The Lord’s Message:  Pentecost:  From Outpouring to Community

The Lord’s Message:  Pentecost:  From Outpouring to Community
Date:  June 14, 2026
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Acts 2:33-44

            We are on the third part of this three-part series on the Message that God gave Peter.  We have looked at the messenger, Peter, and have discovered that he is like all of us with sometimes strong faith and other times failure.  We have looked at the crowd of devout Jewish men that came from all over the known world to celebrate the feast of Pentecost.  We have even looked at the location where this Message was given, in the temple courtyards between the Priest quarters and the Antonia Fortress, comprised of between 500 to 1,000 soldiers.  Today, we are going to look at the change that happened because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the beginning of the Community of Faith, the Church.

            Let us pray. 

            We pick up in verse 33 with Peter declaring that Jesus was exalted in Heaven to the right hand of God,  40 days after Jesus’ death and resurrection We proclaim this in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.”  When the Global Methodist Church was being formed, the leaders said that we have to go back to the Bible, and we have to make the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds as the foundation creeds.  That is because all of the statements of faith in these creeds are found in the Bible.  In verses 34-35, Peter explains this fact by again quoting scripture.  This passage of scripture is found in Psalm 110:1. David was given this revelation from God roughly 1,000 years before Jesus. 

            Peter goes on to explain that it was not David who ascended to heaven, but Jesus.  In verse 36, Peter says that this same Jesus who you crucified, God has made Him Lord and Christ. 

            Last week, I said that I wondered whether these same devout Jews that had gathered for Pentecost were also the same ones that had gathered for Passover.  If they were then they probably would have been the same ones that shouted to Jesus, “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!” But before we condemn them, we must condemn ourselves.  Jesus came to pay the penalty of sin which is death.  As it says in Romans 3:23, we all have sinned.  Before we go and condemn these Jewish men, we need to look at ourselves.  We also crucified Jesus. 

The power of the Holy Spirit fell onto this crowd.  The power of the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 men and women gathered in the Upper Room.  The evidence of this was the tongues of fire and their ability to speak languages that they had never spoken.  Now, the Holy Spirit falls on the crowd and the evidence of this is the response of the people, verse 37.

Peter gives them clear instructions in verses 38.  “Repent and be baptized.”  In verse 39, the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s blessing prophesied by Joel 2:28-32. 

Sadly, not all follow Peter’s clear instructions.  We know that by his pleadings for those that would not follow the instruction in verse 40.  I have struggled with this and continue to struggle with this.  I want all people to be saved.  I want all my family members to be saved.  I want all my friends to be saved.  I want everyone here on Tilghman Island to be saved.  But then God has to remind me that I cannot save them.  They have to want to be saved.  They have to want to have a relationship with Jesus in order to be saved.  I have to allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.  I can tell them about Jesus.  I can tell them about what will happened to them if they do not accept the relationship that Jesus offers to them.  But then they have to make the decision for themselves.  I pray that anyone that is hearing me this morning that has not accepted the relationship that Jesus offers to you that you will now join me in this prayer. 

Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself.  You gave your life for me to save me from my sins.  I open my heart and ask for you to come into my heart today.  Thank you, God, for loving me so much.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

If you have prayed that prayer, then you have entered into a relationship with Jesus, I would like to hear about it.  You can comment on Facebook or if you are here today and would like to stand and make a public confession of faith, by simply saying that I have accepted Jesus. I encourage you to do that at this time.

The results of the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter were found in verse 41.

Good, they baptized 3000 people that day.  What is next?  The answer is found in verse 42.   I find it very important for newly baptized people to be connected to a community of faith.  It is also important as well for long time followers of Jesus.  If we have been following Jesus for a while, we are all prone to wander. 

 I am reminded of the wonderful lyrics in a hymn, Come Thou Font of Every Blessing written by 22-year-old Methodist English pastor Robert Robinson in 1757,

“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

  Prone to leave the God I love

  Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it

  Seal it for Thy courts above.”

            In this hymn, Robert reflects his dramatic transformation from a rebellious London youth into a devoted believer, while famously acknowledging the human struggle with wandering faith.  The author of Hebrews 6:4-6, points out the consequences of our struggle with wandering faith.   

            If we want to keep our hearts sealed for God, then we need to be involved in fellowship with others, in prayer for others, and also in studying the word of God with others.  All three are necessary for one to keep their heart from wandering.  It is easy to fall back into our old, or into new, habits that keep us from living a life devoted to God.  That is why we need the church, the community of faith.  Jesus warns us against falling away, that is why He said in Hebrews 10:25.

            When we are all living a life devoted to God and meeting with each other to encourage, support, and grow our faith together, then we shall see miracles and wonders of what the Holy Spirit can do through us as was witnessed in verse 43.  It will not matter what gender you are, how old you are, what position you hold in the church, or how long you have followed Jesus, we will all be one in the Lord as it says in verse 44.

            The outpouring of the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 men and women gathered in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by their ability to speak other languages which they had never spoken before.  Peter being filled with the Holy Spirit working through him, gave a very powerful message that the Holy Spirit used to bring 3000 people to conviction that they needed Jesus.  The community of faith was formed.  They met regularly for worship, teaching, and fellowship.  Because of their faithfulness, the Holy Spirit was able to do many miracles and wonders through them. 

            I ask each you gathered here today, do you want to see God do miracles and wonders in this community?  It starts with us first opening our hearts to God, and then allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us. 

The disciples listened and followed God’s instruction. The people listened and 3000 were saved.  From the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the community of faith, the church was born.  So, let us listen to God and do what He says.  Amen.