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Sermons PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES |
Great Things About Pentecost
1. Pentecost was the holy day celebrated by the Jews seven weeks after the Passover. It was called the "feast of weeks" in the Old Testament [Exodus 34:22]. This was one of three times each year when all Jewish males were supposed to appear before the Lord [Deuteronomy 16:16-17].
2. This occasion had been celebrated for hundreds of years by the first century A.D. It is one particular Pentecost which interests us . . . the great day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and the gospel was preached. It was on this day that 3,000 people were baptized and that the church had its beginning.
3. Jesus had pointed the apostles to the coming of this great day.
a. Mark 9:1 (NKJV) And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."
b. Acts 1:5 (NKJV) "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
4. Let us notice several great things about this great day of Pentecost.
I. PENTECOST OFFERED A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S POWER
A. The apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost on Pentecost [Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.]
B. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit in a special measure.
1. All Christians receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38], but all do not have the apostolic measure of the Spirit's power.
2. The apostles would be guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit [John 16:13].
3. The memory of the apostles would be reminded by the Holy Spirit [John 14:26].
4. The apostles were able to lay hands on others and impart miraculous spiritual gifts to them [Acts 8:18 (NKJV) And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,]
C. These miraculous manifestations of the Spirit served the purpose of confirming that the message being preached was true [Mark 16:17-20 (NKJV) "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
II. PENTECOST OFFERED A GREAT PREACHER.
A. Early in the ministry of Jesus, Andrew brought his brother Simon to Christ [John 1:40-41 (NKJV) One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).] Jesus called Simon Cephas which means "a stone." Peter is the Greek form of the name Cephas.
B. Peter became a rock in his loyalty and faithfulness to Christ.
1. Peter's human foibles are highlighted in Scripture. Inspired writing offers no cover-ups.
a. Peter's faith failed him when he walked on the water to meet Jesus [Matthew 14:28-31].
b. Peter denied Jesus the night before the Lord died [Matthew 26:74-75 (NKJV) Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.]
c. Peter later behaved like a hypocrite in his dealings with Gentile brethren in Antioch [Galatians 2:11 (NKJV) Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;]
2. In spite of his weaknesses, Peter stayed the course. He kept coming back to being a true follower of Christ.
3. It was Peter who was plain-spoken in announcing who Jesus was. When many of Jesus' disciples had turned away from Him, He asked the apostles if they would also forsake Him. Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [John 6:68-69 (NKJV)]
C. All the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. It is most fitting, though, that it was Peter who preached the great Pentecost sermon. Acts 2:14 (NKJV) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words...."
III. PENTECOST OFFERED A GREAT SERMON.
A. Peter responded to the false charge that the apostles were full of new wine. He explained that the events which had taken place on that day of Pentecost were the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.
B. Peter then set out to prove simply that Jesus was the Messiah (Christ).
1. Proof from the miracles Jesus performed. Many in Peter's audience that Pentecost day had witnessed the miracles, wonders, and signs performed by Jesus [Acts 2:22 (NKJV) "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know;]
2. Proof from Jesus fulfilling prophecy. Peter quoted from Psalms 16 [Acts 2:25-28 (NKJV) "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'] Many students of Scripture in that day thought David was speaking of himself. However, Peter pointed out that David was dead and his burial place was known to them. David's soul was still in Hades. This prophecy of a resurrection must apply to someone else.
3. Proof from Jesus' resurrection.
a. Peter stated that David's prophecy referred to the resurrection of Jesus [Acts 2:31 (NKJV) "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.]
b. Peter declared that he and the other apostles were witnesses of the resurrection. [Acts 2:32]. They had seen the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes!
C. The sermon closed with the affirmation that Jesus was both Lord and Christ [Acts 2:36 (NKJV) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."]
D. This was not a dry, doctrinal dissertation about a long ago event. Peter intended to help these people understand their guilt for the death of Christ.
1. Acts 2:23 (NKJV) "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
2. Acts 2:36 "know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,"
3. No one could evade responsibility. There can be no passing of the buck. YOU CRUCIFIED!!! The sin is on your heads. The blood is on your hands.
E. Peter's Pentecost sermon is a masterpiece of logic and emotional persuasion. He spoke effectively to the head and to the heart.
IV. PENTECOST OFFERS A GREAT QUESTION.
A. The response was exactly what Peter sought. [Acts 2:37 (NKJV) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"]
B. The sermon had "cut to the heart." The people accept what Peter has said. Their belief is implicit in their words "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
C. This reaction was not caused by some "better-felt-than-told" miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the hearers. Instead, the text says "now when they heard this ...." Hearing the word produces faith [Romans 10:17]. Peter's Pentecost audience provides us with a classic example of how people are convicted of their sins.
D. This audience deserves credit for the way they received the gospel.
1. Stephen's audience heard a similar message. They gnashed on Stephen with their teeth, stopped their ears, and stoned him to death [Acts 7:54-58].
2. Many hearers today respond with neither ready acceptance nor violent rejection. Instead, they are apathetic and unconcerned with their spiritual condition.
V. PENTECOST OFFERS A GREAT ANSWER.
A. Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1. His hearers already believed in Christ. That is evident from verse 37.
2. They needed to do two things:
a. Repent -- turn
b. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
3. Those who obeyed these instructions were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.
B. Sin separates us from God [Isaiah 59:1-2]. Pardon -- remission -- forgiveness: these words express what must take place before we can be reconciled with God.
1. Acts 2:38 tells us what is NECESSARY before this reconciliation can take place.
2. God has already done His part -- His Son was put to death [Acts 2:23]. That was necessary so that "the body of sin might be destroyed" [Romans 6:6]
3. What remains is for every one of us to choose to follow God's plan for forgiveness. Unfortunately, a great many people treat Acts 2:38 as if it were not in the Bible. [Story of woman who clipped Acts 2:38 out of her Bible].
VI. PENTECOST OFFERS A GREAT RESULT
A. Three thousand people gladly received Peter's word and were baptized [Acts 2:41 (NKJV) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.]
1. Some were not saved on Pentecost. Only those who "gladly received his word" were baptized.
2. The 3,000 who were baptized were "added to them" -- the apostles and possibly the 120 disciples who had met with the apostles back in Acts 1. Their numbers were increased immediately by over 2000%. The growth was only beginning. Soon there were 5,000 men (not counting women and children) [Acts 4:4]. Then Luke stops giving numbers and simply says that the number of the disciples multiplied greatly [Acts 6:7].
B. These disciples in Jerusalem made up the first church of Christ.
1. Jesus had promised He would build His church [Matthew 16:18].
2. Acts 2:47 (NKJV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. [Note: There are textual questions about whether the word "church" should be in this verse. However, the group to which they were added is clearly the church in Jerusalem. Thus whatever the decision of the textual critics, Acts 2:47 shows saved people being added to the body of Christ].
3. From the day of Pentecost onward, the church was an existing institution with people being added to it. Before that time, the church had always been spoken of as future institution yet to come.
CONCLUSION
1. Pentecost is truly a great day in the history of Christianity.
2. We can receive the same benefits today which were first offered on Pentecost.
Copyright ©2002 by John Gaines. May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided this notice accompanies any use.
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LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST |
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