The Lord’s Message:  Pentecost, Power Given to the Powerless

The Lord’s Message:  Pentecost, Power Given to the Powerless
Date:  June 8, 2025
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Acts 2:1-13, 40-41

            Sporadically in the Old Testament, God has bestowed the Holy Spirit on individuals.  Examples are in 1 Samuel 10:1, 9-12 & Isaiah 6:1-8.  God promised that He would bestow the Holy Spirit on large groups of people.  This is foretold in Joel 2:28-29.  We are left with two questions this morning, to whom is this going to happen and when?

            Let us pray.

            Sometime before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples these instructions, Acts 1: 4-6.  In Acts 1:12-14, the disciples followed Jesus’ instructions and they gathered in the Upper Room and held a prayer meeting.  We are only told that they prayed to nominate a person to fill the position of Judas Iscariot and Matthais was chosen.  We are not told whatever else they prayed for.  This prayer meeting lasted for 10 days. 

            On the 10th day, their world, and our world, changed.  Listen again as I read what Kathy so eloquently read, Acts 2:1-4. Now the Holy Spirit did not fall on just a few individuals.  Acts 2:1, “they were all together in one place.”  Who is “all”?  Acts 1:15, “among the believers, (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).  This group is made up of at total of 120 women and men.  Not just a few individuals, but a large group fulfilling the prophecy of God from Joel. 

            Now filled with the Holy Spirit, all of them, women and men, began speaking in other languages.  If you remember these women and men were just ordinary people, fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots.  These were powerless people.  The women wept at the cross of Jesus and the men, except for John, were in hiding.  Now, they are boldly proclaiming the Gospel.  They were powerless.  Now they are powerful.  God’s Holy Spirit gave them the power to proclaim the Gospel. 

            This is the gift Jesus promised they would receive in Acts 1:4-6.  This all begins with having a relationship with Jesus.  We are powerless without the relationship with Jesus.  By having a relationship with Jesus, we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to make us powerful.  

            You can not buy this power.  Some have tried.  In Acts 8:18-20, Simon offered money to Paul to buy the Holy Spirit.  Some have tried to dismiss the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 13:7b-12, Elymas, the sorcerer opposed Paul and Barnabas.  You can not buy the Holy Spirit, because it is freely given by God to believers in Jesus.  You can not oppose the Holy Spirit, because you are trying to oppose almighty God. Some may mock you for telling the Gospel message. Remember in Acts 2:13, the first disciples were mocked when they spoke the Gospel message.   Last, the Holy Spirit is given out by God because you have a relationship with Jesus, not because you attend church. 

            When we went to Annual Conference this year, we went to Cortland, NY in the area where the Second Great Awakening, sometimes known as the burn-over district, occurred.  This revival occurred from 1825 to 1835.  In this district less than 10 % of the population attended church.  No less than 1300 revivals happened in those 10 years.  Many individuals and families were converted to Christ.  The great evangelist Charles Grandison Finney labeled this the burn-over district because he said that this area had been so evangelized that there were no unconverted people left.  He was right, this area had been so evangelized that people were turned off from going to church to worship Jesus.  The problem was not the evangelism techniques.  It was the message.  It was all about filling pews instead of filling the hearts of the people with the love of Christ. 

            Rev. Finney preached the Gospel message by stressing that all people have free will and can chose God.  The Gospel can change the people’s heart.  With heart of people changed, they started to change their thinking and love for their fellow men and women.  Out of this changed heart came the ideas of abolishing slavery, equal rights for women, prison reform, education for all children, and seeking peace instead of war.  These were simply ordinary men, women and children believing in the Gospel message and God giving them the power of the Holy Spirit to change their world.  They did just that. 

            Who can receive the Holy Spirit?  Those that have a relationship with Jesus.  When will the Holy Spirit come?  When you open your heart and allow Jesus in. 

            Every believer in Jesus is called to be His witness at home, at their workplace, in their community and wherever they are.  This is the Great Commission, Matthew 28: 18-20. God gives His power to those that are powerless.  That is Pentecost and that is the reason why Jesus said in Matthew 16:18. The Holy Spirit has been poured out on all who believe in Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit, the church is formed on earth made up of powerless people who have received power from God.  For those that have received the Holy Spirit, this does not make us high and mighty, it simply means we are Christian. 

Carol Wimmer wrote this poem entitled, “When I Say I Am a Christian…”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble –
needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God’s name

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved

            God’s church is made up of imperfect people that have been made perfect by His Love.  God has equipped them through His Holy Spirit to bear witness of this love to others.  This is happening every day.

            Let us continue to read our Bible, live the Bible and Be the Bible for others.  Amen.