Missions
And The Spirit of Pentecost
From sermon notes of Pastor
Jeff Scalf
St. Andrews Assembly of
God
2/02/03 - AM Service
(Acts 1:8)
The primary purpose
of Pentecost was not to give believers
the ability to
be able to speak in other tongues; that's secondary.
Jesus said:
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you; and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
[ power,
the word 'dunamis' meaning 'mighty power' ]
(Acts 1:8)
1. The primary
purpose of Pentecost was to be a witness for Jesus; of his birth, his life,
his death, resurrection and second coming.
2. If not careful,
a Pentecostal church could easily become introverted by focusing on the
secondary reason for Pentecost, rather than the primary.
3. We should
never negate the secondary reason for Pentecost, but we should always keep
the primary purpose in sharp focus.
4. That purpose
was to take the gospel to Jerusalem (which is our community), Judaea (our
region), Samaria (cross-cultural) and to the ends of the earth ... world
missions.
The Pentecostal church
must regain its focus on the lostness of humanity and the expressed reason
why Christ came to earth.
In the New Testament
Church,
the Apostle Paul
said that two things were essential:
1. The gospel
of Christ.
Romans 1:16 -- "For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek."
2. The power
of God demonstrated through the operation of the ministry of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:1-4
-- "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech
or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined
not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;"
We Must Have A
Christ Centered Pentecost
1. The strategy
of Satan was to turn Pentecostal truth into self-centered experience.
2. The remedy
for self-centered Pentecost is, of course, a Christ-centered Pentecost.
There are at least
two major reasons why people question the
validity and
the necessity for the Pentecostal experience and expression:
1. The number
one reason for disillusionment and apathy toward Pentecostalism is its
many unsatisfactory role models:
a. Seeking carnality
b. Not producing fruit of the spirit
c. Not coming under authority of the local church
2. The 2nd
major reason why some people are adversely affected when confronted with
Pentecost is because of incorrect interpretation of Scripture.
We will know we
are in genuine revival of Pentecost when once again believers carry a burden
for the lost and are moved with compassion:
The true Pentecostal
church, the church that truly embraces the Spirit of Pentecost, will be
a church of action in fulfilling the great commission [ will give of resources,
time and talent ].
Our world languishes
and dies with the consequences of sin:
1. It sits
in darkness waiting for a church to return to its first love for Jesus
in divine compassion for the lost.
2. It waits
for a church that will begin living up to its profession.
The greatest days
of Pentecost lie ahead:
1. It will
be a new day of power for the church when leadership begins to seek God
for a revival of repentance with attending signs and wonders.
2. It will
be a turning of the tide when church boards begin to seek the face of God
for Pentecostal blessing.
3. It will
be the salvation of countless souls when the people of God begin to fast
and pray until unmistakable signs of spiritual life are the "norm" instead
of the exception.
Pentecostal priority
demands that we proclaim again the power of Jesus
The divine purpose
for Pentecost is to bring the message of the love of God and the power
of Calvary to a lost world
The Spirit of
Pentecost will empower us with compassion for the lostness of humanity.
It will spur us to go beyond our giving to put the Power of Pentecost into
action in our community
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