Sermon: Pentecostalism and Baptism in Spirit

by Shane Clifton

I am preaching this weekend, and i thought i would post the first draft of my sermon.  Its a bit long and needs a good edit - but you can give me your feedback and suggestions anyway ...

Introduction

This year, 2006, is the 100 year celebration of the Azusa Street revival that birthed the pentecostal movement.  Less than 100 years later, we are told that Pentecostal and charismatic churches now represent over 620 million people, and are found in every continent and over 230 countries around the world.

Now – I am an ecumenist – I love the whole church.  I’ve studied with Wesleyans and Anglicans, and I completed my PhD with the Australian Catholic University.  I know that God is at work in all the church but, at the same time, I am also proudly Pentecostal.  I wouldn’t swap our radical and sometimes strange brand of Christianity for a more conservative church.  I love being a Pentecostal, because to be a Pentecostal is:

-         to desire Baptism in the Spirit

-   to be open to the move of God’s Spirit

-         to expect that God’s presence will be manifest

-         to be optimistic that the Spirit can make a difference

-         to be empowered by the Spirit to proclaim the Kingdom

-         to know that the Spirit can use me however unimportant others think I am – and despite my own failures and problems and weaknesses.

Someone else can have conservative, quiet Christianity.  I am a Pentecostal, and I want to experience the power of the God.  Why – because I know how pathetic I am without the Spirit – lifeless, powerless, useless: but what a difference one touch of the Spirit of God can make.

Reading Acts 2:1-21

Background:  Even though the gospel of John is currently sandwiched between Luke and Acts – these books are in fact 1 work in 2 volumes (Acts 1:1-4 – former book).  In the first volume, Luke narrates the story of all Jesus began to do and teach.   The ministry of Jesus begins with his baptism, and the descent of the Spirit at the river Jordon (Luke 3:21-22) and, full of the Spirit, Jesus preaches good news to the poor, proclaims freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, release for the oppressed, and announces the year of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:18-19).  Indeed, all that Jesus does thereafter is in the power of the Spirit and all that he says is inspired by the Spirit.

Jesus dies and is resurrected – and he births the church in the power of the Spirit.  (Now get this) - The staggering thing about the church is that “all that Jesus began to do and teach” continues through the Spirit empowered church – through Christians, like you and I, baptised in the very same Spirit as Jesus.

We come then, to the outpouring of the Spirit which birthed the church on the day of Pentecost – and the passage of Scripture that has framed the identity of Pentecostalism.  I want you to notice a few things about this passage of Scripture:

1. Baptism in the Spirit is for all people – every nation, every class, every race, every gender.

In Acts 2: 5-12 Luke makes the observation that the tongues spoken by the disciples were understood by people of every nationality.  Apart from the obvious fact that this event was miraculous, the radical part of this story is that the Spirit came, and people from all tribes heard the wonders of God declared in their own tongue.

This is radical, because the Jewish people themselves weren’t really interested in non-Jews hearing the gospel -  people that they described as ‘barbarians’.  Into the midst of this racist status quo, the Spirit came: and prophetically the Spirit’s voice was heard in every language in the known world.

Subsequently, in Peter’s citation of the prophet Joel, the Spirit is poured out on all people – and what is significant is the mention of people that would you would not normally associate as being the movers and shakers in society.  If I was planning to birth a movement, I might gather together some politicians, some religious leaders, some wealthy business men – and in such a group I would surely find the power and authority and finance needed to develop and construct a vision as powerful as the birth of the Apostolic church.

In this passage, however, the Spirit comes on all people – and specifically mentioned are the powerless:

-         merely sons; or even less importantly, seemingly insignificant daughters;

-         young men are given visions; and we might ask – why put funny ideas into young peoples heads

-         old men dream dreams; and we surely must question why – what is the point of those near death wasting time thinking about the future

-         servants receive the Spirit; now this is getting ridiculous – insignificant powerless servants; men and women!

