When Pentecost Fully Comes

Text: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(Act 2:1-4)

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

(Act 2:22-24)

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

(Act 2:36-41)

Opening Comment: The place was Jerusalem, Israel, in a second or third story room, 120 men and women knelt seeking the power of God. They sought Him through prayer and fasting. They were not worried about time, about money, how they looked, how they smelled or about their hunger pains. They sought the power and the promise, their master gave them. After an undisclosed amount of time, their came a sound suddenly that would forever change their lives and the lives of those they would meet. God entered in and filled them with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE. That day 3,120 or so people were born into the kingdom of God.

Flash forward nearly 1,900 years later to an old barn being rented for $50 a month to a black man who was blind in one eye, by the name of William Joseph Seymour. The address of this barn was 312 Azusa St, Los Angeles, CA. People of every race, whether white, black, asian or hispanic, all tarried together in unity for more of God than they have heard of or received in their churches before. Through prayer and fasting the fire fell and many received the baptism of the Holy Ghost over the course of this revival. One of those present that day, Frank Bartleman, wrote “The present worldwide Pentecostal manifestation did not break out in a moment…...There is a necessary time for preparation.” Elsewhere in his book he wrote that it wasn’t until he had given himself to prayer and fasting that he truly experienced Pentecost.

Now look to this night, in this house. How is God going to respond to us? Have we tarried for something more, or come expecting another common service? I know that I have come expecting a move of God and the potential of revival. Jesus said if any two would agree on one thing, it shall be done, anyone else expecting something today? I don’t just want Pentecost to come; I want Pentecost to FULLY come.

Prayer: The Important Part. Pray for the Conviction of God!

Body: As we read in our text, the first sermon of the church was about two to five minutes long. The results were simply amazing 3,000 people repented of their sin, were baptized in the saving name of Jesus Christ and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. When Peter had explained what had taken place in the life of Christ, and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the people who had gathered asked an important question, one we should all ask, “What shall we do?” This is a question of significance because our whole destiny depends on how we answer that question, one answer will save us, and any other will condemn us. We need only to go back to Peter’s comments in the first sermon to bring clarity to the question.