith to the point that we should expect more? It should. Just because we live in Missouri does not mean we have to be “Show-Me Christians.” I’m reminded of the nation of Israel who wondered around with the very presence of God in their midst – a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night – yet their attitude was, “What have you done for me lately, God?” If we have seen healing we should continue to expect it to the glory of God.
B. By signs and wonders. The supernatural gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians should be actively sought and then used by the church. A word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, all of these should be in operation in the church for confirmation of the word of God that is being presented. Jesus promised that the word would be confirmed by signs and wonders. These signs and wonders are to convince sinners and confound enemies. C. S. Lewis said, “God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye.” Why does God use natural people to do supernatural works? Acts 4:13 tells us the answer. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” The purpose of signs and wonders? – to bring attention to Jesus and confirm the gospel.
IV. Our obedience is multiplied. (31)
A. God answers prayer. “And when they had prayed, the place … was shaken.” Many understand this to be an earthquake. If it was it took place only where they were meeting. It was God’s supernatural answer to the prayer they had just prayed. I want you to look at the symbols of God’s presence that are mentioned in Acts. First, in 2:4 we see the sound as of a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire. Then we see the earthquake in chapter four. Now if we go back to 1 Kings 19:11 let’s read, “Then He said, ‘go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind and earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice.” Though God may reveal Himself to us in awesome displays of His power, He also does it in the quiet recesses of our hearts. One thing you can be sure of, whether it is a building or this temple, when God answers fervent prayer, something will be shaken.
B. God refills with the Holy Spirit. Why did those who had been baptized in the Holy Spirit need to be filled again? First, the baptism is the initial consecrating work of the Holy Spirit in individuals to give them power to witness. The filling or empowering is that equipping that takes place subsequent to that initial baptism. Paul wrote to the Ephesians “be filled with the spirit.” The verb “be filled” caries the meaning in the Greek of a repetitive action. Therefore, whenever the ministry need arises, individuals can be refilled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, every time a ministry opportunity arises, you can expect to receive a refilling of power to accomplish the task given you.
C. God desires obedience. I want to take you back to the beginning of the passage today. First of all we know that Peter was transformed through the baptism of the Holy spirit, from a coward who denied Christ three times, to a Spirit empowered preacher who saw 3000 saved at his first altar call. The disciples were bold in their witness. They even stood before the Sanhedrin and witnessed to the ones who would desire to destroy them. And yet, they were not satisfied with that. They prayed for more boldness. And their prayer was answered. “They spoke the word of God with boldness.” They could never get enough of the Holy Spirit. They wanted more. Not so they could lift themselves up, but that people would know that they had been with Jesus.
What is the Pentecostal experience? It involves our emotions. There is great joy, excitement, and an increased sense of our sinfulness. There is enhanced worship. We want to shout out, lift our hands, weep in His presence, and rest in His presence. There are expectations of supernatural events. Signs and wonders are the norm. The gifts of the Spirit are in operation. And there is increased obedience. Without obedience what is the purpose of all the rest?
The early church realized that the power of Pentecost was more than just a flash fire that would quickly burn out. The Pentecostal experience is not about exciting experiences, though they are part of it. It is not about a heightened sense of the presence of God in worship, but that happens. It is not about supernatural gifts and signs and wonders, but we can surely expect them.
The Pentecostal experience is about the staying power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to perform the work of ministry God calls you to do. The Pentecostal experience is about obedience. Listen to the still small voice and then watch all the other things fall into place. Would the Pentecostal experience be the same without touching our emotions or our worship? Would it be Pentecostal without the supernatural gifts? The obvious answer is no. But when we are obedient to the word, sep out of the way and watch everything else fall into place.
Do you believe in signs and wonders; then let the word go forth to be confirmed.
Do you believe in healing; then let the prayer of faith heal the sick?
Do you believe tithing; then try it and watch God pour out blessings from heaven.
The Pentecostal experience can’t continue without obedience. It is the life blood of the Pentecostal movement. Let’s give our church a transfusion today.