I have heard some people complain that the Pentecostal emphasis on baptism in the Spirit is a form of elistist spirituality – that Pentecostals are somehow better because we are baptised in the Spirit.  The opposite, however is true.  The message of Pentecostalism is that seemingly insignificant people receive a touch from the Spirit, are baptised in the Spirit: and they dream dreams, and they see visions, and they prophecy: and wonders in heaven and on earth are accomplished.

On the 1^st of January, 1901, at the turn of the century, a small group of bible students were praying at a bible training institute in Topeka Kansas.  One of those students, Agnes Ozman, was baptised in the Spirit and spoke in tongues.  Who was Agnes Ozman?  (SLIDE) Nobody – a single, poor women in a male dominated society?  Who was Agnes Ozman?  The first pentecostal, a women baptised in the Spirit and a participant in a revival that was to change the world.

The bible college in which Ozman was studying was run by Charles Fox Parham who, like many of his contempories, was somewhat of a racist.  One of Parham's students was a one-eyed Negro student, William J. Seymour, who was required to listen to the classes while sitting in a hall and looking in through the window.  Who was William J Seymour?  Nobody – a poor black man living under the oppression that was common to the mid-west of the USA at the time.  Who was William J Seymour?  A man baptised in the Spirit – who went out from Parham’s school, and established a church in Azusa Street Los Angeles which under went revival – saw thousands saved and baptized in the Spirit, and transformed the face of global Christianity.

So what?  Why is this relevant?  Because you also, whoever you are, can be baptised in the Spirit to continue the ministry of Jesus – to defy the limitations that others might impose on you and dream dreams, see visions, prophecy and participate in wonders in heaven and on earth.

From the day your were born, people have tried to tell you all the things you cannot do:

-         people say: you’re a women, and your place is only in the home

§         the Spirit challenge the status quo and declares: you’re a women, there is nothing you cannot be or do

- people say: you’re a youth, you have no future, no opportunities, no purpose, no power

§         the Spirit fills you and invites you to see extraordinary visions: to trample under Christ’s feet the dis-empowering words of others and to seize the future that he has given you

o      People say: you are poor, and only the wealthy can make a difference

§         The Spirit empowers you and declares that the meek shall inherit the earth

1. Baptism in the Spirit is for all people;

2. Baptism in the Spirit empowers us to proclaim the Kingdom.

To make explicit was I have already implied, the Spirit empowers us to continue the ministry of Jesus.  Pentecostals have always made a big deal of this point.  Baptism in the Spirit is inherently linked to our prayer for miracles, our desire to see people healed, our seeking after charismatic anointing.  Pentecostals love the spectacular and, of course, we never should cease to be amazed at what the Spirit of God can accomplish.

I wonder, however, whether there is more to the power of the Spirit than simply the spectacular.  For me, the most powerful thing the Spirit does is takes my weak-willed, fleshy, depraved nature, and transforms me so that I can become a vessel of his grace.

Think about Acts 2.  Not so long ago, Peter denied Christ 3 times.  Now, baptised in the Spirit, he stands before 3000 and preaches the gospel.  Of course this didn’t make Peter perfect (perfect peter).  Read on in Acts (and Galatians), and you will discover he makes many more mistakes.  But, nevertheless, he is transformed by the Spirit, he is empowered by the Spirit – and he lasts the distance, he preaches the gospel, he teaches the church – he continues the work of Jesus despite his weakness.

What great news.  Let me say, it is hard to be a preacher this weekend, given the sad fall of the Pentecostal leader, Ted Haggard.  How does anyone get up and preach when, to one degree or another, we are all weak and hypocritical?  Please understand, I am preaching to you but I am no spiritual Giant.  Baptism in the Spirit has not perfected me.  But I can stand before you, in my weakness, because of the Spirit, because he empowers me, transforms me, and uses me to preach Jesus.  And what he has done for, and in me, I know he can do for and in you.

1. Baptism in the Spirit is for all people;

2. Baptism in the Spirit empowers us to proclaim the Kingdom.

3. Baptism in the Spirit is distinct from, and subsequent to salvation, and evidenced by the gift of tongues.

This, at least, is the position of the Assemblies of God (of which I am a minister) and most traditional Pentecostal churches.  Admittedly, this is a much debated doctrine and you probably won’t find it obviously set out obviously in Acts 2.  Also, to be honest, I have no interest in either attacking or defending it now (take that up with me in class).  Forget the controversy – all Pentecostals are really trying to say is that, once you are saved you can experience more of God’s Spirit, which includes the wonderful gift of praying in tongues.

