PENTECOST

Today is the Anniversary of Pentecost June 12, 2011

While the term “Holy Spirit” in only used three times in the Old Testament, God’s Spirit is mentioned 389 times. Coincidentally the Holy Spirit is mentioned 379 times in the New Testament. In the Old Testament God’s Spirit goes out and empowers people to do mighty deeds for God and His people.


Pentecost was Jewish Thanksgiving.
Jerusalem was jammed full of religious Jews
who had come from all over the world.
They heard this roaring of wild wind blasts,
and a huge crowd formed,
all wide-eyed and open-mouthed,
everyone running into some disciple
who was talking in his own language
of the wonderful works of God.


1. The Church needs POWER.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

a) "But it was all-important that they should receive the necessary power: hence Jesus adds, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” The power here promised is not authority, for this he had given them in the commission; but it is that miraculous power to know all the truth, and work miracles in proof of their mission, which he had promised them before his death. He says to them, virtually, It is not for you to know the time at which I will establish my kingdom, but you shall receive power to inaugurate it on earth when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. This is an additional proof that the kingdom was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost." —Acts of the Apostles (McGarvey)

b) JESUS is to be proclaimed to the whole world!

At least 15 different languages and dialects were spoken at Pentecost. The gospel would be carried by those who were converted to all these places. The way would be prepared for the labors of the disciples there. When the Jerusalem church was scattered, "But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 8:4 (NLT)

c) Jesus said: "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Matt 8:11

d) Malachi prophesied: "For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the Lord of hosts." Mal 1:11

e) Isaiah spoke of the Nations. "For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the Lord, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord." Isaiah 66:18-20


2. Worship GOD As He Really Is.

"Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:21-24

"That is, men must offer a worship corresponding with the nature and attributes of God."—Four-Fold Gospel (McGarvey)

"God was about to be revealed as the Father of all believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with Him."—Matthew Henry

"God is Spirit, and only by the power of His Spirit can people worship Him as he really is." (GNB)

Spiritual worship can be offered anywhere. But as “faith without actions is useless,” it is just as true that we express our worship through our actions. But it is God Himself who grants us the power to worship Him. Jude wrote: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

"And because you are sons [and daughters], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Gal 4:6

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." Psalms 145:17-19