1 DAY TO PENTECOST

THE EPHESIAN PENTECOST

TEXT:  ACTS 19:1-20

¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

² He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

³ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

⁴ Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

⁷ And all the men were about twelve.

⁸ And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

⁹ But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

¹⁰ And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

¹¹ And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

¹² So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

¹³ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

¹⁴ And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

¹⁶ And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

¹⁷ And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

¹⁸ And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

¹⁹ Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

²⁰ So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

KEY TEXT:  Acts 19:2 “…Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? …”

REFLECTION:  

Like sparks shooting from a red-hot blaze the Spirit of Pentecost flashed and ignited tender hearts across the ancient world.  From the great capital cities—Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome—to the lesser known towns and villages, the Spirit-driven disciples displayed Christ and prayed that the Spirit of Christ would fill the hearts of those “hungering and thirsting after righteousness.” (Matthew 5: ).  Time after time their prayers were answered. 

They prayed in Jerusalem, and the Spirit was poured out upon them.

They prayed in Samaria, and the Spirit filled their hearts.

They prayed in Caesarea, and the Spirit fell upon them.

When Paul arrived in Ephesus he found nearly a dozen disciples who had heard of, believed in, and been baptized into John’s baptism—the baptism of repentance.  They repented, literally “changed their minds” about sin.  Transformed by the knowledge of God’s will¹ John’s disciples were notable.  They…

+Prepared the way of the Lord, making their paths straight. (Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4)

+Confessed their sins (Matthew 3:6)

+Brought forth fruit that evidenced repentance (Matthew 3:10)

+Did not consider themselves accepted by God on account of their ancestry. (Luke 3:8)

+Gave one of their two coats away to those with no coats. (Luke 3:11)

+Shared their food with those who had none. (Luke 3:11)

+Stopped over-taxing the citizens as tax collectors. (Luke 3:12)

+Shunned unnecessary violence, false accusation, and agreed to their wages as soldiers. (Luke 3:14)

+Followed John’s example, “he was a just man and holy” (Mark 6:20), And

+Endorsed John’s indictment of Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:18).

Yet these sincere men did not have the “Spirit of Christ.” (Romans 8:9). Paul asked them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 19:2)  Writing from the perspective of a 21^st century Christian their answer seems almost unbelievable, “we have not heard that there is any Holy Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul preached Christ to these sincere inquirers.  He urged them to believe in the Savior that John the Baptist himself taught was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  Right then they were baptized in the name of Jesus—literally “according to the will of Jesus”—and as Paul laid his hands upon them and prayed for them they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Like the disciples at Jerusalem on the first Christian Pentecost, they too spoke in languages and magnified God.

True disciples of Jesus Christ have the Spirit of Christ—the Holy Spirit.  It is this Spirit who convicts, convinces, and converts. It is this Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness, who sanctifies and satisfies. It is this Spirit who gifts and imparts fruit.  And it is this Spirit who finishes what He begins—sanctifying wholly the hearts of all who are walking in the light. 

It was not long until all of Ephesus was filled with the doctrine of Christ.  As sinners were awakened, the forces of evil were stirred. Converts broke with sin and burned their evil books. The same demons who provoked the possessed to oppose the Church, tormented the possessed to oppose themselves—“they ran out naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:16)

When the Spirit filled the faithful in Ephesus, the Word of God “mightily grew,” and “prevailed!” (Acts 19:20).  It is that Spirit we must have today.

¹Repentance was defined as “knowledge that transforms by ancient writers

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, You made us to be your dwelling place!  For Thy great plan of redemption—to repair what sin has broken, to restore what Satan has robbed, to recover thy Spirit within, and to renew our love for Thee—we are eternally grateful.  We pray that the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead, would raise us up to walk in righteousness and true holiness.  May the Spirit of Pentecost fill our hearts, empower our churches, and transform our times.  Thou art able.  We are willing.  “Come Holy Ghost, We need Thee!”  In Jesus name we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”

2 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  ACTS 10:34-48

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

³⁵ But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

³⁶ The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

³⁷ That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

³⁸ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

⁴⁰ Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

⁴¹ Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴² And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

⁴³ To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

KEY TEXT: Acts 10:45 “…On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost…”

REFLECTION: 

It is difficult to describe the dramatic change—the total revolution—that occurred in Peter’s world from Joppa to Caesarea.  In Joppa his diet was changed.  All of his life Peter carefully avoided those meats that were forbidden to the Jews in the Torah. While praying God showed him a vision of “unclean meats” and declared, “What God has cleansed, do not call common!”  (Acts 10:15). Three times the vision was repeated.  Peter would never eat the same.

Peter was still lost in reverie when the servants of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, knocked at the door.  They asked Peter to return with them to Caesarea.  Gentiles were asking.  All of his life Peter carefully avoided associating with Gentiles.  They were unclean.  Heaven spoke again.  “Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:20).

