This past Friday marked a special date that changed the future of Britain, Europe and countless other nations. On June 6, 1944, the D-Day landings of Allied troops on Normandy’s beaches turned the tide of World War 2. Both the Germans and the British and Americans and other allies had known this day was coming. But when it came, it came suddenly and dramatically. At the start of what Field Marshall Rommel called the Longest Day, the Nazi Third Reich looked invincible. By the end of the day, although much fighting lay ahead, its destruction was assured.   D-Day for the launch of the Christian church happened 2000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost which we celebrate this Pentecost Sunday. It took place in Jerusalem which was packed with visitors from all over the world to celebrate the Jewish festival known as the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. Within a few moments a small group of followers of Jesus were born into a new dimension of supernatural power and authority. The disciples who had previously been full of fear became fearless ambassadors of Christ.    In one day, a small group of 120 disciples grew to a church of thousands. On this day and after this day they became an unstoppable force. Within weeks the whole of Jerusalem knew all about Jesus and within one generation, despite much hostility and persecution Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire.   Today there are more than two billion Christians in the world and well over half a billion of them would describe themselves as Charismatic or Pentecostal. Pentecostalism has been labelled the third great force in Christianity alongside Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. But now all branches of the Christian church are experiencing a new work of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals/Charismatics are found in 9,000 ethnolinguistic cultures, speaking 8,000 languages covering 95 per cent of the world’s total population.   Although the coming of the Holy Spirit had been promised centuries before by the prophet Joel, the events of the day of Pentecost, ten days after the return of Jesus to heaven, were sudden and dramatic.   Acts 2:1-4 says: ‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ We see some simple lessons about the Day of Pentecost: 1. The day of Pentecost was a day of great Power (Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 4:31-33; 5:12) 2. The day of Pentecost was a day of great purpose (2 Peter 1:3; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:17) 3. The day of Pentecost was a day of blessing for all people (Acts 2:17-18,38-39; Luke 11:11-13) Apply  1. The day of Pentecost was a day of great Power. D Day was an awesome display of military power. D Day for the church, however, was an awesome display of the power of God. It was supernatural power: When the Holy Spirit came there was a sound which came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Everybody was aware of an awesome power they had never known before. It was not of earthly origin. It was undeniable power. There were signs that God was at work, including the blowing of a violent wind, tongues of fire resting on the disciples which were visible to all and speaking in languages that they had never learnt (Acts 2:4). The gift of speaking in tongues was also present when Peter went to the Gentiles (Acts 10:45-46). The Holy Spirit literally loosened people tongues, to talk in languages they had never spoken before. It was revolutionary power. From the moment the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they shared the good news of Jesus with great boldness. They no longer were intimidated by anything or anyone even the authorities who tried to stop them (Acts 4:31-33). What’s more the disciples worked supernatural healings and miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 5:12). Even the building that they were meeting in was shaken after they prayed (Acts 4:31). What the day of Pentecost clearly shows us is that the greatest power in all the world is not political power or military power or financial power; it is the power of God. Today, it is only this supernatural demonstration of God’s power that is going to bring about fundamental change in the church and to our society. It is only when we realise that God alone is our greatest need and we seriously seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that this change begins. It doesn’t take many people for a new movement of the Holy Spirit to gather momentum. The world transformative movement of Methodism began when the Holy Spirit came on John Wesley and 60 others on Jan 1, 1739. One participant said ‘About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.’ The fires of the Holy Spirit spread rapidly. In February 1739, George Whitefield started preaching to the Kingswood coal miners in the open fields near Bristol. He preached outside because many churches opposed him, accusing him and other evangelicals of “enthusiasm.” When he started the meetings in February, about 200 attended. By March, 20,000 attended. Christians through the ages have recognised the need for the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministries (see C.H. Spurgeon and Dr D. Martyn Lloyd- Jones). We must be confident that God has this power today and we must begin to plead and yearn for it.  2. The day of Pentecost was a day of great purpose. D Day had a supreme goal; the liberation of Europe from the evil rule of the Nazis. France would be liberated; the occupied countries of Europe would be liberated. The survivors of the Holocaust in Belsen and other concentration camps would be liberated. So too the coming of the Holy Spirit liberates us from the captivity of the kingdom of darkness and enables us to live as free born sons and daughters in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit can free you from sin, self-centredness and evil powers. You can live free from fears and addictions, freed up to live the way God wants us to live (2 Peter 1:3). You can be freed up to extend the Kingdom of God everywhere (Acts 1:8). When you know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit you will be freed up to worship the Lord without religious inhibitions or personal hangups (2 Corinthians 3:17). So Pentecost means you will receive power and you will live in great freedom. 3. The day of Pentecost was a day of blessing for all people. Huge numbers of people were involved in the events of D Day and even more were affected by them. In time hundreds of millions of people felt the impact of D Day. So too the Holy Spirit wants to affect people everywhere (Acts 2:17-18). The prophecy of Joel includes young people: sons and daughters. Your children too also need to experience God in a supernatural way. Old people: you're not too old to have a new encounter from God and to receive new dreams Men: the Holy Spirit wants to help and equip you. Women: you can be greatly used by God. All ethnic groups; Jews and non-Jews. And this promise of the Holy Spirit is still open for every generation and for you also (Acts 2:38-39). Others have been blessed. Now you can you be too. God is interested in you. God wants to help you. God is for you. You may not have a church background. You may be new to all this but if you are hungry for God He will meet you. The Holy Spirit will change you. The Holy Spirit will comfort you. The Holy Spirit will guide you. The Holy Spirit will give you all the authority you need to conquer in every situation. You can be filled with the Holy Spirit just as happened to ALL the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. Today you can pray this ancient and simple prayer of the Christian church: ‘Come Holy Spirit.’  If you want to be filled with the Spirit then repent of sin and wrong doing. Have you grieved the Holy Spirit by your words, attitudes, actions and relationships? Have you quenched the Spirit by not obeying Him when you should and despising His gifts and His people? Repent and be baptised. Then you need to hunger and ask for the Holy Spirit and you will receive Him (Luke 11:11-13). 

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