The promise of the Holy Spirit

SERMON TOPIC: The promise of the Holy Spirit

Speaker: Ken Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 18 April 2021

Topic Groups: HOLY SPIRIT, PENTECOST, FEASTS

Sermon synopsis: The Feast of Pentecost, “Shavuot” was originally a festival for expressing thankfulness to the Lord for the blessing of the harvest. This celebration is tied to the giving of the Ten Commandments and thus bears the name Matin Torah or 'giving of the Law.'

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The Feast of Pentecost, “Shavuot” was originally a festival for expressing thankfulness to the Lord for the blessing of the harvest.

This celebration is tied to the giving of the Ten Commandments and thus bears the name Matin Torah or "giving of the Law."

Jews believe that it was exactly at this time that God gave the Torah to the people.

Throughout Jewish history, it has been customary to engage in all-night study of the Torah on the first evening of Shavuot. Children were encouraged to memorize Scripture and were rewarded with treats. The book of Ruth was traditionally read during Shavuot.

The Historical background.

Shavuot was believed by Rabbinic scholars to be the day that God gave Moses the Torah or law on Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. Although possible, the giving of the Law on the 6th Sivan is not confirmed by Scripture.

Shavuot is commemorated as the birth date of the nation of Israel.

Exodus 19:1.

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt on that very day they came to the Desert of Sinai.

The Historical background.

The Feast of Pentecost has parallels with the way a Jewish bridegroom made a covenant, called a ketubah, with his bride.

A Ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. In modern practice, the ketubah has no agreed monetary value, and is seldom enforced by civil courts, except in Israel. Wikipedia

The Historical background.

A covenant or Ketubah took place at Mt Sinai when God made a covenant with Israel in the month of Sivan the month of Pentecost.

This contract could not be fulfilled by Israel, but God had plans for a new covenant not like the one at Sinai.

On the day of Pentecost, God sent His Holy Spirit to write this new covenant on the hearts of the Church that was born as 3000 souls were saved

The Old Covenant was a marriage contract written upon tablets and sealed with the sprinkling of blood.

Exodus 24:1-4.

Then the Lord said to Moses, Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near, and the people may not come up with him. When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, everything the Lord has said we will do. Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.

Exodus 24:5-8.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings  and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord.  

Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded; We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey. Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.

The Old Covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31-32.

God said, Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, declares the Lord.

The New Covenant.

Hebrews 8:10.

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

The New Covenant.

After a bridegroom gave his bride a contract and made a covenant with her, he would give her gifts called a mattan and the father would give her gifts as well called the shiluhhim. These gifts sustained his bride for the duration of their separation till their wedding day.

The gift given by Jesus Christ and the Father was the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain us till Jesus returns for His bride. This was fulfilled at Pentecost fifty days after the resurrection of the Messiah.

Joel 2:28-29. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28-29. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Fifty days after Jesus resurrection, on the “Feast of Pentecost” 120 disciples were praying in the upper room, when in fulfilment of what Jesus had said, the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Fifty days after Jesus resurrection, on the “Feast of Pentecost” 120 disciples were praying in the upper room, when in fulfilment of what Jesus had said, the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Then Peter preached to the crowd that gathered and 3000 souls were saved.

On that day and “The Church”, “The Bride of Christ” came into existence as God established a New Covenant with those who placed their faith and trust in Him.

The “Day of Pentecost”.

How Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Pentecost.

John 1:33.

  And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Shavuot the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost.

Leviticus 23:15-21.

And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.

Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.

You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the Firstfruits to the Lord.

50

Shavuot the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost.

The Greek term Pentecost means 50, from Pente which is 5.

God told the Israelites to count seven Sabbaths from First-fruits (seven weeks) Hence the name “Feast of weeks”.

Then on the day after the seventh Sabbath which was the fiftieth day, they were to bring to the temple, two loaves of bread made with fine flour and baked with leaven. These two loaves of bread were to be used as a "wave offering" for the people.

The offering of two loaves of new wheat.

Loaves represent a real union of particles making one body. The two loaves may represent the Jews and Gentiles and the leavened bread typifying the Church which still contains evil.

