Today, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday! We remember that awesome day that the church began in Acts 2 as Jesus filled all believer’s lives with the Holy Spirit. Peter was given boldness to explain what was happening from Joel 2 as people from every nation on the earth heard the apostles speaking in their own languages. He also shared the gospel with them and about 3,000 people were saved and baptized that day.
The result was an incredible snapshot of what healthy church life looks like:
Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
There was one attribute that the Holy Spirit filled all believers with that we don’t often consider. However, the Bible mentions it many times throughout the New Testament. In fact, Annette spoke about it last week. That attribute is courage.
Even those who are by nature timid are given a supernatural boldness and courage when filled with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t come from us, it comes from God. It equips us to speak up and act as God moves through us to do what we could not naturally do on our own. It enables us to rise up above cowardliness.
We were challenged, and hopefully convicted, last week from the ending of this amazing scripture that we all love to read and ponder that awaits us as every single human enters into eternity.
Revelation 21:1-8
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Oh do we love these promises! We quote them, we pray them, we remind each other of them, we comfort and encourage each other with them as we well should. The next part of this verse isn’t as familiar to many, though it should be as well.
8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Christians stereotypically focus on murdering and sexual immorality and magic and lying being doors and pathways that lead us to hell. However, being cowardly or unbelieving… Well, if we are honest with ourselves, those descriptions match our thoughts and actions at times. We aren’t very bold about our faith and waiver in unbelief.
You won’t find Christians standing and picketing outside of churches warning people entering against being cowardly or doubtful, but you will find them outside of pride events and abortion clinics.
Jesus didn’t sugar-coat anything or put it lightly. He plainly said that the cowardly and unbelieving are heading straight to hell along with the murderers and sexually immoral.
Ouch!
Just this past week, due to a whole host of unexpected circumstances, driving along a road very close to the church. I noticed a small group of people on the road. I stopped and asked if everything was OK and if anyone needed anything. You know, the Christian thing to do. A person told me that their son was having an episode and that help was on its way. I said, “OK. God bless.” You know, the Christian thing to do.
Well, I didn’t get more than a few yards away when the Holy Spirit dropped some pretty heavy conviction on me. I won’t share all of the details publicly, but I went back and prayed out loud with them and God used me to bring peace and safety into a dangerous and chaotic situation.
I initially drove away from it as a coward. Oh, there were a whole bunch of legitimate excuses for doing it. I didn’t want to force myself into their situation. I didn’t even know what the situation was. There were people there more appropriate for handling it.
However, GOD wanted to enter into that situation and do something about it and HE sent ME.
How often does God want to do something and He sends us and we chicken out? We taco?
He has a place for the cowardly and the unbelieving and it isn’t with Him for all eternity. People like that aren’t on the guest list to His home, to His wedding, and to dwell with Him forever. He has them consigned to hell.
Oh, these people know all about God. They can quote His word. They tell other people about Him. They even do good things in His name.
They know about the Lamb Who Was Slain, but do they personally have a relationship with Lion of Judah? They are Jesus; one and the same! It’s not enough to know about God, salvation requires that we know God personally through relationship.
Salvation requires that we lay down our own lives and allow the Holy Spirit to raise us up into a new, transformed life. Salvation requires that our lives are no longer our own, but that the Lord has full control, lordship, over our lives. It is faith accompanied by works, now cowardliness and unbelief.
James 2:14-19
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
The old adage says that “Talk is cheap.” How true it is when it comes to Christians! We can talk and pray, but will we do anything that requires and displays faith? Will we step out of our comfort zones and do the impossible? We say that we have faith, but do we allow that faith to take on flesh in and through our lives?
The Holy Spirit taking on flesh was not supposed to just be a one-time event that took place Christmas morning. No, that was just the firstborn of many sons and daughters!
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
The Holy Spirit taking on flesh through you and I – faith revealed through deeds – truly alive!
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.
We believe, but do we really believe?
Our deeds shout it louder to those around us than our words do.
We believe, but do we really believe?
Would we touch a leper expecting them to be healed and not for us to become diseased?
Would we make mud out of our spit and rub it in a blind man’s eyes?
Would we call out to a dead person at a funeral and tell them to get up?
Would we bend over a sick person and rebuke their fever?
