Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• When we think of Pentecost we often think of the coming of the Holy Spirit
• It was originally a Jewish festival
• 50 days
• It was a day of great joy
• Another name: the Feast of Weeks
• The second of three major festivals
• The trumpets, the choir, the Psalms
• Thinking of a different harvest
• Jesus is our Passover Lamb
• God sent His Holy Spirit 50 days after Jesus was crucified
• 3000 were saved that day
• This was the birth of the church as we know it
• 5000 saved afterwards
• The Church has been growing ever since
• Overview:
• The Moment of Pentecost
• The Message of Pentecost
• The Movement that began at Pentecost

The Moment of Pentecost

• It has "fully come"
• A sign of fulfillment
• John the Baptist had predicted this
• Jesus had said to His disciples
• Acts 1:4-5
• The moment of the giving of the Holy Spirit
• The pivotal act of humanity happened on the day of Passover
• Jesus Christ was offered as our Passover Lamb
• Explanation
• The people were expectant
• The Holy Spirit was poured out upon them - a very significant day
• The law of God would be written on peoples' hearts
• This was to replace the Ten Commandments (given 50 days after their escape from Egypt)
• The Israelites could not keep the Ten Commandments
• We cannot keep the Ten Commandments
• Explanation
• We would be given a capacity to obey the Law of God
• (But remember salvation is through faith in Christ alone)
• The Cross is what God has done for you
• Pentecost is what God is doing in you
• v2-4
• A sound like rushing mighty wind
• Tongues of fire/flame (upon the heads of the apostles)
• Wind and fire - represented God
  • Examples
• They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
• v9
• Many nationalities heard the apostles speaking in the own language
• A gift given by God
• They are declaring the wonderful works of God
• They are declaring the works of Christ
• Have you understood the significance of Pentecost today?
• In the Old Testament God spoke through Hebrew
• At Pentecost God is speaking through many languages
• Do you know this God?
• You can only know God is the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in you

The Message of Pentecost

• The people were perplexed and confused
• Some thought they were drunk
• Peter address the crowd and spoke with great authority
• The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus Christ
• v16-21
• Peter explains it is a part fulfillment of a previous prophecy
• (The signs of the moon and sun have not yet come to pass)
• Young men and old men shall have visions and dreams
• This occurred in the New Testament
• We have become priests and servants of the Living God
• v22-24
• Remember all these miracles – no-one could deny them
• The acts at calvary were the purpose of God
• Christ had died – though they were still responsible
• God raised Christ from the dead
• His message: about the Son of God
• The message of the Church is not a social gospel
• Our message is about Jesus Christ
• That people  need to yield their life to Him, for He is the only answer to their sin
• v24-35: Peter speaks to the Jewish audience from the Old Testament
• He quotes from Psalm 16 (v8-11)
• He quotes from Psalm 68 (v18)
• Peter labours the point about the Resurrection
• This is a sticking point for people today (including religious people)
• Do you believe it?
• There needs to be a response to this message?
• If you believe it you will be forgiven, given a new life and taken to heaven

The Movement that began at Pentecost

• There was a movement in heaven that day
• Supernatural things happened from heaven
• There was a movement on the earth
• It started in the hearts of the disciples
• It spread to the people listening
• They were listening at God was speaking to them
• They were deeply moved
• The asked "what shall we do?" (v37)
• Peter instructs that they repent and be baptised (v38)
• We must repent:
• Acknowledge that you are a sinner
• Hate your sin
• Ask God to change your heart and set your life in a different direction
• We must be baptised:
• Make a public declaration
• Baptism does not save you – but is a demonstration of your change: an outward act of an inward change
• Believer's Baptism – not infant baptism
• It is not an option but a command
• "Be saved from this perverse generation" (v40)
• The movement was so great (v42-45)
• They continued daily
• They loved fellowship
• There was great working and power of the Holy Spirit that fear came upon the community
• They sold the possessions and shared with those who had need
• They celebrated communion 
• They continued in group prayer
• What was the name of the Church?
• It had no name - it was the Church of Jesus Christ
• It is not about names or denominations (it is about Jesus Christ)
• It is not the form, building or ritual but the gift of the Holy Spirit
• What sort of church is ours?
• Quote from Spurgeon (paraphrase)
• The Lord dwells where there is unity
• Our unity is in Christ, the Word of God and prayer
• Imagine the joy of the people that day
• Isaiah 9:2-3

Closing Remarks