Pentecost: Christ's Spirit Poured Out

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Acts 2:2-4
Psalters: 255, 332, 391, 287
  1. The event.
    1. Setting.
      1. Pentecost took place 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits, signifying that the harvest is completed.
      2. ?Fully come? means the feast day was fulfilled or finished, i.e., it is fully gone, following the set pattern.
    2. The Spirit of the exalted Christ was given to dwell in the church and to abide in her forever.
      1. The church of the Old Dispensation had the Spirit, but not the Spirit of Christ (cf. John 7:39).
      2. Jesus? atonement brought great changes.
    3. At His ascension (33) the Savior was given the promised Spirit of God.
      1. With this Spirit the exalted Savior had the instrument to give the blessings of salvation to the church.
      2. This is an abiding act of grace, not just a passing event.
    4. Pentecost is the crowning even in Jesus? life.
  2. This Spirit of Jesus came with signs.
    1. The signs were necessary because the reality is invisible.
    2. Three signs were given to indicate the reality of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
      1. The ?sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,? which ?filled all the house? (2).
      2. ?Cloven tongues like as of fire? which ?sat upon each of them? (3).
      3. And they ?began to speak with other tongues? (4).
  3. The significance of this event: ?they were all filled with the Holy Ghost? (4).
    1. ?All,? i.e., the 120 (1:15b), the whole church of the New Dispensation, not just the apostles.
    2. The shadows of the Old Dispensation became reality, real light.
      1. Now we all have the office of all-believer.
      2. The church speaks of ?the wonderful works of God? (11).