Scripture: Acts 2:41 –
Title: “THE POWER OF PENTECOST”
Introduction: There could have been 50,000 people in Jerusalem during Pentecost. Some would say that was the reason for 3,000 people getting saved that day. But the great number present didn’t all come from Jerusalem, but many traveled for many, many miles to get to the celebration of Pentecost.
If great numbers is all that is needed we have access to many more people than they had during Pentecost.
We have the advantage of being able to drive a car at 40 – 50 – 60 miles an hour to get to places we desire to go.
If you took a toll of the people that live within a 40 – to 60 mile radius from our church we would find there are multiple thousands that are not attending church anywhere.
We have the great opportunity of COMMUNICATION: Radio – T.V. - Newspapers – Telephones – Cell Phones – Education.
So, what’s the PROBLEM, why aren’t we seeing people saved as they did in that day?
Is there a MISSING INGREDIENT that we have overlooked or lost?
Are we FAILING to do something they did back then?
LET’S EXAMINE SOME SCRIPTURES THAT WILL ENLIGHTEN US:
John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” KJV – “No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you.” NLT
John 16:7 “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.”
Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” KJV – “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
LET’S EXAMINE SOME SCRIPTURES THAT WILL ENLIGHTEN US:
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” NIV
I. THE POWER OF PENTECOST IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
a. Up until Pentecost there had only been approximately 120 people genuinely saved and discipled.
Because that is how many that were present in obedience in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came. (Acts 1:15)
b. Another thing to consider was that Jesus Himself had walked and taught the people for three and one half (3 ½) years and hadn’t seen as many saved as they did on Pentecost.
Jesus was confined in ONE BODY. – But after the Holy Spirit came there was 120 people doing the work.
Jesus was & is multiplied by every person that gets saved.
c. The PLAN that Jesus instituted was to put the Holy Spirit into people so they could continue the work He had started.
d. Before Pentecost we find the disciples FAILING to cast out a demon from a young boy.
Luke 17:15 – 16 “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.”
We also find the disciple hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews – John 20:19 “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
e. After the Holy Spirit filled these SAME disciples they were totally changed from being POWERLESS & AFRAID to “Courageous Soldiers” for the Lord.
f. The RULES of RELIGION had not been able to accomplish in hundred of years what the Holy Spirit did in just a few hours.
II. THE POWER OF PENTECOST IS MAKING JESUS
REAL.
a. The REASON Jesus came to this earth:
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
b. Jesus is the Savior of the world, but He is heaven. – What are we supposed to do as far as getting people saved?
c. The Holy Spirit living in us allows people to SEE Jesus in us.
d. Doing the WORK that Jesus did helping people allows people to SEE Jesus in us.
e. We can ONLY do the things Jesus did by doing them the SAME WAY He did them, through the POWER of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
Luke 4:18 – 19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
f. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to minister to people we need the SAME THING also.
g. Jesus never PREACHED a sermon, HEALED a person, or CAST OUT a demon until after the Holy Spirit came upon Him.
h. Jesus is our EXAMPLE to go by!
The GOSPEL of Jesus is “GOOD NEWS”, Good News that there is a Savior named Jesus that can take care of your needs and He does it through people who are GUIDED and FILLED and EMPOERED by the Holy Spirit.
