Pentecost Sunday | Living in Courage & Confidence
Pentecost celebration carries a double ring:
Ring 1: Pentecost was a celebration of the God giving the 10 Commandments to Moses 50 days after their exodus from Egypt.
Ring 2: Pentecost was a celebration of the first wheat harvest.
Together these rings represent a celebration of spiritual direction, identity and physical sustenance provided by God.
Pentecost is a Seasonal Celebration of the ever-present, internal power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost is a Seasonal Challenge to live a life of courageous calling in full confidence in God’s love and power.
John 17:13-18 (NIV) 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they arenot of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that youprotect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
We live here but this isn’t our home. We have a different spiritual makeup than this world. We have a different spiritual purpose than this world.
Acts 1:4-6, 8-9 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Holy Spirit baptism is a gift that gives supernatural power for a supernatural life and a supernatural purpose.
· The disciples waited because they wanted the promise. The promise of the forever presence and power of God.
· The disciples placed no preconditions on the gift to their acceptance.
Any resistance to God, any restrictions placed on Him or His ways always leads to less of God’s presence and power. To limit God’s access to our lives is to limit what God can do in us and through us.
2 immediate impacts of the Holy Spirit baptism: Courage for Calling & Confidence in Power.
Courage for Calling:
Acts 2:14-20 (NIV) 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 people 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 heavens 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.’
The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives overflows us with courage to live out our calling.
Confidence in God’s Power:
Acts 3:1-10 (NIV) One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.