Friday, June 16, 2006
June 4, 2006--Pentecost
Note: This sermon and the post related to it are taken from a sermon given by Jack Morehart, Mt. Nebo Church, June 7, 1992. Actual delivered sermon may have varied, in 1992 and today. No video available.
Text: Acts 2:14-40 (emphasis 2:17)
Have you ever felt electricity in the air--like in the winter when you touchs omeone and a spark snaps? There's a playful tension. You wonde who's going to get zapped next.
A group of folks a number of years ago felt something like electricity in the air. This serious tension had actually started fifty days earlier. On that Sunday morning, some of the women reported that their beloved murdered leader had arisen from the dead. So, the tension began. "When will he appear to us? Is today the day?"
He did appear, many times in many ways, until one day, forty days aftger he arose when he told them: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a clodu hid him from their sight.
"Is today the day?" They had been waiting together now ten days for this Holy Spirit to come upon them. And so, the tension mounted and on that day called Pentecost (which means fiftieth day) the electricity in the air seemed unbearable. Today we celebrate Pentecost. "Is today the day?"
"Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"And those outside the building said, "we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, what does this mean? Some, however, made fun of them and said, they have drunk too much wine."
"Then Peter stood up and saddressed the crowd: 'fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:"in the last days, God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all People. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women i will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billwos fo smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord wil be saved."
Peter goes on. "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by Miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to YOU by God's set purpose and foreknoweldge, and YOU, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, becasue it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we area ll witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
"Peter replied, 'repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
"With many other words he warned them, and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
Not one of us was there physically on Pentecost, but spiritually we ARE THERE. We are the YOU. Each of us, WE crucified Christ with the help of wicked men. Likewise, we should be "cut to the heart." Each of us at some tim needs to cry out, "What shall I do?" And the answer remains the same, "Repent, turn from selfish ways with a Godly sorrow, be baptized and recive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall see a vision?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall dream a dream?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall proclaim, that is, prophesy, the good news about jesus Christ and the joy, freedom, and peace He brings?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will see old sinful habits begin to melt away?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will beign to see the fruit of the Spirit in your lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control)?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall be freed from your slavery to fear of death?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will be able to say "Abba Father! Daddy, I love you!"
Is today the day? is today the day the Holy Spirit will testify with your spirit that you are a child of God and you will know that truth for sure?
Do you feel the elecricity in the air? Is today the day? When will Jesus appear to you? Is today the day you will feel God pour out His Spirit upon you? "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Is today the day?
Text: Acts 2:14-40 (emphasis 2:17)
Have you ever felt electricity in the air--like in the winter when you touchs omeone and a spark snaps? There's a playful tension. You wonde who's going to get zapped next.
A group of folks a number of years ago felt something like electricity in the air. This serious tension had actually started fifty days earlier. On that Sunday morning, some of the women reported that their beloved murdered leader had arisen from the dead. So, the tension began. "When will he appear to us? Is today the day?"
He did appear, many times in many ways, until one day, forty days aftger he arose when he told them: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a clodu hid him from their sight.
"Is today the day?" They had been waiting together now ten days for this Holy Spirit to come upon them. And so, the tension mounted and on that day called Pentecost (which means fiftieth day) the electricity in the air seemed unbearable. Today we celebrate Pentecost. "Is today the day?"
"Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"And those outside the building said, "we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, what does this mean? Some, however, made fun of them and said, they have drunk too much wine."
"Then Peter stood up and saddressed the crowd: 'fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:"in the last days, God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all People. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women i will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billwos fo smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord wil be saved."
Peter goes on. "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by Miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to YOU by God's set purpose and foreknoweldge, and YOU, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, becasue it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we area ll witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
"Peter replied, 'repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
"With many other words he warned them, and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
Not one of us was there physically on Pentecost, but spiritually we ARE THERE. We are the YOU. Each of us, WE crucified Christ with the help of wicked men. Likewise, we should be "cut to the heart." Each of us at some tim needs to cry out, "What shall I do?" And the answer remains the same, "Repent, turn from selfish ways with a Godly sorrow, be baptized and recive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall see a vision?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall dream a dream?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall proclaim, that is, prophesy, the good news about jesus Christ and the joy, freedom, and peace He brings?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will see old sinful habits begin to melt away?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will beign to see the fruit of the Spirit in your lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control)?
Is today the day? Is today the day you shall be freed from your slavery to fear of death?
Is today the day? Is today the day you will be able to say "Abba Father! Daddy, I love you!"
Is today the day? is today the day the Holy Spirit will testify with your spirit that you are a child of God and you will know that truth for sure?
Do you feel the elecricity in the air? Is today the day? When will Jesus appear to you? Is today the day you will feel God pour out His Spirit upon you? "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Is today the day?
# posted by Mark : 5:22 PM
