And it was the high priest and those people who had engineered His death, and they knew the power that they did have. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Expand They looked upon them then as liars, charlatans, or fools, maybe a bit delusional. In Revelation chapter 14, we are given an image of the firstfruits, called the 144,000 in this part of the Revelation. How Believers Experienced the Spirit Before Pentecost, John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He is author of. Even though they had seen miracles, again, another indication to us always to remember that miracles are important, miracles can be faith-builders, but miracles by themselves will not do it all. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. What we read about back in Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28:19Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:American King James Versionof the gospel being taken to the world. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Though the emperor, a man named Tiberius, had been holed up on an island called Capri or Capri for a number of years in absentia, the empire was running quite well on its own. That's been the hallmark of our feature. I've got to find out where that next bus leaves, and what time." They had a very life is now, living in the present mindset that this was all going to happen in their lifetime, which is something that pertains to every group of people from that time forward, that looking for the appearance of the Kingdom, the return of Christ. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues a as the Spirit enabled them. He had a lot to come back, he was at the back of the pack. Hadn't He told them that He'd come back to life again? 157 views, 3 likes, 4 loves, 3 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mora Grace Lutheran Church: Music used with permission from CCLI Answer: In Luke 10:17, when the seventy came back from visiting the towns in Israel, they said, " Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. I don't think it was an intergalactic tour that He was on to get to the third heaven. Somebody will tap me on the shoulder and tell me what to do next, but you know what? The disciples had seen Jesus reach out across ethnic and religious divides birth in His parables and in real life. It was the Roman soldiers that had carried out the death of Christ and had sealed the tomb and a Roman guard had been placed there. So that when they came to that morning of Pentecost and this mighty event takes place, they were ready then to move into the experience provided, and that extra dimension of power that the Spirit of God would give them and did give to them, and Peter takes the lead to give the sermon of his life. But they were terrified, and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit." He also is a residentfaculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. So it's something for us to examine in our own way, see how much of that is being demonstrated in our life. And He leaves them on the Mount of Olives, which is a very, very significant geographic feature there on the east of Jerusalem across from the city, and through the Kidron Valley and up on this Mount called Olives. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. After Pentecost, a radical transformation took place. Surely for a Christian the only reason to study or be artistic is for God's sake. . The Disciples' Sprititual Strength. " They were able to do the things Jesus gave them authority to do and they found it amazing. The vision of the Church was coming together and the mission of the Church was being accomplished. That's what the gift of the Holy Spirit is for us. And I sat, and I sat, and I thought somebody will come along and tell me what to do. The dam was completed in 1970 and in 1971 there was a grand dedication ceremony and the 12 turbines with their ten billion kilowatt-hour capacity were unleashed with enough power to light every city in Egypt. If we begin to look at one another as less than trustworthy, then that has other consequences in relationships, and that's taking place among the disciples here at this moment. Synopsis: When Jesus walked on the water to join the disciples in their boat, the Gospel mentioned that they were afraid - twice. These were not terrified, doubtful people. When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground.". Did they doubt what they were seeing? As Jesus' disciples they may be afraid of someone that would deliver them to soldiers to punish them for taking part in 'rebellion' (as occupants may see it). Now all of a sudden, as Peter steps forward, and of course, you know the story of Peter. Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. How could the person in Luke 9:49 cast out demons without Jesus' mandate? We know in Acts chapter 2, when we turn there and look at the story alluded to in the sermonette here this morning, that they were gathered together. Thank you Mr. McNeely , for making Christ more real. And I can't help but think that knowledge for its own sake or art for art's sake is a very callous and unloving motto. We take that for the story that it is, and the gift of tongues, and the speaking of tongues that the Scriptures talk about but we don't see that as what we need to be doing in practice or in faith, but it is a dramatic story. "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.". ; 39:29) and Joel (2:28) prophesied and longed to see. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. We are no exception today, as we wait and look for the time when the Kingdom will be restored. That they're not drunk, that this is of God. Best Answer. "And all who believed were together and they had all things in common. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? What happens?". Matthew records that "when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. Acts 1:8 is the vital point about Pentecost. That's the famous road to Emmaus experienced from the book of Luke, "and they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either." Welcome to BH. Another reason, I suspect, is because they were overwhelmed with disappointment by Jesus' arrest. They need to see within us, Jesus Christ. I never have believed in knowledge for its own sake or art for art's sake. 2. Yes, Peter did preach under the anointing, but the empowerment of the Spirit also brought a unity and a focus of purpose they had not known before. Fifth, the OT saints believed that craftsmanship and artistic ability in the service of God was a gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? It was one of the three great pilgrim feasts that every Jewish male was required to attend (see Deuteronomy 16:16 ). So when I pose myself a question like, "How did believers experience the Holy Spirit before Pentecost?" In Colossians chapter 1, Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:American King James Version, Paul writes, "To them, God will to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Second, the OT believers experienced the new birth and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? He was just [snaps fingers] gone, He was there. Finally, the Holy Spirit gave some in the OT a gift of prophecy. At the end of John, you remember, John says, there were so many other things that He did in his life and no doubt probably part of that 40-day period that it would take volumes to teach it, and to record it during this period. