A Blessed Pentecost Sermon

The outpouring of the Holy Ghost is symbolized in different ways in Scripture, but often it is portrayed like water that is poured out on dry ground. Water is indispensable to make the ground fruitful. The hard soil is softened by it. So the Holy Spirit is like water to prepare the soul for the seed of the Word. Without the Spirit there is no spiritual life.

The Prescribed Means

In Acts 2 we find the history of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which was visible and audible. A great multitude of inquisitive people was eager to know what was happening. The apostles were speaking in approximately fifteen different languages about the great deeds of the Lord. The enemies were not silent but mocked with them, saying that these men were drunk. Peter could not stand this and told them exactly what had happened. Peter was as if girded with the Holy Spirit; he was full of the Spirit, and then even the devil’s mouth was closed. Peter did not have to search for words, as the Lord had promised. He did not respect persons, and he did not use flattering words. Bound upon his heart was the honor of God in the first place, but also the eternal welfare of the hearers. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Prior to this, the apostle had been fearful, but now he had become a hero of faith. His lips had been touched with a coal of the altar. In a serious, penitential sermon Peter pointed to the transgressions of Israel. The mockers were set straight, as he pointed to the prophet Joel. He accused Israel of having rejected their Messiah. He was like the prophet Nathan, saying, “Thou art the man.” He ended his sermon with these words, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

We have to remember that the majority of Israelites regarded Jesus as a blasphemer, who was crucified for that reason. Others thought that He was an ordinary man, although He had done much good during His life. Some thought that He was a prophet, but they did not believe that He was the promised Messiah. When the multitude heard this, they were held as in a vice. Their amazement climbed when they heard the awful accusation that they had crucified the Messiah who was promised to the fathers and for whom they had been longing. They were all deeply moved by the words of Peter. And then suddenly he ended.

What was the impression of his words? “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The multitude was amazed; these words made a deep impression upon them. Previously Peter had cut off the ear of Malchus with the sword, but now he might use the sword of the Word, being full of the Holy Ghost. These words were like a dagger in his hand and were the means for the Holy Spirit to wound the hearts of the hearers. The apostle Paul says that the power of the Word is powerful in its effects (Hebrews 4:12), like that of dynamite. In this way the Word hit its target here. The people were fully convinced that these words were the truth, and they received an insight into their sin. They had sinned against God, they had trespassed His law, especially in the crucifixion of the Messiah. They had to condemn their whole life, but especially in regard to the death of the Lord Jesus. That was the greatest sin they could commit.

Do you comprehend Peter’s preaching? By nature our minds are darkened and are busy with the world or in outward religion. In our days we hear so little about the labor of the Holy Spirit. In most churches the work of the Spirit is not mentioned anymore because man is to do the work himself. They forget that only when the Spirit is bound to the Word will it be fruitful. The preaching of many is that we have the ability to accept Christ, but this is impossible. They speak about sin, but it is not painful. They stay alive with speculations. Christ is known historically, but not experimentally. Israel was satisfied in being of the seed of Abraham, and we, too, can be satisfied with belonging to the Netherlands Reformed Congregations, but this is not sufficient for eternity.

Neither the curse of the law nor the tender call of the gospel will open the heart of the hardened sinner. Only the Holy Spirit can bring us into true humiliation before God. The elect are also dead in sin and trespasses, deaf to the calling. God has to open our eyes, ears, and heart. Thus sin is made known to Israel, and under the operation of the Spirit, fruit is brought forth for eternity.

Has this also happened in your life, dear friends? There is much religion in our days, and many converted people, if you may believe what is said and confessed. But the late Rev. W. C. Lamain said so often that in the last days there would be little or no discerning knowledge. It can be seen that we live in dark days. In some places there are more people coming to the Lord’s table than ever before, but is this, as some think, a revival, a returning as it was on the day of Pentecost? I am afraid not, for where there is a lack of discerning knowledge, there is an easy accepting of the truth, as if it were applied to our hearts. The devil goes around as an angel of light in our days. Beware of it!

We may not go too far to the other side either, saying that the Spirit does not work. Happily, He does, as we may hear at times from God’s children and also in the conversion of some persons. Especially among the young people there is concern about the things of eternity. It is our prayer that the Holy Spirit may work mightily among us!

A Wrought Humiliation

We all know that an afflicted conscience can be the common work of the Holy Spirit. This passes by like a morning cloud. There can be much slavish fear, a being afraid of punishment. This is not a bowing before God. In this history it went deeper than the conscience only. The heart was wounded, which is a deed of God Himself.

“They will come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them”

Previously they were deaf and blind for the Truth, but now they saw and heard. It was not the word of Peter which did this, although he was an instrument of the Lord, but God’s Word which struck them. When God begins, resistance is broken. This happened here also when they became sinners before God. They felt the magnitude of the evil they had committed. They felt the burden of their guilt, since they had transgressed His law and rejected the gospel, and had even crucified the Lord.

