Title: Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:1-4)
If you ask what is the greatest event for us who believe in Jesus, the first is that the Holy Spirit came down, and the second is that we believed in Jesus. The event that the Holy Spirit came upon the early church was the greatest event on earth. The reason why it is the greatest event of mankind is because the church has only begun. That's why Pentecost is called the church's birthday.
I did not know the meaning of the cross and resurrection until I received the Holy Spirit. I never knew why Jesus had to die on the cross and be resurrected. The problem that the disciples could not solve at the level of their faith was the events of the cross and resurrection. The day on which this unresolved case was resolved is the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is also called the Day of Pentecost because it is the fiftieth day after His resurrection from the cross.
John the Baptist said, "I baptize with water, but he who comes after me baptizes with fire and the Holy Spirit." Jesus said, "In a few days you will receive the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit is the Comforter. This comforter means helper, comforter, counselor in English. So, when you and I are grieving, when we are afflicted with a terrible disease, please believe that God is always with us as our master, always with you.
1. The work of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost is the Lord's promise.
Let's read Acts 1:4, 5 together. “4) Assembled with the apostles, and commanded them, saying, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from me.” 5) John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. He did." Beloved! The Lord is faithful. He is the one who always keeps his promises. As promised, after 10 days, the Holy Spirit came and took the 120 people who were gathering and praying.
But to whom do you give this Holy Spirit? Let's read Acts 2:39 together. “This promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far off, to whomever the Lord our God may call.” He promised that this grace would not be given to a limited number or special people, not just the 120 people who gathered in the upper room of John Mark in the early church, but "to all the distant people! That is, to all those whom God calls." I believe that you and I are among the “people who call”. What is this promise? It is a promise to pour out the Holy Spirit.
Let's take a look at verse 38 in particular. “Peter said to him, 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.” What does that mean? It is a promise that “the gift of the Holy Spirit will be given to those who repent.” Who is all the distant people? It refers to the Gentiles, and it is a promise given to all those whom God has called. So this promise is also a promise given to us. Again, it was not an accident that Jesus' disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, but the promise of God long ago was fulfilled.
Now, God is trying to accomplish his work of salvation through the church and through you who have received the Holy Spirit. That is why he was referring to Acts 1:8. “But 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.”
Guys, how important is this word? Do you want to receive power? Do you want to devote yourself to the work of God? Do you want to give your life for the kingdom of God and for the work of witnessing the gospel? Any Christian to some degree will be able to say "Amen" to this question. If so, then the following is important. If so, everyone, "Please wait for the Holy Spirit. That's why the text says, "Only when the Holy Spirit comes on you...." God pours out His Spirit on those who love God. So the Bible He said, "Do not get drunk with wine, for this is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit...!" (Ephesians 5:18) You must receive the Holy Spirit promised by God, the Spirit of God. must receive
Actually, Jesus' brothers were a bit of a problem, weren't they? Jesus' brothers did not understand what Jesus was doing. And isn't Jesus the eldest son in the house? The eldest son has to take care of the house, but he goes out every day and doesn't take care of the housework. So, dissatisfaction with the brothers is bound to pile up? John wrote that "the brothers of Jesus did not believe in Him" (John 7:3-5). There were 120 of these brothers who did not believe in Jesus.
As I introduce the history of the Pentecost Darakbang's descent of the Holy Spirit, I feel something important. It was that they were united in one mind. Even if we pray together, we can pray differently. The contents of the prayer may be different. But these people are united in heart and say, "Pour out on us the Spirit of God you have promised!" I prayed like this. God works when our hearts are united as one and seek God's will. They gathered in one place. And we shared our hearts. And he devoted himself to prayer at all. I sincerely hope that all the beloved members of our presidential election family will pray with one heart and love each other. This is the kind of Pentecost we miss today.
2. They gathered in one place.
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. But where have you been? He came when people of faith gathered in one place. What kind of people have experienced the work of the Holy Spirit?
First, we made an appointment and waited.
The place where these people gathered was "the upper room" (Acts 1:13). It's called "Mark's Attic". When Jesus ascended into heaven, those who saw the ascension were told, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father." But there weren't that many people here on the day of Pentecost. About 500 people heard the command of Jesus when he ascended to heaven, but the number of people who believed the promise and waited for 10 days was about 120. The people who followed Jesus gathered in one place just as Jesus said. These people prayed earnestly. It is recorded that "they were all of the same heart and devoted themselves to prayer" (Acts 1:14).
Who can experience the work of the Holy Spirit? These are people who hold on to the Word and do nothing in prayer. I pray that you will hold on to the word of promise strongly.
The second is those who are interested.
Those who were interested in the word of the Lord remained and waited for the Holy Spirit. Those who were more interested in receiving the Holy Spirit left the place. Dear all! I pray that you will be really interested in God's work. I am truly grateful when I see the saints participating in the Lord's work with interest. And I hope you will be more interested in the Lord and the Church. I ask that your interest in your work and your church be greater than your concern for anything else.
3. The Holy Spirit came upon them.
First, there was a sound like a rushing, strong wind. They heard sounds they hadn't heard. There are many sounds in the world. Among the many voices, there is a voice that God hears. And there was a splitting tongue like fire upon each one. You see what you haven't seen. You will see things that have never happened before. And he began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gave him the ability to speak. You will be able to say things that you could not say before. They spoke in tongues that they could not speak before. Dear all! Why does God pour out the Holy Spirit on us?
The first is to make us co-workers with God.
God wants to work with us in our weakness. This is the blessing given on the Day of Pentecost. Gentlemen, we must continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In John 20:19-21, Jesus said that He would send us into the world when He came and gave peace to His disciples. “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you!” This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit. He sent us out into the world to be witnesses of the gospel. I hope that you will be convinced of this fact and that we will be able to carry out this noble mission well.
The second is to change us.
There was a wonderful change because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. I look forward to this at Pentecost.
1) A change of existence has occurred.
Unbelievers became believers, and formerly ordinary human beings became God's children filled with God.
2) Personality has changed.
As the Holy Spirit dwells in them and begins to take over them, their personality changes. Life is changed. The language changes. Life is different. A person who has not had any fruit begins to bear fruit.
3) A change in ability has occurred.
The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested through their bodies, and amazing things they could not have done happened. Something I couldn't decide! Something I couldn't even put my mind to! Things that could not be helped to struggle and cry so much are solved like a thread. You will see God at work.
4) A change of heart occurred.
Let's read verse 26. “Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my lips rejoice, and the body shall dwell in hope” (Acts 2:26), that is, joy in the heart and hope in the body. Although it is David's prophecy about the Messiah, those with the Holy Spirit can live a life full of joy and hope because they have the hope of resurrection even though they are incorruptible like this.
Shakespeare once said, "If you are happy, you can walk all day and you will not get tired, but if your heart is troubled, you will be exhausted after walking ten miles." Spurgeon said, "The greatest of all gifts is the gift of laughter." Only those with the Holy Spirit can possess true joy.
Hopefully, the incident of Pentecost that occurred in the early church was a one-time event. But the Pentecostal event continues to recur over and over again. Even now, I believe that the work of the Pentecostal Holy Spirit is taking place among the believers and churches who pray faithfully and wait for the Holy Spirit.
I pray in the name of the Lord that all of us look forward to the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit to experience a change of existence, a change of personality, a change of power, and a change of heart.