When Peter arrived in Caesarea he went directly to the home of the Centurion.  Cornelius warmly greeted the Apostle and introduced him to his invited family and friends: “we [are] all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”   (Acts 10:33)

Peter began, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:35)  If his diet was changed in Joppa, his bias was changed in Caesarea.  For an orthodox Jew this was not simply evolutionary, this was revolutionary. 

Peter preached Christ! 

Christ “Lord of all,” (Acts 10:36),

Christ “anointed with the Holy Ghost and power” (Acts 10:38),

Christ “healing all that were oppressed of the devil,” (Acts 10:38),

Christ “hanged on a tree,” (Acts 10:39),

Christ “raised up the third day,” (Acts 10:40),

Christ “the judge of the quick and the dead,” (Acts 10:41),

Christ the “fulfillment” of prophecy (Acts 10:43), and

Christ the Savior of “whosoever believeth in Him!” (Acts 10:43).

While Christ was exalted by the Apostle, the Holy Ghost fell upon all of them who heard the word. (Acts 10:44). It was the same Spirit that baptized the Jewish believers at Jerusalem. 

Peter and the the Jewish believers with them were amazed as the Gentile believers spoke in tongues and magnified God. (Acts 10:46) Confirmed in the faith, Peter baptized them in the name of the Lord.

To the skeptical—dare we say critical--Jewish Christians at Jerusalem, Peter explained his vision and the conversion of the Gentiles.  I love his summation: “What was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17) 

At Pentecost in Jerusalem his heart was changed.  At Joppa his diet was changed.  At Caesarea his bias was changed.  And somewhere between Caesarea and Jerusalem His perspective changed. The work of God would not be done Peter’s way. This was God’s work.  And God’s work is done God’s way by God’s Spirit.

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, We come into your presence, encouraged by the sense of Thy Spirit, blessed by the knowledge of your love expressed for us in Christ, and comforted by the great faithfulness of our infinite God.  We pray that thy Spirit would direct our paths.  Shatter those man-made or self-made preconceptions that hinder the free working of thy Spirit.  We give to Thee our bodies, our souls, our substance, our fame, our friends, our liberty, and our lives.  May we be wholly and holy Thine.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”

3 DAYS TO PENTECOST

3 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  ACTS 8

⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

²⁵ And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

KEY TEXT: Acts 8:8 “…There was great joy in that city…”

REFLECTION: 

Soon after Pentecost, the Christians at Jerusalem scattered throughout Judea and into Samaria to escape persecution.  Everywhere they went they preached the word. It was happening just as the Lord Jesus said it would happen, “ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8).

When the Philip arrived in Samaria to preach Christ the people were thrilled. So much so that the Scripture records, “There was great joy in that city.”   No wonder.  The Samaritans were scorned by the Jews in Judea and Galilee.  The Samaritans were a mixed race—both Jewish and Gentile blood flowed in their veins. History records that the Jews in Galilee would walk an extra 20 miles just to avoid walking through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem. But the Gospel of the Lord Jesus shattered those old prejudices.

Just as the Jewish Pentecost was confirmed by supernatural signs, the Samaritan Pentecost was accompanied by miracles and signs.  Once again powerful Christ-centered messages were preached.  Once again the people were convicted, convinced, and converted. Dr. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, records that both men and women were baptized. In the Kingdom of Christ the testimony of men and women would be received and honored.  Another old prejudice was demolished by the Gospel.

Why were the Apostles called from Jerusalem to lay hands on the Samaritan believers?  Had they not received the Holy Ghost when they were converted?  We are sure that if they were born of the Spirit, adopted into the Kingdom of Christ, they certainly had His Spirit within them.  “If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”  (Romans 8:9)  Both John Wesley and Adam Clarke contend that it was by the laying on of hands that the Samaritans were endowed with the gifts of the Spirit.  Wesley wondered if “sanctifying graces” may also have been imparted.

What is certain is that this Spiritual endowment was not for sale!  When Simon, a recent convert to Christ, offered to pay the disciples for the ability to transmit this gift, Peter looked him in the eye and sentenced him: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts 8:20-22). 

Reading Peter’s rebuke of Simon makes us wonder how the disciple would react to the crass commercialization of contemporary Christianity.  Actually we have no doubt.  His sentence would again be, “thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”  May God purify our heart of all that is “not right in the sight of God.”  We pray that we will be numbered among “the pure in heart,” that “see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, How thankful we are that the Gospel of Christ is not bound by the prejudices of men.  We thrill to know that your love is still reaching and your power is still transforming people on every continent and in every nation.  May we follow in the footsteps of the first Christians who were scattered abroad preaching Christ.  May Thy Kindom come, Thy will be done!  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”