What Is Pentecost ?


Text: Acts 2:1 - 4

 

Introduction: The Feast of Pentecost occurred fifty days after Passover. It was also known as Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Firstfruits. Today, the word is used to identify Protestant Evangelical Christians who believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues and practicing the Gifts of the Spirit. But God's purpose for Pentecost is far greater than you might realize.

** The First Pentecost: ( Exodus 19:16-18 ) It was fifty days after the first Passover, the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and were gathered at the base of Mt. Sinai. The Lord came with Fire, Thunderings, and Lightening and the mountain "quaked" as God spoke.

** When Pentecost Was Fully Come: ( Acts 2: 1-8 ) It was fifty days after the "true" Passover had come, the Disciples were gathered at Jerusalem, in one place and one accord. There came a sound from Heaven, God spoke through men by the power of the Holy Ghost.

God Exposed The Experience of Pentecost To All The Earth: Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

(1) Question, What is God's Desire For All Mankind ? Answer: Bring Restoration, Communication, and Fellowship.

(A) Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

(B) Imagine, the God of Heaven surrounded by Angels in constant worship, desired to communicate and fellowship with man.

(C) Sin broke that fellowship, but God provided a "limited" access through a blood sacrifice.

But This Was Not God's Permanent Plan To Fellowship With Man !

(2) In The Wilderness Journey, God Instructed; "Make Me A Sanctuary" That He Could Be In Their Presence. ( Exodus 25: 1-9 , 17-22 ) Review.

(A) The "Ark of the Covenant" was placed in the Tabernacle. (Tent) There the presence of God in the form of a Cloud and Pillar of Fire would lead them.

(B) Why did God choose to dwell in a "Tent"? Thats where His people lived !

But This Was Not God's Permanent Plan To Fellowship With Man !

(3) Arriving In The Promised Land, David Desired To Build A Dwelling For The Lord

(A) Psalms 132:3 - 5 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

(B) David was not permitted to build because he was a man of war with blood on his hands, but did amass over $100 Billion in gold and materials for his son to build the Temple, which took seven years to build.

(C) When finished, God's glory was present at the Dedication.(2 Chr. 5:1-14)

(D) Why did God now dwell in a perminent Temple ? His people now lived in permanent dwellings.

But This Was Not God's Permanent Plan To Fellowship With Man !

(4) When Israel Sinned, The Glory Or Presence of The Lord Departed The Temple. Still God Did Not Forsake His Commitment To Restore Fellowship With Man.

(A) Matthew 1:21 - 23 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

(B) John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

(C) Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

(D) Why did God choose to send His Son to "dwell" in the flesh ? Because God's people dwell in the flesh and are limited to this earthly realm, so the Son of Man came to "dwell among us." For 33 years Jesus would be the Temple of God on earth.

But That Was Not God's Permanent Plan To Fellowship With Man !

(5) He Called His Followers Aside And Announced His Return To The Father. But Promised He Would Not Leave Them Without A "Comforter."

(A) John 14:16 - 17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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.

THAT'S WHAT PENTECOST IS ALL ABOUT ! GOD DWELLING "IN" US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT

(B) The Old Testament Promise: Ezekiel 36:26 - 27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

(C) The New Testament Reality: 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(D) God does not dwell in our fine church buildings. God wants His Presence, Glory and Power abiding in You

(6) When Pentecost Was Fully Come They Were "Waiting And Preparing" For God

(A) Pentecost Past: Fifty days after the first Passover, they were gathered at Sinai. God visited with the sound of thunder and lightning, speaking to His people. Revealing the instructions for the Tabernacle He would dwell in.

(B) Pentecost Fully Come: God visited again with another "sound" from Heaven, filling all in the house, revealing things to come. John 14:26 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. John 16:13 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 show you things to come.

But This Is Not God's Permanent Plan To Fellowship With His People

(7) At Calvary, Man Is "Born of The Spirit. At Pentecost, Man Was "Filled With The Spirit." But God's "Final Plan" For Fellowship With Man Is Soon Coming !

THEN GOD'S PLAN WILL BE FINISHED !

 

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