Blessings of Pentecost

John 20:19-29

INTRODUCTION

Dondi - Party going on inside the house. Dondi sitting on the porch.

Someone walking by asks what's going on. He says that its His birthday

party but there isn't enough room for him to attend.

Israel had three required annual feasts - The Feast of Unleavened Bread;

The Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. 2 Chronicles 8:13

Pentecost - Leviticus 23:16

50 days from the offering of the barley sheaf at the beginning of Passover

Feast of Weeks - Exodus 34:22a; Deuteronomy 16:9,10

Time elapsed was seven weeks.

Feast of Harvest ( Ingathering ) - Exodus 34:22b;

Marks completion of the barley harvest which began when the sickle was

first put to the grain. Deuteronomy 16:9; beginning when the priest waved

the sheaf offering of firstfruits before the Lord on the day after the

Sabbath along with the offerings of animal sacrifice for the sin and burnt

offerings. . Leviticus 23:11, 17-20;

Jewish Thanksgiving - A Day of Joy - Deuteronomy 16:15

A Holy Convocation when no servile work was to be done and every Jewish

male was required to appear at the sanctuary. Leviticus 33:21; Deuteronomy

16:16

Expression of great gratitude experienced with a heart-felt reverence for

the God who made it all possible. Jeremiah 5:24 expresses a time when they

did the feast without the gratitude.

Celebration of the Giving of The Law on Mount Sinai - Began during

Inter-testamental period.

Set date as the fiftieth day after the first Sunday of Passover as long as

the temple stood. This has remained a fixed day til today.

Even though it is an important Jewish holiday very little joy is expressed

upon this day in most of the Christian community. Yet, it is the

celebration of the birthday of the church.

Whitsunday - This is from an Old English word meaning White Sunday.

When it was being celebrated it was called this because of the white robes

worn by the recently baptized upon this Sunday. Perhaps it would be a

grand thought for us to celebrate our New Birth Day together at Pentecost

as an expression of our gratitude and reverence for what Jesus did for us

at Calvary and Joseph's tomb.

Jesus announced that the Apostles, in particular, Peter, using the keys of

the kingdom, would inaugurated a day in which a new covenant would be

issued. A day when the forgiveness of sins would be available through the

new covenant in His blood.

I. APOSTOLIC PRIVILEGE - Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20

1. THE GENERAL QUESTION -

Who do people say that the Son of man is? Mt. 16:13; Mk. 8:27; Lk. 9:18

2. THE POPULAR ANSWER -

Some say John the baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah

or one of the prophets Mt. 16:14; Mk. 8:28; Lk. 9:19

3. THE SPECIFIC QUESTION -

But who do you say that I am? Mt. 16:16; Mk. 8:29a; Lk. 9:19a

4. THE INSPIRED ANSWER -

You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! Mt. 16:16; Mk. 8:29b; Lk.

9:19b

5. THE APOSTOLIC COMMISSION -

A. God Inspired - Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh & blood did

not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Mt. 16:17-19

B. Peter's privilege - I also say that you are Peter, and upon this rock I

will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will

give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; Mt. 16:18,19a

C. Apostolic Commission - ... and whatever you bind on earth shall have

been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been

loosed in heaven. Mt. 16:19; John 20:23

D. Delayed Commission - Then He warned the disciples that they should tell

no one that He was the Christ. Mt. 16:20; Mk. 8:30; Lk. 9:20

II. APOSTOLIC PEACE - John 20:19-29

1. PEACE AS A GREETING - So when it was evening on that day, the first day

of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear

of the Jews, Jesus came & stood in their midst and said to them, " Peace

be with you. Jn. 20:19

2. PROOF OF LIFE - And when He had said this, He showed them both His

hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jn. 20:20

3. PEACE AS A COMMISSION - So Jesus said to them again, " Peace be with

you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He said this, He

breathed on them and said to them, " Receive the Holy Spirit. If you

forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain

the sins of any, they have been retained. Jn. 20:21,22

4. PEACE AS A PROMISE - .... Jesus said to him, " Because you have seen

Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed.

" Jn. 20:23-29

III. APOSTOLIC PURPOSE - Acts 2:1-40

1. GOD'S TIMING - Acts 2:1-13

God empowered and equipped them as the Apostles were filled with the Holy

Spirit

2. GOD'S PROOF- Acts 2:14-35

The resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus, was as predicted by prophets and

kings and serves as the credentials of His Chosen One.

3. GOD'S PROVISION - Acts 2:36

Jesus is both Lord and Christ; both a Master and The Savior. You can't

have one without the other.

4. SINNERS RESPONSE - Acts 2:37

What shall we do? If you haven't made Him Lord of your life; still a good

question.

5. GOD'S CHALLENGE - Acts 2:38-40

A change of mind and a change of allegiance is suggested by the two

commands of Peter. Repenting of sin means having a change of mind that

leads to a change of conduct on our part. Baptism is an indication of our

willingness to submit ourselves to the Lord's command and a pledge of our

allegiance to Him.

The Nineties notwithstanding, these requirements stand today as Peter

indicates that this is for all people everywhere; as many as the Lord will

call.

Personal responsibility for your sins is indicated because we are

challenged to save ourselves from this wicked and twisted generation that

we live in.

6. SINNERS RESPONSIBILITY - Acts 2:41,42

Abdication of Self - 2:41 - Submission of self to Jesus through baptism

adds you to the Lord's church

Association with believers - 2:42,43, 46 May the awe of the simplicity of

salvation as it is portrayed in our assemblies of and fellowship with the

saints continue to inspire us to do great things for God with God

supplying the Power.

Actions of love - 2:44,45 May the great gift that was given to us cause us

to recognize that all we have and are belongs to God and needs to be

shared with those who are less fortunate than we are.

Attitudes of difference - 2:47 If we have the love of Christ in our lives

we will continually praise God and seek to treat each person that we know

with the dignity that befits one for whom Jesus died.

CONCLUSION

The Church's perpetuation - Acts 8:4 Therefore those who had been

scattered went about preaching the Word.

At the place of your scattering this week, speak about The Word and preach

Him in a positive manner with and without words.

Your Possibility - Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed. Jn.

20:23-29

If you have not named Jesus the Lord of your life, it is now your

opportunity to make that known to this body of believers.

What you do with Jesus today may well determine where you will spend

eternity.

There is room at the cross for you, there is room at the cross for you,

Though millions have come, there is still room for one,

There is room at the cross for you.