Pentecost Was God’s Big Move by Gerald Van Horn
Text. Act 2:1-4 “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 the entire house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a 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.”
A lady came to her pastor and said, “I have discovered the book of Acts!” She really didn’t because it has always been in the Bible. What she meant was it was new to her. Many have never discovered the book of Acts. They just do not want to get involved in a controversy. Especially over tongues. The book of Acts should be the church’s primary reader.
1. God’s purpose throughout the ages was to reveal Himself fully to man.
Jesus came to reveal God to mankind. Jesus said, ”He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. Jesus revealed God when He came in the form of a man for He was God. In Leviticus 26:12, “ I will walk among us, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.”
2. God attempted to reveal Himself in Old Testament.
In Genesis God communicated with Adam on person to person basis. In the cool of the evening God would come down and converse with Adam. Adam never prayed that he might speak with God. God was there in a very special way.
We can sum up this way:
* In paradise (Genesis 3:9)- God with man.
* Patriarchs - God to man through men.
* The Tabernacle- God among men.
* Prophets- God through men.
* A Person, Jesus Christ-God as man.
3 God’s Move to fill up the promise.
Some thing else had to occur. This happened on the day of Pentecost. This was God’s final revelation. It was God’s big move. It was the best that God could do. When Jesus died and arose the third day He fulfilled all. He said, “If I go away I will send another Comforter and He should abide with you always. 50 days after, on the day of Pentecost, God Himself came to dwell.
Under the old law God came upon certain people. Many were not aware that He was even present. They did not know when the Spirit left them. John 16:13-15 “How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
Who came on the day of Pentecost? Did Jesus come? Did the Holy Spirit come? Because of the admonition to the Holy Spirit who would not speak of Himself but of Jesus. We conclude that they both came. The Holy Spirit is now the representative of Jesus in the earth. John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” On the day of Pentecost Jesus came in all His fullness to dwell in the hearts and lives of believers.
4. God in a living temple.
This is the hour of the Holy Spirit. This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. The modern church today knows so little about the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit in the church everything else is a sham. The cross is empty. Jesus is alive. He has sent the Holy Spirit. If you would like for just one moment to get a little taste of heaven get down to business with God. Be filled with the Spirit. There is an experience that you can have. It’s the Acts 2 experience. Fall in love with Jesus and the Holy Spirit will come and fill you. The church and empty hollow, building with out the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
5. The church’s finest hour.
The Holy Spirit is come to fill up the revelation. If Adam was here today he would say, “Get on with the experience!” If Abraham were here he’d say, “be filled with the Spirit!”
God, Himself has come to dwell in temples of flesh. What would Jesus say? The same thing He told His disciples! “Be filled with the Spirit.” What should the preacher say? “Be filled with the Spirit.” God has an overflowing for all believers. When you receive your personal Pentecost you will be filled with God’s power.
* Begin now to praise Jesus.
* Believe Him to fill you.
* Be in earnest
* Receive your personal Pentecost. .
