The Glory of Pentecost

Submitted by Burt on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 19:58.

Before posting the outline below, allow me a moment to present a bit of discussion.

In response to the outline, Graham wrote:

It's possible I missed something, but - even though this is a Pentecost sermon - I was surprised to see no explicit mention of Jesus in your notes.

Of course, I'm sure that you brought this out in the actual delivery, but I would have thought that any discussion of the revelation of the fullness of God's glory would have to include mention of Jesus. And that's because we look at the exegesis of the Acts account, which is more Christological than pneumatological in purpose.


My response to Graham:

Your comment deservedly hits me between the eyes! Doh!

Admittedly, this sermon did not center on the full revelation of God's glory through the person of Christ. Now you've got me wondering why that is, certainly not because I would desire in any way to detract from Him!

In delivery, I did mention how it was Jesus who told His disciples to wait for the gift of the Father and how this outpouring of the Spirit is meant to empower us to live as effective witnesses for Christ. I also spoke of how Peter, then, called others to repentance before Jesus as the Spirit of God worked through him. But perhaps the revelation of God as found in Christ was probably not as developed as it should have been.

My intention with this sermon was to help people understand that the Lord still makes Himself known in demonstrable ways today. Just as He made Himself "evident" through His glory in the OT and similarly by His Spirit in Acts 2, He still does that today (though certainly not apart from Christ, but rather through Him!). The net effect, then, is to work powerfully in and through our lives, causing us to come to a place of continual surrender before Jesus.
But do we regularly seek Him with unified hearts? Do we believe that God still works to make Himself demonstrably known? Do we expect Him to move powerfully by His Spirit in and through us? Do we still ask Him to fill us with boldness to speak the Word? Or to stretch out His hand to heal and to perform miraculous signs and wonders? Do we believe that this is even possible or likely, or do we relegate such to the rantings of deluded TV preachers?

I must also confess that in delivery, I strayed greatly from the notes. Typically, I provide the congregation with a "fill in the blank" version of this same outline. Along the way, I also try to ask dialog oriented questions and get the congregation to interact. Sometimes the combination takes us in new directions...which is fine. So, 'bout half way through, I ditched the outline and spoke more spontaneously.


Anyway, here's the outline:



The Glory of Pentecost

1. God reveals Himself through His glory.

A. God’s glory has to do with the tangible, localized reality of His presence.

* Hebrew = kabod; translates as “abundance, honor, splendor, glory;” it contains the idea of “heaviness” or “weight.”
* In scripture, glory (kabod) is first used to describe when God reveals Himself as both cloud and fire and as complete provision. Exodus 16:7-10; Exodus 24:16-17
* All that we have need of is found in His glory.
* God’s glory is the place of miraculous creation. Genesis 1:1-3

B. To behold and enter into the glory of God is to know Him in His fullness. Exodus 33:18-34:9

* In the glory, we come to understand what God is truly like. Exodus 34:6-7
* In the glory, our only response is worship, repentance and consecration. Exodus 34:8-9
* In the midst of God’s glory, we are changed. Exodus 34:29-32

QUESTION: What other examples of God’s glory can you think of in the scripture? What happened on those occasions?

2. God is still revealing Himself today by pouring out His Spirit and making Himself known. Acts 1:1-8: Acts 2

A. Our gatherings as the Church are meant to be times of great unity and expectation as we engage faith in the fact that God is in the midst of us.

B. Where the localized presence of the Lord is made evident, miracles happen. Acts 2:1-12

C. NOTE: Whenever the Spirit of God moves among His people, there are always some who will ridicule and question. Acts 2:13

D. The Lord still moves powerfully by His Spirit in those who are determined to seek Him, bringing transformation from the inside, out. Acts 2:14-16

E. In the midst of glory, the outpouring of God’s presence, there is… Acts 2:17-47

* Sudden and deeper understanding of the scripture.
* Power for ministry.
* Real impact and life change for all who will receive it.