Pentecost Sunday

Rev Gideon Lee

  

This morning is Pentecost Sunday and if you are a true Pentecostal you will know why it's an important day. The testimony this morning by Bro Vive is so in line with what I'm going to be sharing about. We are all going to reach out and evangelise. Not just coming to church but be mobilised to reach out and share the gospel.

Acts 2:1-24

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

​1 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.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.’”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

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.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:36-41

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 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–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

How many of you have been to a concert? Or seen a concert on TV, where before the artists come to stage there are music and snake machine and pyrotechnics on stage? But we didn't pay good money for these fireworks right? We pay to see the artists. These fireworks are to build up our excitement.

I want you to imagine that day where they went to the upper room where all of the people were gathered in one accord. Then there was a rushing wind and the people began speaking in tongues. They were wondering how the people were speaking in their native tongues? This was an important date but after all these you need to understand that the main event was when Peter stood up to preach. 3,000 came to the Lord. God was preparing for this event since the days of Joel. He sent the Holy Spirit to get our attention and when Peter stood up to preach that was what God wanted us to hear.

Apart from what we do in church, like what the pastor last week said, it's not the ambience or the lighting, or the preacher that comes but the presence of God that we should be after. It must be about lives changed and lives touched. That's how we know the presence of God is here.

Some of us interpret the presence of God differently. Some may say it's the goose bumps I feel or that I am touched and cry but after all these it must be a change in our life. There must be lives that are transformed. If not it will just be another sermon.

I pray that all our services will have the rushing wind and the tongues of fire but I pray that there must be the presence of God and people coming to him. Let's look at peter's preaching.

Acts 2:22

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

He said that God sent Jesus to mankind. God confirmed that through signs and miracles.

Acts 2:23

This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

He also said that it is you who put him to death. Crucify him.

Acts 2:24

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

But on the third day he rose again. He didn't stay dead.

Acts 2:33

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Jesus is seated on the right hand of God to rule and reign.

God sent Jesus to mankind. Then you sent him to the cross and crucified him. On the third day he rose again. Now Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.

Isn't that the message of the gospel?

He is seated because his job is done. He has sacrificed for us once and for all. That is the gospel that Peter preached that day. It is the same message today. One day he is going to come back to us. And I pray that heaven will be populated by people we know. Your family and friends.

Like what Bro Vive shared, our brethren is evangelising aggressively. It is never about debate but the love of God that compels a person. It's that at the end of the day. You too must share and show the love of God, we will never reach them.

Peter quoted many prophesies. He could have stayed all day to share as there were many prophesies. The world is on the wrong side up and we need to get the world on the right side up and we are the ones to do it. Tell your neighbour pastor is talking about you. Then tell yourself that pastor is talking about you.

This is the Jesus that we crucify

Acts 2:36-37

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

These people were convicted of their sins. They asked Peter what must they do. The message of the gospel is that we are all sinners and when the word of God is preached I pray it cuts through the hearts of sinners. Sometimes we don't want to talk about sin in church, but we must not forget that the gospel includes the conviction of sin. Peter brought them to a point of conviction. They were cut in their hearts.

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–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Peter told them to repent and be baptised. Is that all? Peter said with that they'll receive salvation.

I once was told a story of an evangelist called Peter Cartright. And he was told that the president of the United States, Andrew Jackson was attending and they told him to tone down his message so that he does not offend him. Peter Cartright thought about it but he said to the president if you don't know Jesus he has to know him and if he don't know Jesus , he's going straight to hell. After the message, the president shook his hand and said if he had more men like him he will find it easier to run the country. He told the truth. 

How many of you pray for your Agong? Or your country's leaders. Sometimes we are critical of them but if we don't pray for them we don't have a right to criticise them. The solution of our country is Jesus. Pray for our country. Our leaders, our Agong, our Sultan. Change must start from the TOP. I like that. Change must start from Tabernacle of Praise.

I'm praying that God will light a fire on our behind, so that we can get up from where we are and do the things that God has called us to.

Pentecost means the 50th. Celebrated 50 days after the Passover. The Passover was when they painted the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and that the angel of death will "passover" that household and their firstborn will not die. The first Passover was celebrated when? The theologians calculated that it would be the time when Moses came down from the mountain and the people told Aaron that Moses have left too long and they made the golden calf. He was so angry that Moses broke the Ten Commandments and that first Pentecost 3,000 died but on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 was added on that day. Coincidence? The letter of the law kills and give life.

Remember the story of Elijah. After winning the battle with Baal and killed all their prophets, he received word from Jezebel, and Elijah heard and ran for his life. Just a message from Jezebel, not even in person. God had to save him twice through the Ravens. And he went through a pity party. Then God passed by that place. First as a mighty wind but God was not there. Then came a fire and God was not there. Then an earthquake but God was not there. Elijah found God in the still small voice. When you take time to seek him in his presence, you'll hear from God.

It is the gospel that will bring the 3,000 to find him. Pentecost is the day the church is birthed. The church began to grow in numbers. And the church was formed for one purpose, to take the same message that Peter preached to the rest of the world.

I'll end with this story. How many of you know what's a pendulum? The law of the pendulum is this. When you take it and swing it from end to end it will go on and on until it lose its momentum. The law is that it will not swing to or beyond the same point. It will always be slightly less than the swing before. This professor asked the class if they believe in the law of the pendulum. All said yes.

He then asked for a volunteer. Then he said he'll bring that pendulum to his nose and when he let go, the pendulum shouldn't hit the volunteer on its swing back. But instead of the pendulum he put a big weighted ball. But when he swung the pendulum, the volunteer was nowhere. What he said he believed was not reflected by his action.

Does what you believe in line up with your actions? If it is not, I ask that all of us adjust it so that gospel will be preached.

Testimony by Bro Vive on the open door to share at the Interfaith Dialogue at USM.