Grace World Outreach Church
This Promise is for _____!
Unapologetic Series
Acts 2:1–4 (ESV) “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, ‘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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.'”
Who is This Promise For?
“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Insight from Research 62% of self-identified born-again Christians contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity. Source
Five Pillars for Pentecost
#1 THE PROPHETS PROPHESIED IT
Joel 2:28–29 (ESV) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
Q: Is this gift for some and not others?
This Promise Is For:
- All flesh… that’s both Jew and Gentile
- Your sons and daughters… that’s male and female
- Your young and old… that’s multigenerational
- Your servants… that’s every class
Galatians 3:28 (ESV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
It has always been the heartbeat of God to not just dwell with, but dwell in His people.
Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
The Prophets said this gift is for ‘All Flesh’
#2 JESUS PROMISED IT
Mark 16:15-18 (ESV) “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Q: Was Jesus just speaking to his Disciples?
Acts 1:8 (ESV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Three Purposes of the Promise (John 16:7–15 ESV):
- Conviction of Sin and Righteousness (vs 8)
- Guide into Truth (vs 13)
- Declare Our Inheritance (vs 15)
Jesus promised this gift to ALL those who believe in His name.
#3 PETER PROCLAIMED IT
Acts 2:15–16 (KJV) “For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”
Peter acknowledged that Pentecost was a sign:
- That God had fulfilled His word
- That Jesus had delivered His promise
- That the church was ready to fulfill its mission
Peter proclaimed that the gift was not just for those who heard on that day, but “for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
#4 PAUL PREACHED IT
Q: Did Paul preach that the gifts would cease?
1 Corinthians 13:8–12 (ESV) “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Paul taught that the gifts would continue until we see ‘face to face.
Face to Face – in the presence of.
Question: Is it right to pursue the gifts?
- “But earnestly desire the higher gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV).
- “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV).
- “So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:39–40 ESV).
Paul preached the gifts would continue and encouraged us to pursue the gifts.
#5 THE EARLY CHURCH PRACTICED IT
Q: Did the gifts cease at the end of the apostolic age?
- “For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you ought to understand that [the gifts] formerly among your nation have been transferred to us.” — Justin Martyr (AD 100-165)
- “In like manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts and through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages… Yes, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years.” — Irenaeus (AD 125-200)
- “For seeing that we too acknowledge the spiritual charismata, or gifts, we too have merited the attainment of the prophetic gift.” — Tertullian (AD 150-240?)
- “Some give evidence of their having received through this faith a marvelous power by the cures which they perform, invoking no other over those who need their help than that of the God of all things, along with Jesus and a mention of his history.” — Origen (AD 185-254)
- “I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record all the miracles I know.” — Augustine (AD 354-430)
The Early Church practiced and testified to the continuation of spiritual gifts beyond the apostolic age.