It all Began on Pentecost!
Intro:
As we travel thru the book of Acts our first stop will be Acts Chapter two. This is where the Church began.
What was the message of the church?
What was the purpose of the church.
How did the church come about?
How relevant is the church?
All these questions and more will be examined
Acts 2:1-15 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]" 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel
A. It happened on the day of Pentecost: The day of Pentecost is the 50th day after the Passover or Easter. On Sunday
morning, Jesus was resurrected from the dead and 50 days later we have Pentecost: Lets take a look at what happened on
this day.
1. In Acts 1 it tells us that including the Apostles, there were 120 gathered in an upper room. The word tells us they were filled
with the Spirit.
2. This was an miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit – began to speak in tongues.
a). In the infant church, they did not have the full complete revelation of The word of God. God thru miracles and speaking in
tongues confirmed the truth the Jesus was the Son of God and produced faith. These miracles were in part until the full
complete revelation of Gods Word would be revealed. “Now, Faith comes thru Hearing and Hearing by the word of God”
Romans 10:17 God used miraculous indwelling of the Spirit to usher in His Church.
b). There are those in the religious world that think they have a corner on the power of the Holy Spirit, Then on the opposite
extreme there are those that operate on their own intellectual power rather than the power of the Holy Spirits Power.
One time a young preacher was sharing the fact that we need “it”. “It” meaning the Holy Spirit. An older preacher
answered, “He is not an it. He is He – a person! To which another fellow at the meeting remarked, “I don’t care what you call
you call Him as long as We have Him and He has us”
B. The early Church was brought into existence thru the power of God and could do nothing without the empowering, infilling and
leading of the Holy Spirit
1. The “average church” and the “average Christian are bogged down somewhere between Calvary and Pentecost.
2. They have been to Calvary for pardon but not to Pentecost for power!
3. Bethlehem equals God with us, Calvary means God for us, and Pentecost means God in us!
C. In a recent popular magazine it reports the statistic data showing the decline of the American Christian Church.
Churches today operate on mans abilities rather than God’s power.. We are more worried about offending a member of the
church than the member of the Godhead.
1. The ushering in of the church of our Lord knew nothing of prayerless pews and lame excuses.
2. The early Church began in that upper Room with about 120. They were in one accord, in one place lead by one Spirit.
3. Speaking of Gideon and his men, the bible says, “and they stood every man in his place round the camp. Judges 7:21
4. What if Gideon and his men and what if the Apostles and other disciples had responded as we often do in today’s church? I
can imagine the alibis:
“Andrew won’t be here because he is down at the beach. He sends his regards. He says he is with us in spirit.”John got his
feelings hurt in bible study. We hope he comes back eventually. Matthew isn’t present. His aunt came to visit…so he will
have to stay home with his company.
The early church was in one place, in one accord waiting on the one Spirit to empower them.
I. The Miracle of Pentecost:
Acts 2:2-4 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own
tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
A. There were some 15 different nationalities there all speaking different languish These men spoke and each person heard them
speak in their own native tongue. Illustrate: If I could speak in tongues like they did on the day of Pentecost I could go before the
national assembly and speak one languish and each person from each country could hear me speak on their own languish.
NOW THAT IS HOW PENTECOST STARTED.
B. Notice a promise given to the apostles about the Holy Spirit:John 16:13 - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you
into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
C. The follower of Jesus is promised The Holy Spirit when He comes to Christ. Acts 2:38. The same Holy Spirit –leading, guiding,
directing
D. Do not quench the Spirit of God. Some are so worried about getting out on a limb, they never even climb the tree. The church
began with power and is sustained by heavens power!
II: The Messenger of Pentecost:
Acts 2:14 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven raised his voice and addressed the crowd; Acts 2:40 - With many other words he
warned them; and he pleaded with them
A. Notice diversity of the group:
1. God uses all the apostles
2. They were one in purpose and multifaceted peopled that were fused together for the sake of the Gospel.
3. Peter: was brash and impetuous, sometimes down right obnoxious.
4. John, more reflective and meditative, although we have ample reason to believe hot-headed at times. James and John are
referred to as the “Sons of thunder”
5. Some extroverted, others introverted and withdrawn.
6. Diverse but unified! Red, yellow black and white. In Christ there is not east of west, no North or South. We are one in Spirit
under the blood stain banner of the cross. When we are one in Spirit, mountains of spiritual obstacles will be removed
B. It was a Gospel preacher that preached the Gospel.
1. He stood up – preachers today need to stand up
2. He raised his voice! I see urgency in this statement.
3. He warmed them and pleaded with them. Not a little sermonette!
C. Note the focus of Peters preaching:
1. He declared Jesus death and resurrection –Acts 2:22-24
2. He preached about the apostles being living witnesses of Resurrection. Acts 2:3
3. Peter quoted from David, using the old testament to show validity to his preaching. Acts 2:25-28
4. He convicted, convinced and pleaded in his preaching: Acts 2;3
5. Preachers today need boldness, and conviction: Preaching today needs to be bible based, Christ centered, Spirit filled,
convicting, and challenging
III. The Message of Pentecost!
A. A message of bold confrontation: Acts 2;36 Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ."
B. A message of conviction: Acts 2:37: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other
apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
C. A message of Conversion: Acts 2:38 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1. If you want to produce what they produced , preach what they preached and you will get what they got!
IV. The Massive Response of Pentecost!
A. In our fast past society, our world asks, bottom line, what are the results?
1. Acts 2:40-41 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
2. Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved
V. The Marvelous following of Jesus!
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone
was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had
everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to
meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts
Conclusion:
Jesus died for the church….You can become nothing more and nothing less than a disciple of Christ…it all began at Pentecost…He
died for the church. would you live for Him
