The power of Pentecost

31 May 2009

Luke 24:49; Act 1:4-8; Act 2:1-4

Introduction

The year is 33 A.D. The first signs of spring are appearing. Imagine you are a disciple of Jesus. You have walked with him, seen his miracles, heard his prophecies, listened to his teaching, observed his trial and crucifixion, and now witnessed his resurrection. Jesus has appeared to you and talked with you. You are excited and delighted. You want to tell everyone about this marvelous new message of good news. Surely you are as ready now as you will ever be. What more do you need? But Jesus says, in effect, ‘You are still not ready. Stay here in the city of Jerusalem until you receive power from the Holy Spirit – then you can go.’

If Jesus’ disciples were not ready until they were empowered by the Spirit, how much more do we need the Spirit in our lives today.

1. ‘The promise of the Father’ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4)

See Isaiah 42:1-3 and Joel 2:28
These promises were about to be fulfilled.

2. ‘Wait in the city’ (Luke 24:49)

Literally ‘sit’ i.e. relax, take it easy (Luke 24:49)
The Authorised Version of the Bible used to read ‘tarry in the city…’
This was once interpreted as meaning it was necessary for everyone to ‘tarry’ until the Spirit came e.g. story of John Barclay(1908) –
On Easter Monday evening, we all gathered... for our usual praise and prayer meeting... We all knelt down but no one seemed able to pray aloud. The only words I could utter were these: ‘Lord, reveal Thyself tonight.’ Presently, some mighty, marvellous unseen power took hold of me, and I was thrown face downwards on the floor, everything around me disappeared. The other friends were as if they never existed. I saw the heavens opened and my precious Jesus sitting on the throne. Oh, the joy and beauty and glory! It is unspeakable... I was for about an hour and a half conscious only of the Lord’s presence.
When I returned to earth again and looked around, some were kneeling in silent prayer, others were lying prostrate on the floor. Presently a sister broke out in prayer entreating God to bless His children and save lost souls. Then she prayed in a strange tongue... and started singing in the same tongue. What heavenly music!... I have never heard anything so sweet... Our meeting lasted till four o’clock in the morning
(quoted in B. Chant, Praying in the Spirit, 2009)
Then we realized that the Holy Spirit was God’s gracious gift to us and so we did not need to spend hours pleading with God.
Now we have come to understand that although the gift of the Spirit is free (as a gift must be) it may take time for the Spirit to deal with issues in our lives and break through our stubborn flesh.
Example: WIC team visit to the Philippines where the local pastors were surprised that we wanted people to wait on the Lord for an extended time, but later were disappointed that we finished so soon as it was obvious the Spirit was at work in people’s lives as they spent long periods praying and waiting on the Lord.
Example: Club Oasis in 2008 where young adults prayed for an hour and a half as the Spirit came on them.
Like Jacob, we will not let him go until he blesses us (Genesis 32:26). As those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are filled (Matthew 5:6)

3. ‘Power from on high’ (Luke 24:49)

Jesus told the disciples the Holy Spirit would come ‘upon’ them and they would receive ‘power from on high’ (Luke 24:49, ESV) and that they would receive power when the Spirit came ‘upon’ them (Act 1:8).
In the NT, there is a distinction between the Holy Spirit being ‘in’ us and coming ‘upon’ us. This is clearly expressed in passages like Luke 4:18; Acts 1:8; 2:17; 8:16; 10:44; 19:6. See also the phrase ‘pour out’ (Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28; Act 2:17, 18, 33; 10:45; Titus 3:6).
The Spirit in us enlivens (i.e. give life to) us (Romans 8:9; Eph 3:16-17). The Spirit upon us empowers us.
‘Clothed with power’ – Clothing cannot give us life – that must come from within. But clothing enables us to function more effectively. In the same way, Jesus saves us and brings new life to us through the Spirit. But then the Spirit also ‘clothes’ us with power to serve him better.

4. ‘Witnesses’ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)

Witness = martureo from which we derive ‘martyr’.
Witnesses tell what they know. Their testimony is based on experience rather than learning (Luke 24:45-48).
What is our experience of Christ?
Example: When I was a teenager, newly baptized in the Holy Spirit, I tried to form a team called Witnesses Unto Christ. We tried to share the gospel everywhere we went – usually with little success, because we had zeal without knowledge – at school, outside the local cinema, on the train.
With more wisdom and guidance we might have done much better. But at least we understood the impulsion of the Spirit. He came to enhance our witness.
We had experienced the power of God and we knew that God had touched our lives. Our witness came out of this – as it always must do.

5. ‘In Jerusalem…’

This was progressive. Start at home and work out…
A decade ago, the Pastoral division at Wesley Mission set goals for the next 20 years which included establishing new services, church planting and overseas mission. Some of this has been achieved.

6. ‘They were all filled…’ (Acts 2:1-4)

The signs of sound like wind and fire were never repeated in Acts. Although there is no reason why they should not be.
Example: Recently I met Hiram Pangilinan in Manila, who told how flames like lightning appeared over the heads of young people at a youth camp. Cameras recorded the incident (H.Pangilinan, What if God Comes? 2008, Manila).
But new speech was repeated regularly in the early church.
First, our speech is indicative of who we really are (Matthew 12:33-37). So new speech is richly symbolic of the Holy Spirit taking over our true selves.
Second, our speech is also the most difficult action to control (James 3:2-12). So when we speak the language of the Spirit, he is taking control, at least for a time, of the deepest part us, the part that is most difficult to control.
Third, when we pray in a new language, it is our spirits, not our minds, that pray (1 Corinthians 14:14). So again, it this new speech comes from the deepest part of us. It is the best way the deepest yearnings of our souls can be expressed.

7. ‘Did you receive?’

Paul said the believers at Ephesus, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ (Act 19:2).
The same question might be asked of us today. If we really want to serve God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.
Story of Keith who suffered a psychotic complaint that prevented him from travelling more than 100 kms from his home without trauma and disfunctionality. When he was empowered by the Holy Spirit, he barely whispered as he uttered new speech. But two years later he undertook a round-the-world trip without ill effect. Later he married and he and his wife went to Hong Kong as missionaries. He received power from on high and became an effective witness.
Are we willing to wait on God until the Spirit comes? To stay in our Jerusalem until we are empowered from on high? That is the challenge for today.

Something to talk or think about

Remember: You don’t have to answer all the questions. Just choose those that seem most relevant to you.
Read: Luke 24:44-49; Act 1:4-8; 2:1-4

Biblical

Luke was the author of both Luke and Acts. What (a) similarities and (b) differences are there between these two passages? How do we account for differences?
Luke 24:44 actually contains a summary of the whole Old Testament. Using available resources (Commentaries, Encyclopaedias, Internet) find out how.
What does Luke 24:44-47 teach us about Jesus’ attitude to the Old Testament?
What does Luke 24:44-47 teach us about biblical prophecy?
What is the heart of the gospel message according to this passage?

Personal and Practical
Compare Psalm 119:18 and Luke 24:45. What do these two passages teach us about how we should approach the Bible?
What is the significance of the word ‘clothed’ for you? (49) Think about why we wear clothes and how this relates to being empowered by the Spirit.
How do you think being filled with the Spirit can help you in your witness for Christ? (Acts 1:8; Mark 13:11; Acts 4:13; 4:31; 16:6-10).
What is your Jerusalem? Your Judea? Your Samaria? Your ‘end of the earth’? (Acts 1:8). How can you personally be a witness to them all?
To what extent is it up to us whether we are Spirit-filled or not? (Act 2:4; Eph 5:18). How does this apply to you?

Christian Life