Ephesians 2:13-14.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

The offering of two loaves of new wheat.

Ephesians 2:15-16.

By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. 

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Jew and Gentile.

The Feast of “Weeks” or Pentecost.

This Feast of Pentecost took place 7 weeks after the Feast of First Fruits and pointed to the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age.

The Passover Justification

The Passover Justification

The Feast of unleavened bread Sanctification

The Feast of First Fruits Consecration

Our Position (Peace with God)

Our Condition (Peace of God)

Putting off the “Old man”

Putting on the “New man”

The Feast of Pentecost

Empowerment

Our Commission (Power of God)

Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost.

Mark 2:22. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.

The personal aspect of the Feast of First Fruits.

Acts 2:38-39.

  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.

Acts 5:32.

  We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

a) You must repent!

Luke 11:9-13.

Luke 11:9-13.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

b) You must ask!

John 7:37-39.

John 7:37-39.

  On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. 

By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

c) You must be thirsty!

Galatians 6:15.  Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Galatians 6:15.  Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Titus 3:5. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Are you a new creation?

Jesus instructed his disciples not to embark on the great commission He had given them, until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

The purpose of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4-8.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit….

But 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.

The Feast of Pentecost.

Acts 2:2-4.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 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 tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Peter’s sermon and response to critics.

Acts 2:14-18.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed 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 people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:14-18.

Acts 2:14-18.

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.

Peter’s sermon.

Peter’s sermon.

Acts 2: 32-33.

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 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.

The Old Testament revealed a shadow of the things to come through Christ!

The Old Testament revealed a shadow of the things to come through Christ!

After Moses went up to Mount Sinai, the Word of God was given to the Israelites at Shavuot.

When the Jews accepted the Torah, they became servants of God. Similarly, after Jesus went up to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. When the disciples received the gift, they became witnesses for Christ.

Jews celebrated a joyous harvest on Shavuot, and the church celebrated a harvest of new-born souls on Pentecost.

On this annual feast Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, God once more descended as He had at Sinai, this time on the first-century believers with a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire and other demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, again establishing a covenant with His people.

The Feast of Pentecost.

On this annual feast Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, God once more descended as He had at Sinai, this time on the first-century believers with a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire and other demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, again establishing a covenant with His people.

The Feast of Passover had to do with “Peace with God”

The Power of God.

The Feast of Passover had to do with “Peace with God”

The Feast of Unleavened bread and Feast of First Fruits: had to do with the “Peace of God”

The Feast of The Feast of Pentecost has to do with the “Power of God”

Power.

Acts 1:8. But 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.

Evangelistic zeal.

A major characteristic of Spirit-Baptized Christians

Evangelistic zeal.

Being full of the Holy Spirit and winning the lost go hand in hand.

Pentecostals read the book of Acts and believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available for them today. They observe that the early church was focused on evangelism and believe they must behave and respond in the same way. Evangelism is their primary goal. Because of this focus, Pentecostal missions' programs have dynamically entered unconverted areas of the world, often at great risk, believing God would enable them to reach these areas for Christ.

If you are Spirit-Filled you will have boldness.

Acts 4:13-14.

  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

If you are Spirit-Filled you will have boldness.

Acts 4:29-31.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

If you are Spirit-Filled you will overcome temptation.

Luke 4:1-2.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

If you are Spirit-Filled you will be able to serve.

Acts 6:1-7.

The Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.

We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

If you are Spirit-filled God can use you in the miraculous.

Acts 6:5-8.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them…. Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

If you are filled with the Spirit you will be able to face death

Acts 7: 54-60.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

If you are filled with the Spirit you will be able to face death.

Acts 7: 54-60.

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep.

If you are filled with the Spirit you will have joy.

Acts 13:49-52.

The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.

They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

If you are filled with the Spirit you will have joy.

Ephesians 5:18-20.

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Historically in the Church age these Truths have been restored.

In 1916 Martin Luther protested the sale of indulgences which triggered the protestant reformation. A vital Truth was restored to the Church (Justification by faith)

Feast of Passover.

