“The Meaning of Pentecost” Acts 2

READ Acts 1:8

Acts 2:1-21 and vv. 37, 38

There are 3 great celebrations of the Christian Year:

…We make a lot of CHRISTMAS, and we should. (Jesus, born on Earth)

…We make a lot of EASTER, and we should. (Jesus, risen from the grave)

…But PENTECOST?, No celebration is made! -no gifts are given,

-no cards sent

-no family celebrations.

What is this day called PENETECOST?, or “Whitsunday” in the Anglican Church,

since many are baptized then wearing

white robes.

Simply put, PENTECOST is the day, 50 days after Easter, when the Lord Jesus gave

the Holy Spirit to the Church.

(In a way, the day could be called the “birthday of the church”

since according to 1 John 2:20 the chrisma, the “anointing” was given,

the ROOT of the word “Christian”.)

(On that day they experience the truth of 1 Cor. 12:13

“Jesus baptized, immersed, bonded them to Himself by One Spirit.)

The IDEA of Pentecost begins in the O.T. as Ezekiel, for example, (Ezek. 36:26)

verbalizes God’s promise to put the Spirit of God into the hearts of God’s people.

and it EMERGES in the Gospels and is FULFILLED in Acts, Galatians & Romans.

Let’s follow what might be called the “Pentecost Trail” from the Gospels to your life today!

PROP. God has given the Holy Spirit to live in your heart today.

t/s: The events in the N.T. show the “meaning” of this Indwelling Spirit to you.

I.) Beginning with Jesus, the APPROVAL.

`1. I want to note 2 things in passing:

(i.) -Jesus 2 rôles identified by John, “Lamb” and “Spirit-Baptizer”

“Lamb” John 1:29 “Baptizer” John 1:32, 33 (ii.) -The promise, John 7:39 “Out of his belly shall flow rivers…” when Jesus is Glorified.

-The promise elaborated in the 5 “Comforter” (Paraclete) sayings of John 14-16

2. There is the meaning of the DESCENT of the Spirit UPON Jesus at

His Baptism.

--the event is described at Matt. 3:16b, 17

…The “Dove”, and the Voice from Heaven.

--The Voice says, “This is my beloved son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED”

…The visible display of the Spirit came to Jesus because He did right.

--So the HOLY Spirit comes to the Christian as a mark of loving approval,

because he is MADE RIGHT by the cleansing of the Blood of Jesus,

…Made Holy, so the Holy Spirit can LIVE in him.

II.) It Proceeds with the First Christians, the COMMISSION.

1. Look at the “happening: Acts 2

-“Pentecost”, “Feast of Weeks”, one of the 3 festivals where people gathered

in Jerusalem (Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles)

-vv.. 2, 3 “sound of rushing wind” and “tongues of fire” -- what a sense of awe!

-v. 4 They each began to speak in other languages (glossai), “languages” which

they had not learned.

…At most they knew Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek,

but now they are heard “praising God” with languages they had

never learned, but yet were understood by those from far places of

the world from which the Jerusalem visitors had come.

(Note v. 8, where these “tongues” are called “dialects” dialektoo

(The curse upon the worldly ambitions of Babylon bldg. to Heaven is reversed. Gen 11)

(PENTECOST has an historical event (just as Calvary, the Cross, was a “once” event).

…never repeated quite like this memorable event, with the fire and wind’

However, the language miracle is repeated 2 times in Acts,

w/ Gentiles from household of Cornelius (Acts 10)

w/ converts of John the Baptist at Ephesus (Acts 19 …19:3)

2. v. 33 A key word “poured out” ekporeuo Acts 2:22

“received the promise” and “shed forth” this.

3. What did it all mean?

(i.)One of the meanings of this event is that

IT IS A GREAT COMMISSIONING EVENT.

Acts 1:8 God had said when they receive His Spirit,

they would be His “witnesses” everywhere.

“Everywhere” meaning everywhere on Earth,

…without regard to race or language. Jesus died for all the peoples of Earth.

(ii.) Their task was to be “witnessing” …. a prelude to “soul-winning”.

(iii.) They could be courageous, because THEY KNEW THEY WOULD

HAVE GOD’S HELP BY THE SPIRIT.

III.) The Trail of Pentecost Comes to You to EQUIP.

1. A miracle happens when a person is saved,

Jesus comes into the life,

The Holy Spirit comes from Heaven to forever live in that person’s life.

--John 3:6 The person is “born of the Spirit”, the “Wind of God blows into

his life.”

2. The key verse here is Titus 3:5 b, 6

“…the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit which he

shed (poured…ekporeuoo, the very word used at Pentecost!).

(This is the reality the signs signified.)

3. Your life is made different as you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

(i.) You have an awareness of “sonship”. Gal. 4:6 “Spirit comes in crying’

Abba, Father.

(ii.) You have a new life emerging…the “fruit” of the Spirit. Gal 5:22

(iii.) You have a new “commission”, to tell others about Jesus. Acts 1:8

CONC.

--You are not left alone to live out the Christian life by sheer grit!

…The Spirit has come to be with you in sadness and celebration,

…when surrounded by the enemy, or gathered with fellow believers.

--You are not left alone,

…The Spirit has come to make possible that “abundance” that Jesus speaks of.

-There is a quality about the Christian that has the aroma of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Psa. 46:4 suggests a song that speaks of the abundance the Indwelling Spirit brings to

the beleiver’s life:

“There is a river, that flows from deep within.

There is a fountain

that frees the soul from sin.

Come to this water,

There is a vast supply,

There is a river,

That never shall run dry.”

“There is a river, that flows from God above,

There is a fountain,

That’s filled with His great love.

Come to this fountain,

There is a vast supply.

There is a river, that never shall run dry.”

--David and Max Sapp 1969