Acts 1:4-5 - August 25, 2009

Acts 1:4-5, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” NIV

Pentecost – Part II

Yesterday we thought about the fact that God wants his church to have continual “Pentecosts” – and about how the world truly needs to see such activity in the church today! When Pentecost comes it is the very Spirit of God choosing to dwell with us, his people, according to his timetable. Jesus himself, indicating the sovereignty and unpredictability of the Spirit, talked about the Spirit’s activity with man as like the wind: “You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going” (Jn 3:8). So the Spirit remains sovereign – but God has indicated many things that we can do to prepare for a renewed Pentecost in our personal lives, and in our communities. It is like one who desires to sail the ocean blue – the boat and sail must be in good condition, all the prep work done for the trip, and the sail up and ready for that mighty wind to blow.
Repentance is one such key step in preparation for a continual Pentecost. Repentance is not simply a religious act, a formula, or a duty to perform to appease God. Rather, it is a heart disposition with flesh on it - a turning from sin and a re-turning to God. Psalm 51 is a classic exposition on a penitent heart. David has just committed adultery and murder. He begins by crying out for mercy to God, because he knows God is a God of unfailing love and compassion. He acknowledges all his sin, and recognizes that his sin is sin against God. David is appalled at his sin and pleads to God to cleanse him and not to “take your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps 51:11). He knows that sin induces separation from God. But when, like David, we turn from our wickedness and turn back to God, God returns to us. “Return to me and I will return to you” (Zech 1:2). “Return…for I am merciful…only acknowledge your guilt…” (Jer 3:12-13).
All the great revivals over the years have always begun with repentance. John the Baptist prepared the people for the return of the Lord, which in turn launched the greatest revival in history – the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ! In the days of the Great Awakening through John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, and George Whitefield, American and Great Britain turned back to God. As a result a deeper foundation in God was laid in America that unified the colonies before the War for Independence with Britain. And it has been said that John Wesley single handedly saved a nation and kept at bay the encroaching waves of secularism and ungodliness that were covering continental Europe at that time. With repentance nations are shaken. Hallelujah! With repentance, 3000 turned back to God with Peter’s preaching on that first Pentecost!
Repentance was the key to the great Asbury revival in 1970 when one brave college senior repented publicly in a chapel service. As a result, a chapel service scheduled for 50 minutes lasted 185 hours non-stop with students flooding in and unable to leave because of the Spirit of conviction! From that place, the revival fire spread to colleges all over the country, and even beyond. This was a tumultuous time in America’s history, with riots against the government, frustration over Vietnam, and the Hippie movement dominating the culture of the youth. But with one repentant individual, God raise up a movement that shook the colleges of the nation. In a word, Repentance is the non-negotiable to personal revival and Pentecost, as well as communal, and national. As the old phrase goes, “without this – nothing!” But we can do better: With this – Everything! Just imagine what God wants to do! Just imagine what He can do! And just imagine what we need him to do in our own day! Would you humble yourself today – “Lord, send revival – start with me!”