Pentecost

We all have experiential conclusions, doctrinal conclusions and theological conclusions. The big question, however, is do we have Biblical conclusions? Over these few weeks we will talk about the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit.

It is very important that we remember that we can have distinction without having to have division.

The Holy Spirit is Biblical: 800+ mentions of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. Obviously this is very important to God. God not only sent his Son to rescue us from our sin. He also sent his Spirit to empower us to be part of the rescue team.

Theology is the study of God.  We are temporal. God is eternal. Theology that refuses the illogical will never be complete.

There is more going on in our bodies on a cellular level than our minds could ever comprehend. Creation itself moves well beyond our logic. How much more, the Creator of all Creation? 

Jesus was crucified the day of the Passover when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. Pentecost was a Jewish holiday of thanksgiving for the harvest 50 days after Passover.

Jews were celebrating the fact that the seed produced a great harvest. On this very day Jesus, who was the seed of God planted in the grave awakened a great harvest of supernaturally empowered sons and daughters in the earth!

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. NIV

Some believe this was for that generation and not generations after. It is pretty important that you read the Bible to discover what it is trying to teach you rather than reading it to prove what you’ve already decided to believe. This chapter goes on to talk about generations well beyond this one in regard to the gifts of the Spirit and the power of God.

Acts 2:17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.' NIV

The power of the Holy Spirit was for that generation church and the power of the Holy Spirit is for the last generation church. Our sons and daughters will prophesy in the last days.

Acts 2:38-39 Peter 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…" NIV

The power of the Holy Spirit is for every generation to come! The Holy Spirit is for today. The Holy Spirit is not weird, people are. We bring God’s presence to real life. Part of our assignment as a church family is to normalize the deity of God to our world.

Fifty days after Jesus rose from the Grave the church experienced the most amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the history of the world.

Acts 2:1-13 When day of Pentecost came, they all together in one place…All of them were filled with Holy Spirit & began to speak in other tongues as Spirit enabled them… 13 Some however, made fun & said, "They’ve had too much wine."

The New Testament church was mobilized to move in a supernatural dimension from that day forward.    

Some made fun of them. This was the most amazing outpouring of God’s power the world had ever known there were some mocking and refusing to participate in what God was doing. Skepticism and criticism have kept people from all God has for them since the birth of the empowered church. 

1 Cor 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.  NIV

We live in a strategic time of the spiritual gifts. April 4th, 1906 a small group of Christians gathered on the now famous Azusa St.  The Los Angeles Daily Times ran headline news about this incredible outpouring of the gifts in modern times. The headlines read, “Weird Babel of Tongues”.  A visiting Baptist pastor said, “The Holy Spirit fell upon me and filled me… instantly I began to speak in another language. I could not have been more surprised if someone had handed me a million dollars.

In 1900 there were no Christians claiming a Pentecostal experience.  By 1945 there were 16 mllion claiming this Pentecostal spirit-filled experience. By 1965 the number was 56 million. By the year 2000 the number was 650 million! Sociologists say never in history of man has there been a non-militaristic, non-political, voluntary movement that has had this kind explosive growth. Secular historians now call the 20th century, The Century of The Holy Spirit.

It might be significant that we were born in the very century when this was taking place. This happens to be the same century when a Last Days prophecy was fulfilled and Israel became a Nation. The Bible predicts that in the last days there will be an outpouring of the Gifts of the Spirit.

Sociologists now say never in history has there been a non-militaristic, non-political, voluntary movement with such explosive growth. Even secular historians call the 20th century the century of the Holy Spirit – the outpouring of Pentecostal power that literally changed the spiritual landscape of the world.  

If God’s plan is to empower the church to accomplish the plans of God at an accelerated pace then obviously the devil wants to destroy or distort it in some way causing as many Christians as possible to reject it.

There is a rowboat Christianity and there is a sailboat Christianity. You can strain at the oars for every inch of advancement or you can put up those sails that are down right now and be empowered to take off in dimensions you never even knew existed.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son and then for God so loved those who said yes to his son that he sent his Holy Spirit. No matter what you’ve been taught or allowed yourself to believe up to this point I want to ask you to prayerfully consider looking into God’s Word on these important matters. 

GP2RL Action Point:

Memorize Jeremiah 33:3 as a family goal or with friends. Read the Book of Acts. 


DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS

Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

    1.    Did you grow up in a church that taught about the Holy Spirit? 

        What are 3 things you knew to be true about the Holy Spirit before Sunday’s message?

When it comes to the Holy Spirit we all have experiential conclusions, doctrinal conclusions and theological conclusion. The big question we must all ask is simply, “Are my conclusions Biblical?”

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. NIV

    •    The Holy Spirit is a helper who comes alongside us to guide us in our Christian walk.

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. NIV

    •    The Holy Spirit is our teacher reminding us of the instruction of Jesus in our lives.

DISCUSSION: 

    2.    Share a time when you felt like God gave you guidance or direction by his Spirit in your life.

John 16:12-13 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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.  NIV

Jesus was unable to say all that He wanted to say when He was here. The Holy Spirit has been given to guide us into the Truth Jesus wants us to know and understand.

Not only will he help us navigate the moments in life that come our way but he will also speak to us about “what is yet to come.”

DISCUSSION: 

    3.    God doesn’t tell us everything we need to know about His plan for us at the point of salvation. What are some ways He uses the Holy Spirit to help us learn as we go? 

This week don’t just read your Bible but purpose to sit with The Author as you make time to spend with God. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you understand more of what God desires to teach you about your relationship with Him.

GP2RL: Memorize Jeremiah 33:3 as a family goal or with friends. Read the Book of Acts