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Why Pentecost?
Why Should We Want to Be "Pentecostals"?
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Sermon Summary: There are estimated to be at least a half billion Pentecostals alive today worldwide. Why is this significant? Why is it important? The answer lies in the life-changing power for ministry that is loosed in Christian believers by the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:47-49 ...repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with POWER from on high.
Acts 1:4-5, 8 ...“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised... [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...”
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of PENTECOST came, they were all together in one place.... [4] All of them were FILLED with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the SPIRIT ENABLED them.
•• Why Pentecost? — because (Luke 24:47, 49) the Gospel needs to be “preached ... to all nations ... [with Pentecostal] POWER”.
• Jesus told these well-trained apostles to “WAIT for the gift,” to “stay in [Jerusalem] UNTIL” they had received “POWER from on high”.
• So why Pentecost? Because without it you are lacking the necessary Pentecostal “power from on high”.
• Why Pentecost? It gives power to your preaching. It gives power to your witnessing.
• All Christians have the Word to share. Those apostles had it, too. But the Word alone was not enough. They needed Pentecostal power.
• Not just powerful words, but divine power.
• Their experience on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) made them “Pentecostals”, filled with the power of God.
Acts 4:29-31 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great BOLDNESS. [30] Stretch out your hand to HEAL and perform MIRACULOUS SIGNS and WONDERS through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were ALL FILLED with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
•• Another Pentecostal outpouring is recorded. The Lord added more “Pentecostals” to His Church. Why?
• “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word...boldly.”
• Why Pentecost? Because without it, most of us do not speak boldly ... even are timid.
•• Why Pentecost? Because we need healings, miracles, signs, and wonders to confirm the Word.
• Jesus, at age 30, did His first miracle after His anointing by the Holy Spirit (John 1:32-34 with John 2:11).
• Acts 10:38 = Jesus was first “anointed ... with the Holy Spirit and power ... [then] went around doing good and healing”.
Acts 9:17-20 ...“Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and BE FILLED with the Holy Spirit” ... [20] AT ONCE he began to PREACH in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
•• Why Pentecost? Because it may take the baptism with the Spirit to turn some people around.
• Paul the persecutor —> Paul the PREACHER.
• King Saul — the Holy Spirit came on him and turned him into a different person (1 Samuel 10:6).
• Are you content with how you are? Then this message is not for you.
• Do you want more power? more boldness? an outbreak of healings, miracles, signs and wonders?
• Then receive your Pentecost (as in Acts 2). Or receive a renewing of it today (as in Acts 4).
Acts 13:50-52 ...PERSECUTION against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [51] So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
•• Why Pentecost? Because it may take that to give you JOY in the midst of persecution and hard times.
• “Full of the Spirit” —> the Holy Spirit fruit of joy
• “Full of the Spirit” —> no room for pessimism
• “Full of the Spirit” —> crowds out that which is not of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. INSTEAD, be FILLED with the Spirit.
•• Why Pentecost? Because it fills you with God and displaces carnality and worldliness.
• Remember, He is the HOLY Spirit. Being full of Him is a wonderful sanctifying influence. Biblical “Pentecostals” are enabled by the Holy Spirit's infilling to increase in personal holiness.
So WHY Pentecost?
• To preach the Gospel with Pentecostal power
• To be witnesses with power
• To have a Holy-Ghost boldness to speak
• To experience an outbreak of healings, miracles, signs, wonders, and other gifts of the Spirit
• To be turned into a different person
• To experience enduring Holy-Ghost joy in the face of hardship and opposition
• To be filled with God’s sanctifying influence, disposing us towards a holy life
Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, February 20, 2005
A related sermon outline that may be of interest to you is "The Essence of Pentecostal Religion and Beliefs".
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of the Zondervan Corporation. All rights reserved.
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© 2005, James H. Feeney, All rights reserved.
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Additional free online bible studies and free sermons on speaking in tongues, divine healing, gifts of the Holy Spirit, divine inspiration, apostles and prophets today, and more may be linked to or viewed at Online Bible Studies and Free Sermons by Pastor Jim Feeney (http://www.jimfeeney.org). |
