The Plan, Pentecost Sunday 2022
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Pentecost Sunday 2022
“The Plan”
A few weeks ago I repeated a Mark Twain quote. (Picture)
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
I am certain that for at least parts of your life, every person here has considered their birthday one of their favorite days of the year. It is literally a day all about you. It is a celebration of your entry into the world.
This morning we are celebrating ONE of the greatest events in all of History.
Obviously, the resurrection of Christ is THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT of all times. According the apostle Paul the death and resurrection is the foundation of our faith.
1 Corinthians 15:1-14 (Specifically v. 14)
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
Because of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are able to celebrate His promise of an organization that would proclaim life to the entire world through the power of the Holy Spirit.,
This morning we celebrate the BIRTH OF THE CHURCH!
This morning we celebrate the very day that we associate with as a denomination.
This morning we celebrate the Day of Pentecost.
It is fitting that we would reread the events that happened that day almost 2000 years ago.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
For the past year and a half we have been on this journey. The journey started with a study of what Jesus taught at the Sermon on the Mount. It was a study of the best attitudes, thoughts, and practices a Jesus follower should have and do.
To put it simply, it was the beginning of a study on Jesus’ plan for a group of people that would be His ambassadors on Earth. A group of people that would be Witnesses of His love and desire to restore the brokenness that is brought on by sin.
Looking all the way back through Scripture it is plain to see that The Lord always had a plan.
Originally, His plan was to have Adam and Eve in the Garden in communion with Himself, but the enemy came and tempted creation to deny the Creator.
The result was expulsion from perfection, but not before God revealed His plan for restoration.
In Genesis 3, we read the God told Adam and Eve the results of their disobedience was death, that the death wasn’t immediate, but no longer would they live forever because they chose to go against God, BUT EVEN IN ALL OF THAT GOD WAS GOING TO PROVIDE A WAY…
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
The Plan from the fall on was for Jesus to put an end to death. Not the death we will all face should the Lord Tarry, but the permanent death that leads to eternal separation from God.
HE HAD A PLAN!!!
He had AND HAS a plan to take back what the enemy stole from God and from mankind in the Garden.
In the weeks or months leading up to the crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and outpouring, Jesus taught what I have referenced so many times recently.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
GOD HAD AND HAS A PLAN TO ROB HELL OF IT’S APPARENT BOUNTY.
GOD HAS A PLAN!!!
He haS a plan for salvation, but He also has a plan for health and growth in a body of believers.
That’s what this series about a “Church on the Move” is all about!
The purpose of the Church is to continue to share the Gospel with all of creation until the time that Jesus returns.
As Jesus had prepared the disciples for 3 and a half years, they were learning His ways. They were learning things about generally being nice, gentle, humble people.
They were learning about forgiveness, spiritual poverty, meekness, and showing mercy.
They were relearning that if they would love God with all of their hearts, minds, souls, and strength THEY WOULD FIND IT EASIER TO LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEMSELVES.
HE HAD A PLAN TO HELP US BE BETTER PEOPLE!
One of the final lessons they learned about The PLAN THAT GOD HAD BEEN WORKING OUT FOR SO MANY YEARS WAS THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT ON HIM AND HIS TIMING.
IN THE SAME MANNER, WE HAVE TO WAIT ON GOD AND HIS TIMING.
But even in waiting on His timing, they weren’t sitting around doing nothing.
They were praying, and worshipping, and fellowshipping, and being united TOGETHER IN CHRIST.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE STEPS IN GOD’S PLAN FOR US AS A CHURCH.
IT IS ONLY ONE OF THE STEPS TO BEING SUCCESSFUL AND SEEING THE KINGDOM GROW.
I. A PLAN FOR UNITY
a. Psalm 133:1-3
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
i. BROTHERS… However, this is not an Us against Them thing.
1. This is about us showing love to those outside of relationship with God, so they can know Him and be saved.
2. When we are united it is a testament to God’s love
a. John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
b. John 15:12-13
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
3. We must be UNITED IN CHRIST
a. John 17:22-23 IN one of the greatest prayers EVER prayed Jesus said this,
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
One of the greatest testimonies of the Azusa Street Revival reads,
African-Americans, Latinos, whites, and others prayed and sang together, creating a dimension of spiritual unity and equality, almost unprecedented for the time. It allowed men, women, and children to celebrate their unity in Christ and participate as led by the Spirit. Indeed, so unusual was the mixture of blacks and whites, that Bartleman enthusiastically exclaimed, “The color line was washed away in the blood.” He meant that in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the sin of racial prejudice had been removed by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
HE HAD AND STILL HAS A PLAN FOR UNITY!!!
FOR PEOPLE TO BE UNITED IN LOVE AND ULTIMATELY IN HIM
II. A PLAN FOR THE MIRACULOUS
a. John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
b. Pentecost was ONLY THE BEGINNING of the Miraculous, but look at the 3 things that happened in that room
i. Wind symbolized Power
1. But it wasn’t wind it was AS WIND, and it didn’t come from the N, S, E, W…It came from Heaven! It was a sound and it filled the WHOLE HOUSE. It didn’t decimate the house like a wind would, but it transformed lives
2. As it came down, it lifted the church up!
3. It was SUDDEN!
ii. Fire Symbolized Passion
1. Again, it wasn’t fire, but it was LIKE fire.
2. Reminiscent of God’s presence in the Past.
a. Exodus 3 The Burning Bush
b. Throughout the Wilderness the Israelites were led by a pillar of fire Exodus 13
3. Fire symbolized Purification
a. 1 Peter 1:3-8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
iii. Tongues symbolized Proclamation
1. Fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
2. Fulfillment of Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
3. This is what can happen when we give ourselves over wholly to God!
a. James 3:8
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
III. A PLAN FOR POWER
a. When Unity leads to the Miraculous, Power manifests
i. Peter had denied Christ, But now he is preaching to the masses BOLDLY
IV. A PLAN FOR GROWTH
a. Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.