Pentecost was the most important event in the book Acts. The Jewish Rabbis held that
Pentecost related to the giving of the law in the Old Testament.
In Exodus 19:16-19 we read:
Exodus 19:10-11:
“and the Lord said to Moses, “go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes, and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”
Exodus 19:16-18
"on the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it; like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.”
On Mt. Sinai, there was much commotion; lightning, thunder, smoke, trumpet blast, but the main event was receiving The Ten Commandments.
At Pentecost; a tornado-like wind, tongues as of fire, various languages, but the main event was that the Holy Spirit was given.
In the upper room, the 120 spoke; outside were people of 15 nations, “what’s this we’re hearing? This is the good news of Jesus, in our languages.”
It would be like one of us speaking Spanish, another in French, another in Latin, another in German, and another in Russian.
Then there would be people here from those countries, and they would understand the teachings of Jesus in their own language.
Today, that will never again happen like that, yet the Holy Spirit’s fullness is still given. The Spirit would be filling us with his presence to get the message of Jesus Christ out to the masses.
Question, “Are you filled with the spirit?”
In the book of Acts there were reactions and responses!!!
1. One response:
Acts 12:
“they were amazed and perplexed,” they asked one another, “what does this mean?” They didn’t know what was going on. Today, some people have no idea of God and the church. It is sort of like the parable Jesus gave of the farmer that sowed the seed and some was cast on hard soil. The birds came along and picked it up. It didn’t even have a chance to penetrate into the soil. Jesus was saying, with some people the word has no place in their hearts.
2. Second response:
Acts 13:
some, “made fun of them” and said, “they have had too much wine.”
Today, some still laugh and make fun of God and his church. They have no sense of seriousness concerning God’s word and his message. They mocked and made fun of Jesus even as he was on the cross.
Then Peter preached his message:
Acts 2:14-16:
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. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If we withhold our witness, ones will be lost.
Peter continued his message of the cross:
Acts 2:23:
this man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross, but God raised him from the dead.
Acts 2:36:
“therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
As back then, and even yet today there are varied responses of the message of the cross. This message that Peter preached of Christ dying and being raised from the dead is still the centerpiece of human history. And because Jesus did die and was raised from the dead, He is proclaimed as “Lord and Christ.”
The question is: “Is He Lord and Christ of your life. The bible tells us that, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is lord.”
Acts 2:37-38:
“when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to peter and the other apostles, “brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “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.
Repenting of our sins is the only way to being saved and receiving eternal life.
Have you repented?
And of course baptism is critically important, as it is a witness of our faith in Christ. This new life of Christ in us is the work of Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41:
those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
In Acts there are other varied and many responses:
The Jews were disturbed and angered.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Ananias and Sapphira had sold their land and lied to the Holy Spirit concerning the amount of money they sold it for. As a result, they were struck dead.
1. Ho-hum?
2. Making fun?
3. Holding back the truth to God?
Today, the important point is:
