The Power of PENTECOST
Notes
Transcript
THE POWER OF PENTECOST
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Pentecost not only changed the church world, but the secular world as well. Within thirty-two years after Pentecost, most of the then-known world had heard about Christ. The people of that time had no printing presses, church literature, church buildings, or automobiles to help spread the gospel. Nevertheless, the Spirit filled the believers and gave them ambition and determination to do God’s work. We can have the same power today.
I. CHANGING POWER
A. Personalities changed—2 Corinthians 5:17 says the old is gone and the new has came. When a person is saved, he experiences a change in attitude, actions, and ambition. His heart and personality are changed
B. Purpose changed. The purpose of the believers’ lives changed from selfishness to service. They went from house to house, serving others (Acts 5:42). They didn’t have a desire to be served; they wanted to serve.
C. Practices changed—Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–16. Saul the persecutor changed into a preacher. Note that after his conversion “straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).
II. COMPASSIONATE POWER
See Paul’s compassion in Acts 20:31. It says “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
Compassion is more than love; it is love in action.
A. Compassion grows— Paul shed tears for three years.
B. Compassion groans—Romans 8:26.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
C. Compassion gives— Paul was ready to give his life for the cause of Christ.
D. Compassion goes—Mark 16:15. Obeying Christ’s command to go into all the world to tell others the good news.
III. CONVERTING POWER
To convert means “to change.”
A. Conversion from a life of sin—Acts 2:41.
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Some of those who helped crucify Christ were among the 3,000 converted.
B. Conversion from the power of Satan—Acts 19:19. Evil books were destroyed. God is much more powerful than Satan. Greater is He that is in us then he who is in the world.
C. Conversion from a life of slavery—Men were no longer under the law, but under grace.
IV. CONTINUING POWER
“They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings” (Acts 2:42, LB).
What did the apostles teach?
A. Salvation—Acts 4:12; 16:31. Christ is the one true way of salvation.
B. Surrender—Acts 26:19. Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
C. Suffering—Acts 5:41. The believers were happy to suffer for the sake of the gospel.
D. Sacrifice—Acts 15:26. Judas and Silas endangered their lives for the sake of the gospel.