Romans 8:26

I don’t have time now to justify my assertion that this passage is talking about praying in tongues (if I could just refer you to the work of Gordon Fee, God’s Empowering Presence).  However you interpret this particular passage, Pentecostals understand praying in tongues in the same way.  According to Paul in 1 Corinthinans, tongues are a prayer language to God – in which the person who prays utters mysteries from his spirit.  Everyone who prays in tongues, Paul says, edifies himself.  We are weak, and the things that God has called us to do and teach are impossible (how can we continue the ministry of Jesus?).  So far beyond us are God’s purposes, that often we don’t even no what or how to pray.  But God gives us a gift, and that gift is prayer in the Spirit - speaking in tongues.

When we prayer in tongues:

-         we are connected to the heartbeat of God

-         we are given insight into the mind of the Spirit

-         our weakness is overcome by God’s power

-         our inadequacies and insecurities become irrelevant.

-         We are edified and built up and strengthened and given courage.

Conclusion

Let me finish with a simple encouragment.  This is a pentecostal church, because we believe that the Spirit calls all people – whoever they are – man, women, old, young, rich, poor, powerful, insignificant.  He calls all people and he empowers them.  In the Spirit we can see the miraculous, but even more potent, we discover God transforming us and using us despite our weakness.  He does this first through prayer and the gift of tongues, available to all, and enabling us to experience the power of prayer in and through our weakness.

-         people say: you are old, its time to retire

§         the Spirit challenges you to look to the future

Comments

[Deborah Taggart]

I lime it....that is, I like it, LOL (was I just typing in tongues?) :D

My fave bits are when you point out what Spirit-empowerment does for people who think themselves or may be labelled insignificant....and also the touch of reality and comfort you bring as you mention Ted Haggard.

Just one thought on changing it....maybe you should describe William Seymour's sight condition as blind in one eye (due to smallpox as a child) - 'one-eyed' made me think of the flying purple people eater.... (but maybe that's just me....)

Shane,
Thanks for sharing this with us. Its suprising that many pentecostal churches, or maybe its just us AoG people, no longer seem to focus on this aspect of our spirituality. Its rather silly, considering it is these distinctives and faith in the work of the Spirit that have brought the global movement to the position where it now stands and the revitalisation it brought to Christianity.
Why do you think that we don't hear much preaching on these things? Or is it just that its not preached in the churches I attend?

[Cameron]

whoops, that was me by the way

[shane clifton]

Good question cameron - i am not really sure. Perhaps it is not "trendy" or "cool" - although having said that the church i attend has addressed the topic of spirit baptism a few times

[Cameron]

Thanks Shane, I guess its not all that cool or trendy to be weeping when God touches you, or babbling in other tongues.
An interesting side note - one of the charges levelled against Christianity by Muslims is that we have changed/corrupted our scriptures so they don't prophesy about Muhammed. The say that when Jesus promised 'another counsellor' he was predicting Muhammed. When discussing this with my pastor he suggested that as pentecostals we have this advantage in the dialogue. For as we argue that Jesus was promising the Spirit, and we direct them to the fulfilment with Pentecost, we are also living fulfilments of the prophecy.
What do you think?

[Joshua Iap]

Hello, I am from Taiwan. Please browse and recommend my blog, my blog is also talking about Pentecostal issues, if you know any Chinese Christian friends.

[Dreu Harrison]

Mystification:
Tongues (evidence) is key phenomenal marker of Spirit baptism (thing evidenced)
Spirit baptism (evidence) is key phenomenal marker of Spirit (thing evidenced)

Demystification:
Tongues (evidence) is key phenomenal marker of Spirit baptism (thing evidenced)
Spirit baptism (evidence) is key phenomenal marker of Pentecostals (thing evidenced)

ergo Tongues is the initial evidence of Pentecostals

Enjoy...