Historically in the Church age these Truths have been restored.

Feast of Unleavened bread & Feast of First-fruits.

The Wesley brothers (Personal Holiness)

The early Methodist societies lead by John and Charles Wesley were a missional movement. Their mission was Not to form any new sect; but to reform the nation, particularly the Church; and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.

Historically in the Church age these Truths have been restored.

In Los Angeles 1906, William Seymour arrived to preach at a Nazarene Church.

He was not received because of his Pentecostal message. He started holding meetings in a converted livery stable at 312 Azusa street. There was a mighty revival that lasted for 3 years. This revival launched the modern day Pentecostal movement.

Feast of Pentecost (Holy Spirit Empowerment)

William Seymour

Cornelius and his household baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-48.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 19:1-6.  

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples, so Paul asked, then what baptism did you receive? John’s baptism, they replied. Paul said, John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Ephesian believers.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit accompanied by “Tongues & Prophecy.

Acts 19:5-6.

On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

We have seen that there should be power demonstrated in the lives of those who are Spirit-filled, boldness, joy, at times the miraculous and in some cases even the willingness to die for their faith.

We have seen that there should be power demonstrated in the lives of those who are Spirit-filled, boldness, joy, at times the miraculous and in some cases even the willingness to die for their faith.

However, “Speaking in tongues” occurs in three out of the five instances that are mentioned in Scripture, of the initial baptism of people in the Holy Spirit.

The day of Pentecost (Acts 2. “Tongues”)

Cornelius and his household (Acts 10. “Tongues”)

The Ephesian believers (Acts 19 “Tongues. & Prophecy)

Paul (Acts 9 )

Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8)

The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Paul Baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:11-17.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it.

Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Although “Speaking in tongues” is not mentioned in the case of Paul’s baptism in Acts 9, Paul says

The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Acts 8:14-17.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 

The only other occasion then of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is in Acts 8.

The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Acts 8:15-17.

When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:18-20.

The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Acts 8:18-20.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. Peter answered: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 

Now although there is no reference to “Speaking in tongues’” or some other manifestation of the Spirit, it is almost certain that something out of the ordinary happened to prompt Simon to offer Peter money to be able to pray for people to receive this gift.

The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Now although there is no reference to “Speaking in tongues’” or some other manifestation of the Spirit, it is almost certain that something out of the ordinary happened to prompt Simon to offer Peter money to be able to pray for people to receive this gift.

The Assembly of God USA has “Speaking in tongues” as the initial sign of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit on their website position paper, and I am of similar persuasion. How else would someone know that they have been baptized, this is the only sign supported by Scripture.

We need to be filled on an ongoing basis.

Acts 4:29-31. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Ephesians 5:18.

Ephesians 5:18.

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. (Be Being filled: Greek)

The Lord can only fill what we empty.

We need to be filled on an ongoing basis.

Is tongues the only evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit? Will there be any significant changes in one's attitudes and actions after being baptized in the Spirit? https://news.ag.org/features/faq-speaking-in-tongues

The first physical sign of the infilling of the Spirit is speaking in tongues. This is the one physical sign that is consistent in its recurrence, as pointed out earlier. However, the Baptism is not a goal but a gateway. It is a door to Spirit-filled living. It marks a beginning, not an end. Speaking in tongues is but the initial evidence and is to be followed by all the evidences of Christlikeness that mark a consistent Spirit-filled life. The apostle Paul described this wonderful life in the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23. He wrote, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” It is a life to be lived, not just an experience to be remembered. Some have missed this essential distinction. They have been satisfied to recall that wonderful moment when the Holy Spirit came in His fullness, and they magnified the Lord in other tongues. Failure to progress beyond that point is a tragedy.

Jesus has fulfilled the first four Feasts.

Jesus our Passover Lamb has died.

Jesus has taken away the leaven (sin of the world)

Jesus has risen as the first-fruits of the resurrection together with many Old Testament believers.

Jesus has baptized the New Testament believers with the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost and continues to do so.

The Time of the Gentiles

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB: New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. ( Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.




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