The Promise of Pentecost Louis G. Hulsey January 6, 2010 Casa Grande, Arizona

Joel Promised It Joel prophesied that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” Joel 2:29, “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:32, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

Isaiah Promised It Isaiah 28:11, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” Isaiah 28:12, “To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” Isaiah 28:13, “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”

John the Baptist Promised It John the Baptist promised that the Messiah would baptize believers with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Matt. 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” Luke 3:16, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”

Jesus Promised It Jesus promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Jesus Promised It Luke 24:49, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Acts 1:4, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

The Promise Arrived On the Day of Pentecost the Promise arrived. Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:2, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:3, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The Promise Arrived Acts 2:5, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:6, “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” Acts 2:7, “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?” Acts 2:8, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”

The Promise Arrived Acts 2:9, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,” Acts 2:10, “Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,” Acts 2:11, “Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” Acts 2:12, “And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?” Acts 2:13, “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

Peter Acknowledged The Promise Acts 2:16, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;” Act 2:33, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Act 2:39, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the abiding Presence of God, the Third Person of the Trinity, who comes to live with you and in you. He has all the attributes of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the “Comforter,” the Paraclete, the Counselor of God. 

Born of the Spirit Every person is born again by the work of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom 8:10, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Rom 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Holy Spirit Baptism After we are born again the Holy Spirit baptizes us with His Spirit. He floods us with His light and power. At the New Birth the Holy Spirit may be compared to a candle inside us. After the baptism of the Spirit He may be compared to a blazing torch inside us.

Holy Spirit Baptism The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the result of intimacy with God. It does not depend upon Bible knowledge but upon our faith.

The Work of the Spirit The Holy Spirit convinces men of sin, of righteousness, and judgment. John 16:8, “And when he [The Comforter] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” John 16:9, “Of sin, because they believe not on me;” John 16:10, “Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;” John 16:11, “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

The Holy Spirit Guides The Holy Spirit guides believers into the truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit Glorifies The Son John 16:14, “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” The Holy Spirit gives us revelation knowledge. John 16:15, “All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

The Holy Spirit Empowers The Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness for Christ. Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit Hinders The Holy Spirit hinders the works of darkness. 2 Thess. 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” 2 Thess. 2:8, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

Jesus Baptizes With The Spirit The Lord gives the baptism of the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Luke 11:11, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?” Luke 11:12, “Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Pentecost is About: Pentecost is not about speaking in tongues, although I speak in tongues more than you all. Pentecost is not about feeling good, although it produces great feelings of joy and peace. Pentecost is about intimacy with God. Pentecost is about soul-winning.

Pentecost is About: Pentecost is about becoming like the Son. Pentecost is about living in the authority of the Son. Pentecost is about continuing the ministry that Jesus began in the same way that He began it. Pentecost is about living in the order of the Kingdom.

How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Ask, Believe, and Receive Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” 

Tarry Ye The early Pentecostals used to teach that it was necessary to “tarry” for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Luke 24:49, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  But many later Charismatic Christians said this was not true, that the baptism came as the result of faith. Both arguments are true.

Define Tarrying Many people have spent hours crying and screaming and begging God to give them the Holy Ghost. Some praying with them said, “Hold on” while others said, “Turn loose.” They often became discouraged or disillusioned and quit seeking the baptism.

Define Tarrying Some people advised the seekers to repent because “the Holy Spirit won’t dwell in an unclean temple,” But the redemption of Jesus is a complete redemption. We do not earn the baptism of the Holy Spirit by works. It’s not how long or how loud you pray.

Draw Near To God James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:9, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Intimate Time The Lord wants you to spend intimate time with Him. Worship Him Read His Word Meditate on Him Tell Him the Secrets of Your Heart Listen to Him Receive the Infilling of His Power