Would we shake a venomous snake off of our hand and just keep on gathering firewood?
Would we tell a demon to flee into a herd of pigs?
Would we reach our hand out to a crippled person and pull them to their feet?
These and so much more are the testimonies of Jesus and the early church.
These are what believers simply do!
Jesus said:
Mark 16:15-18
15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Jesus said that those who believe will do these things. Why is it, then denounced or thought to be too extreme when a Christian actually does these things? Speaking in tongues, driving out demons, not getting hurt by snakes or poison, laying hands on sick people and expecting them to get well; these should simply be the things that believers of Jesus do!
Let’s pick up shortly after the day of Pentecost. This is a testimony that I’ve shared many times over the years, but it is one that fans my faith into flame and I hope that it does for you as well. It is a story that is so relatable to so many of us and reveals the life of faith that we could be living as well!
Acts 3:1-16
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
It wasn’t Peter who made this man walk. It was faith! It was Jesus’ name and the faith that He gives that completely healed that man. We say that we have faith, but do we have faith?
We can relate to Peter and John that we’re broke. We don’t have silver or gold. We don’t possess enough money to give the poor people around us to bail them out of their debt. Some of us can’t even bail ourselves out of our own debt!
However, what we do have, we are to freely give to others. We have access to healing! We can reach out our hand to a crippled person and help them to walk in Jesus’ name!
Have you ever noticed that most people are OK with the name of Jesus. They’ll even say that they believe in Him, too. But then, these Pentecostal people go around doing what Jesus did and it offends them! Faith is fine with everyone as long as it is kept quiet and doesn’t affect others. However, when faith is put into deed and becomes public, well, people get upset!
You know, those Christians who just take their faith “too seriously.” You know, like Jesus and the early church did! Not the ones on their way to hell, but the ones bringing God’s Kingdom here on the earth!
Acts 4
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
Oh how we can relate to Peter and John. Broke, simple, unschooled, ordinary people who have just spent some time with Jesus. A people who pursue God’s Presence! What did they gain in God’s Presence that was undeniable? COURAGE!
Look at what they can do! A 40-some year old man that everyone knew because they walked past him as he begged every day for years. There was no doubt that he was lame and crippled. There was no doubt that he had been healed. There was no doubt that this healing was released through Peter. It just HAD to be Jesus! Oh, there’s just something about that name!
15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
And what did these Christians do? Did they petition the Roman government about their wrongful and harsh treatment? Did they whine and complain? Did they shrink away in cowardliness and decide to just live out their faith privately?
NO!!!
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 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.
Enable Your servants to speak Your word with great BOLDNESS! Heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus!
We read from Acts 2 what the church looked like when it numbered about 3,000. Now that there were over 5,000 and persecution was increasing, what did the church look like?
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Again, what an awesome picture of what healthy church life looks like! God’s grace powerfully at work in everyone! No needs, but plenty of courage! In fact:
What did Jesus say to the disciples when they saw Him walking on water?
Take courage!
What did Jesus say to Paul when the people were afraid that the leaders of the Jews would tear him into pieces?
Take courage!
What did Jesus say after telling us that in this world we would have trouble?
Take courage!
What did Jesus say to the woman with the issue of blood who was healed after touching the hem of His garment?
Take courage!
What did the disciples say to blind Bartimaeus who kept crying out to Jesus for mercy?
Take courage!
What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man carried to Him on a mat?
Take courage!
It’s the Greek word tharseō. God isn’t expecting us to be something that we are not. He IS expecting us to take from Him what we need. God only calls us to be strong and courageous because He is our strength and He is our courage.
We are timid and weak and helpless and unable. God is, well, God! God is able! There is nothing too hard for Him! God is our sole source of courage, which is why we are called to be courageous! That’s why we’re called to take it; because on our own, we don’t have it. Take courage!
On this Pentecost Sunday, let’s leave this place with armfuls of courage. Let’s go out there into a world in need and be bold and courageous enough to share the good news about Jesus both with words and with our actions. Let’s lay hands on the sick and expect them to get well. Let’s speak peace into chaos and expect it to subside. Let’s start requiring less of ourselves and expecting far more of Jesus as we step out of our comfort zones! Take courage!