Their whole life was full of sin; heaven was closed for them and hell opened. They were without God in the world. They feared it was impossible for them to be reconciled with God. Herein we see the way of the Lord. The Holy Spirit comes first with the law, then with the gospel, as we read in Jeremiah 31:9a, “They will come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them.”

It will be clearer in the life of the one than in the other, but all will learn something of it. All become lost sinners before a way is opened for them. In our days many are converted without ever being unconverted. Have you ever been pricked in the heart as these people were under Peter’s preaching? We have so often heard the same message, even though it was not spoken by Peter. It is the Word of God, but where the administration of the Holy Spirit is missing, there is little sorrow about this missing Spirit. May the Lord yet give a prayer for a prayer to ask for His precious Spirit. When He begins to work in us, then our heart is broken and our eyes will become wet with tears as we sorrow over sinning against God.

Although many mock with this weeping people, the Lord thinks upon them in mercy. They do not know the way and cry out with the multitude, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Before, they knew what to do; but now they no longer know, as they lose all their self-righteousness. Do you know of this question? Before, they spent their time in vanity; now they have different desires. They wish to walk according to God’s institutions. An hour and a half is not too long for them to be in church. On Sunday evening they long for the next time they can hear the Word, because there they may hear about the ways of the Lord with His children. For that their heart is longing.

But they do not wait until the doors of God’s house will be opened again. No, they begin to search the Scriptures themselves also, but they need interpreters. So these despised Galileans must become their counselors. God does not need man, but it has pleased Him to use them. Such a question comes out of a wounded heart, which is the sign of the new life. They want to do everything, working by day and night, to restore the broken covenant of works and to escape the well-deserved punishment. The work of the Holy Spirit is not only to teach man his misery, but His great work is to teach man that in Christ a way of deliverance is opened. The Spirit glorifies Christ.

A Clear Way

The Lord has promised to take care of His church, and He will look down upon a needy sinner. Peter could answer, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” At that moment Peter did not point to the law; he had done that earlier, and the people felt the curse of the law resting upon them. He was full of the Holy Spirit and showed the necessity of repentance, just as John the Baptist did. God requires that man repent, but it is impossible on our side; repentance is also God’s work in man. In this way man is brought upon the way of life and of sanctification.

True conversion is not only a change, but a complete renewal. That which before was our joy becomes our grief. That which makes them happy now, they hated before. This appeal to repentance is not a command to begin in our own strength to convert ourselves. No, that would be the wrong advice. We are fully responsible for our deeds, but totally dependent upon the administration of the Holy Spirit to bring us unto the right place.

When we learn our spiritual inability, then the law becomes the schoolmaster to Christ, driving the sinner to Him. He becomes indispensable. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, testified of the Messiah. By the enlightening of the Holy Spirit he was enabled to see the way of the Lord so clearly. Christ had to die and give satisfaction to the Father; this the Father has received, as shown in the resurrection of Christ. He is the perfect Savior, and nothing has to be added from our side to receive the remission of our sins.

True conversion is not only a change, but a complete renewal

Peter speaks of holy baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a sign of spiritual incorporation into Christ. The Father and the Holy Ghost are not excluded, since baptism is in the Name of a triune God. The emphasis is on Christ, because He is the head of the covenant of grace. This sacrament is a type or symbol of the washing away of sins. Not the water, but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sins. We know that being baptized is not enough, and that it does not guarantee the forgiveness of sins. Therefore do not make a ground of baptism, but, shall it be well, we must be born again.

The sacraments are signs and seals of God’s grace, and the Lord uses them to the strengthening of the faith of His children. When we may by faith trust in the Lord, then He will not make us ashamed. In making a poor sinner a partaker of the benefits Christ has merited, the Holy Spirit first makes room for them and later applies them. Enemies are reconciled with God. On the ground of Christ’s obedience the Lord casts all their sins away and will not remember them anymore. This is the great benefit in the life of the Church, and it is the longing of God’s children to come to this knowledge, since sin is a heavy burden for them. When, under the operation of the Spirit, sin becomes unbearable, then the Lord will open the way for them to see that in Christ their sins can be forgiven. This was proclaimed on the day of Pentecost, and thus it is likewise proclaimed today. However, we should not forget that only a poor sinner can go together with a rich Christ.

The apostle spoke also about the gifts they would receive, “And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The first Christian churches not only received the labor of the Holy Spirit, but also special gifts were bestowed upon them. This is no longer true today, but the working of the Spirit is still the same. May it be our prayer, “Let Thy Spirit be my constant aid.”

The Name and the work of the Holy Spirit have been mentioned time and again in this meditation. Was this necessary? I think so, because the work of the Spirit is so often forgotten, whereas it is so necessary. He reproves of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but, above all, He reveals Christ in the heart, as it was foretold, “He shall glorify Me.” May the Lord give such a blessing to young and old among us.

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