Pentecost

I have an anniversary coming up this week.  (Actually, it it today!)  July 2nd, 1976 is the day that I was first baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  It was a life altering experience. Pentecost Sunday was actually a few weeks ago, but I thought that I would preach about Pentecost today.

I.  Baptized in the Holy Spirit:  Acts 1:4-8

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,”He said,“you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall bewitnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit plays many roles in the world, especially in the life of a believer.  We would never be saved if the Holy Spirit did not speak to our hearts, to convict us of sin and convince us of the the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We recieve the Spirit into our hearts when we respond in faith to the message of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit guides us throughout our walk with Christ.  However, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a unique experience that is especially designed to empower the believer to be a witness for Jesus.  Now, we can be a witness without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but we can be a more powerful witness with it.

II.  Pentecost Sunday:  Acts 2:1-4

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This first event on the day of Pentecost is the only time that the sound of the rushing wind and the tongues of fire appeared.  There are other instances of the Holy Spirit coming upon believers with the result of them speaking in tongues.  (See Acts chapters 10 & 19)  On this day the disciples went from hiding in fear to boldly proclaiming the gospel message.  It is recognized as the birthday of the church and is celebrated by all Christian denominations that utilize the church calendar.

III.  Need Strength?  I Corinthians 14:1-5

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Now, I recognize that these verses are speaking about the superiority of prophesy over tongues.  However, it also tells us something about speaking in tongues.  First, we are told that we are not speaking to people, but to God.  Some refer to it as the perfect prayer language.  It gives us the opportunity to pray without the barrier of human language.  When we don’t know how to pray, we can pray in tongues.

Secondly, we are told that the individual who prays in tongues edifies themselves.  Edify simply means to strengthen.  Even as we saw in Acts chapter one, the baptism in the Holy Spirit provides power to the believer.

IV.  Just Ask:  Luke 11:9-13

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is available simply by asking.  You don’t have to be in a church service, a camp meeting or at an evangelistic crusade.  Wherever you are, God can hear your prayers.

Sometimes, it happens very quickly, other times a person must linger in prayer for quite a while.  Sometimes people will have to ask for it several times.  People have many different experiences of how they receive the Baptism.

Once a person receives the Baptism, it is meant to be used.  It should become a regular part of our devotional time.  We should pray in our native language, we should pray in tongues.  We should sing in our native language, we should sing in tongues.

It is is gift that God has for His children.  It is meant to be used.

But you have to ask for it.

 

These are the notes from the message that I preached on 6/28/20.  You can watch the message at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2718376931767504

All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible.  Any advertisements that might appear are placed by WordPress.  I have no control over them, nor do I receive any money from them.