PENTECOST TODAY – PENTECOSTALS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
What image comes to mind when you think of the word “Pentecostal”? If you come from a liturgical background, the word may mean nothing more to you than another day on the church calendar. If you are from Europe, interestingly, it’s a major time of celebration, lasting two days! In many American churches, you never hear anything at all mentioned about Pentecost. But, if you are familiar with traditional Pentecostal churches, you may think of “tongue-speaking, hand-clapping, arm-raising, praise-shouting, voice-raising, oil-anointing, late-arriving, long-preaching, Bible-thumping, beehive-hairdo-wearing, foot-stomping, church-going, loud-praying, God-fearing, pew-hopping, aisle-running” people!
If you are a part of the Assemblies of God, the organization Valley Chapel is associated with, or any of the other full-gospel, charismatic churches, denominations or fellowships, then you have most likely had personal experience with some form of “Pentecost” today.
The term “Pentecostal” is derived from the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which occurred fifty days following Passover. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said to His followers, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What Jesus said would happen did indeed take place, on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:4 tells us that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Because this happened on the day of Pentecost, those who have this experience today are called “Pentecostals.”
However, what may pass for “Pentecostal” today is quite often very different – and many times the complete antitheses – of what Biblical “Pentecost” is. What is the state of Pentecostalism today? Unfortunately, what many people think is Pentecostal, and how many Pentecostals act, is more pitiful than it is powerful.
I will say this up front. I consider myself a classic Pentecostal. I seek, desire, and long for the personal work and operation of the Holy Spirit in my life, and in the church I pastor. Because of this, I am completely unwilling to settle for any man-made and manufactured substitute for a genuine move of God’s Spirit.
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Here at Valley Chapel, we are going to take an honest look at America’s full-gospel churches in today’s world Be sure to join us as we examine“Pentecost Today – Pentecostals in the 21st Century.” This message will be pointed and anointed! Don’t miss it!