Christians across the world have just celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus and what took place on the Day of Pentecost is recorded for us in Acts 2.
One thing is clear from the disciples’ Pentecostal experience – it was life transforming. It is true to say that: PENTECOST TRANSFORMS LIVES!
I would like to share with you four differences that Pentecost made in the life of the apostle Peter.
As a result of his Pentecostal experience:
Peter became dynamic in his ministryYou cannot read the book of Acts without being amazed at the transformation in Peter’s ministry after the Day of Pentecost.
Let me share with you three examples of Peter’s ministry displaying something of the dynamic.He preaches in the dynamic of the SpiritThis Peter who was too weak to speak up for his Lord and actually denied him three times at the great trial which took place at the house of Caiaphas the high priest, becomes the great preacher after his Pentecostal experience resulting in 3,000 people converting to Christianity.He ministers in signs and wonders in the dynamic of the SpiritActs 3 records for us the day that Peter goes to the Prayer meeting after his Pentecostal experience. There’s nothing timid about him on this day. He’s not afraid of proclaiming the miraculous power of Jesus and commands the ‘crippled beggar’ to rise and walk in the name of Jesus!He carries in his person something of the dynamic of the SpiritActs 5:15 records these words for us: “People brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
“We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today.”Peter became effective in his leadershipYou only have to read the first few chapters of the book of Acts and you find that Peter shines as an effective and dynamic leader.
His Pentecostal experience transformed him from someone Matthew describes as following “at a distance” in Matthew 26, to be the very one at the forefront in Acts 2.
In Acts 2 Peter takes the lead in explaining the phenomenon of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 3 Peter takes the lead in explaining the healing of the crippled beggar.
In Acts 4 Peter takes the lead in explaining their ministry before the ruthless Jewish Sanhedrin.
In Acts 5 it’s Peter again who takes the lead when the apostles are on trial before Gamaliel and his contemporaries saying: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
It was the late Dr Jim McConnell who said: “The greatest need of the Church in the U.K. is ‘Spirit Filled, Christ Centred’ leaders.”
“We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today.”Peter became radical in his missionIn the 10th chapter of Acts Peter is called to go to the house of a Gentile, a Roman centurion named Cornelius, to tell him about God’s grace revealed in Jesus.
Peter’s comfort zone would have been among those who were his own people, his own culture and his own religion. Furthermore, under the laws and customs of his own culture and religion, it was forbidden for him to enter the house of a Gentile or eat at his table. This could have resulted in him being excommunicated from the Synagogue!
Nevertheless, despite the prejudices of his day, he was willing to be obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit, be radical in mission and move out of his comfort zone.
“We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today.”Peter became bold in his witness
This Peter who made that most cowardly denial has the life transforming experience of Pentecost and is filled with a boldness that is staggering.
Listen to his boldness as he stands before the ruthless aristocratic rulers of Judaism and who forbade him to preach in the name of Jesus. He unashamedly delivers this message to them: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." That’s boldness when you consider the power at the disposal of these ruthless leaders of Judaism!
We’re living in days when the uniqueness of Christ is being challenged and when is it considered arrogant and deeply offensive to speak of Jesus as the only way to the Father. Therefore, “We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today.”
Yes, PENTECOST TRANSFORMS LIVES!
“We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today.”
