The Power of Pentecost- Abundance is Here Text: Acts 2:1-4
Amplified Bible AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, 2When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
3And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. 4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
TM Acts 2:1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
Jesus had commanded His followers to wait for Pentecost, and not just a festival. Luke 24:49NKJ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8NKJ But 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.”
The power of Pentecost came in order to loose mankind, and to bring freedom. Pentecost is for everyone, especially for those who are tired of imitations and formality. Pentecost came to produce abundance.
1 Corinthians 12:31KJ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Jesus intended for His disciples to be comforted, and to become confident at the same time. Pentecost is actually God’s kingdom moving in, and taking control.
Jesus knew His disciples would experience hard times because He did. Matthew 3:13-17NKJ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
And then the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, and the devil came with temptation.
Look at Jesus’ ministry right after the wilderness. Matthew 4:23-25NKJ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
What will Pentecost do for me?
#1. Pentecost brings individuals into the reality of the Spirit.
The Holy Ghost is real! He can be expressed in different ways. Fire, wind, water, rain, a great light, shock or electricity, laundry’s soap,
He can be felt- here’s some adjectives: Strong wittiness, remorse, tears, heat, chills, a definite word, laughter, praise, shout, dance, a spin, powerful love level, tongues, prophecy, interpretations.
#2. Pentecost shows others the living Christ within. The results of Pentecost manifest love and light to others.
#3. Pentecost teaches an individual how to pray. Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Remember, God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
Pentecost teaches individuals the secret of prayer, power and praise that will produce manifestations.
Acts 19:1-8NKJ And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Question: Do you have the Spirit, or does the Spirit have you?
Abundance is here; it lives all around you.