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Today the Spirit still instructs us by the Word of Scripture and we ought to pray earnestly for an outpouring of God's enlightening Spirit so that the Scriptures really live for us and become intensely personal. And I think there was and is today a special touch or filling of the Holy Spirit that elevates the work of an artist or a musician or a craftsman from mere technical skill to divinely empowered ministry that exalts God and builds faith. Jentezen Franklin preached a sermon about scribes. Before or after this instance. None of the benefits enjoyed in the pre-Pentecostal days were taken away. John the Baptist had promised: The one who comes after me "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3:16). Such notions have always struck me as profoundly atheistic. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. And so they had become a part of something that again, they were still trying to understand. And one set upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." It was true then. Before that the Holy Spirit came on people for specific gifts and purposes. The difference between a historian and a preacher is that the historian says, "Was it so?" PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. Now let me suggest an analogy to illustrate the experience of the Spirit before and after Pentecost. And so two things create this vision and this mission. That Christianity grew, after such a brief inception, into the world religion we know to today is testimony to the power of the message Jesus preached. And of course, one of the most dramatic scenes in all the Bible occurred with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered disciples, and the speaking in tongues, and a mighty rushing wind that we find it hard to imagine what it was like, because it's not part of our custom to try to pray that down today like some other denominations and religious forms do. A survey of Old Testament spiritual experience is needed to wake us up to our privileges in these last days that were inaugurated at Pentecost. They sailed on it in the moonlight and wrote songs about it. All of these qualities are to the divine nature, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. It goes on, verse 12, "After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country." The Word of God. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. This was just three and a half years, and in really a few weeks, seven weeks and a day of intense thought, emotion, that they had to grapple with and deal with as they came into the presence of one another on the morning of Pentecost. The Sadducees were more focused on the Five Books of Moses than the history and prophets. After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me. Then he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. It's an encouraging sermon, it's very pointed and direct, that includes a dramatic call to repentance. And so Luke's account brings this together. And they did, and thousands were added to the Church that day. Every minister's dream, to give one sermon and thousands of people get baptized and join the Church in one day, every minister's fantasy. When you look and you understand what was taking place, here are people who've been terrified, they had been doubtful, unbelieving to one degree or the other during this previous 50-day period. And therein, lies a key to the understanding of what had taken place with these individuals here. Stop doubting and have faith! And this dramatic miracle took place, of wind, and fire, and language, and hearing, and people took notice. Of course, on the day that He died there had been an earthquake, the sun had turned to dark at midday, people had come out of their graves and it had set Jerusalem all abuzz. The disciples stood gazing, and they didn't know what to do. Christ in you, the hope of glory. He went on to show that, "It's not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Our sins will find us out. They didn't know. Articles that are published in our magazine or scripting for our television programs goes through a very, very thorough review process. I took a course in seminary on the Old Testament wisdom literature where we talked about Hebrew poetic parallelism and determinism and Heilesgeschichte ("salvation history") and I would generally raise my hand at the end of class and say, "So what?" 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. We do well to read about these things, and ask ourselves the simple question: if they experienced so much of God's Spirit which was but a trickle of the reservoir, how much more should we enjoy under the dozen turbines of Pentecost? Fear not" (Haggai 2:5). And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. The indwelling Holy Spirit was only sent after Jesus' resurrection. 7:50; 19:9). If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! And so I made a certain few inquiries, I got on the bus, didn't miss it. Instead of conflict, they were now collaborating. And this small group of people who had signed on to what they thought was a remarkable, gifted rabbi, and followed Him around and soon learned that they had fallen into something quite different than anything they could have ever imagined, as they witnessed miracles of loaves and fishes, and people being brought back to life, and dramatic healings. "Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26). 145 views, 2 likes, 6 loves, 16 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Crossroads Baptist Church: Crossroads Baptist Church Live 02/05/2023 The Christian aeon is a renewed order, a new creation. Apparently, two angelic figures appeared to them as the disciples were kind of watching Christ go. "What do we do?" But on that 50th day, from the morning after Christ's resurrection, a lot had happened. A week later the disciples were together again. As we have received the gift of God's Spirit, as those on that first day of Pentecost received the gift of the Holy Spirit were brought into the Church, they became, and so are we, partakers of the divine nature. This salvation experience comes before the . And so they didn't really think about that, and yet all of a sudden it came upon them. There are no more decisive turning points in redemptive history that must happen before Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarryor waitin the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Week 8 to Pentecost. This means that all the saints of the OT who trusted God and followed his ways in the obedience of faith were born again by the Spirit and indwelt by the Spirit. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept." We have to live as well, knowing that there is a God, and to live our life that every day counts. Jerusalem was swelled with pilgrims, at this point in time, and this added to the drama of the moment. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43years. And yet some doubted. Four verses later Moses says, "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them" (v. 29). Where do we go from here? What does a search warrant actually look like? It goes on, "When He had spoken these things," in verse 9, "they watched and He was taken up in a cloud, received Him out of their sight. That is being demonstrated in our magazine or scripting for our television programs goes a. 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