Today is Pentecost Sunday. What does that mean to me and you?
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The "Feast of Weeks" and the "Feast of First fruits" are the same event, known as Shavuot in Hebrew and Pentecost in Christian traditions. It's celebrated seven weeks after Passover, commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and the end of the barley harvest.
Leviticus 23:15-22
15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.
17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.
18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the Lord.
19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.
21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
***To me and you as New Testament believers, the celebration of the feast of weeks is less about bringing the first fruits of our harvest on the day of Pentecost, and more about celebrating the outpouring by God of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Before we jump into the day of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I would like to share with you some scriptures from the Old Testament that we can categorize as prophetic or foreshadowing of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Zephaniah 3:8-11
8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
***This passage of scripture from Zephaniah 3 in context appears to be a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 70AD. That would be a few short years after the day of Pentecost in 33AD.
The prophet Isaiah sees to the future a time when God will speak to his people in tongues and that this will be a rest and refreshing to them.
Isaiah 28:11-12
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Joel 2:28-32
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues had been promised by God for thousands of years before the day of Pentecost.
***There is a common thread to these prophecies from the old testament that I would like to point out:
- The prophecies speak about God’s spirit is poured out on a wider audience than just the prophets, priest, kings and judges.
- The prophecies speak about a time frame associated with the physical destruction of Jerusalem and a change in the normal leadership of worship.
- The prophecies describe God speaking to and through his people with a change of language or speaking manner.
- The prophecies refer to the change in language or manner of speech as improved, pure and bringing a rest or other benefit to the audience or participate.
*** With these couple of scriptures in mind from the Old Testament that appear to foreshadow what we saw on the day of Pentecost, lets look at the words of Christ as recorded in the Gospels regarding the promised gift of the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 11:28-29
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
John 7:37-39
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
*** The 2nd point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings; rest and refreshing to the life of a believer.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:25-27
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings; comfort, truth and peace into the life of a believer.
John 15:25-27
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:5-16
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
***The 4th point of the Message this morning: The Holy Spirit will bring; reproof, righteousness, and judgement.
You may say explain this one Pastor Jon: If you go look at Acts 5:1-11 you will see the story of Ananias, with Sapphira his wife that were judged by the Holy Spirit working in life of Peter and how they died before the apostles for lying to the Holy Spirit.
You do not think about that as a strategy for church growth but here is what you need to understand, real fire brings people together. People do not gather around light bulbs and fake fire. If you want to reach people for Christ then you need to be on fire for Jesus and the fire you have will draw the lost and depressed to the light of God in you.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
***That brings us to the 5th point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings fire and power for ministry to the life of a believer.
Hear the words of Christ as recorded in Acts 1
Acts 1:4-8
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
***now lets read the story and celebrate together the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
I want you to image with me the Holy Spirit standing beside the Father God seated on his throne. Jesus is seated at his right hand on his throne. The day of Pentecost is approaching. The sun is rising over Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit is anxiously waiting to come. Perhaps he is leaning over the windows of heaven, looking down on the face of the flat earth…as the sun fully illuminates the sky.
Acts 2:1-21
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
***Peter now full of the Holy Spirit and power preaches his first message. The Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
Look at verse #37 when Peter finished preaching:
37 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?
38 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.
39 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.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues had been promised by God for thousands of years before the day of Pentecost.
*** The 2nd point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings; rest and refreshing to the life of a believer.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings; comfort, truth and peace into the life of a believer.
***The 4th point of the Message this morning: The Holy Spirit will bring; reproof, righteousness, and judgement.
***That brings us to the 5th point of the Message today: The Holy Spirit brings fire and power for ministry to the life of a believer.
***In Closing I want to circle back to what Jesus said in Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I want to talk about power and I want to talk about witness:
First lets talk about Power. This word is Transliteration
dynamis (Key)
Pronunciation
doo'-nam-is
- strength power, ability
- inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
- power for performing miracles
- moral power and excellence of soul
- the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
- power and resources arising from numbers
- power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Next I want to talk about Witness: Transliteration
martys (Key)
Pronunciation
mar'-toos
- a witness
- in a legal sense
- an historical sense
- one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
- in an ethical sense
- those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death
The origin of the word "martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς (mártys), which translates to "witness". In ancient Greek legal contexts, it referred to someone who gave testimony in court. However, in Christian contexts, it came to mean someone who suffers death for their faith, especially in the face of persecution.
Luke 17:31-37
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Revelation 12:10-12
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.