Unapologetically Pentecostal (Part 1)
Unapologetically Pentecostal: Why the Power of Acts 2 Still Matters Today
There's a growing sentiment in modern Christianity that believing in the supernatural move of the Holy Spirit is somehow embarrassing. That speaking in tongues is weird. That the baptism of the Holy Spirit is emotionalism. That Pentecostal believers have something to apologize for.
But here's the truth: to be Pentecostal is to be biblical.
The Day Everything Changed
When the day of Pentecost arrived, 120 believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the entire house. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each person, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit gave them ability.
This wasn't a quiet, orderly moment. It was loud enough that the entire city heard it. People from every nation were bewildered, amazed, and confused. Some mocked, saying the believers were drunk. But Peter stood up boldly and declared: "These people are not drunk—it's only nine in the morning! This is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'"
From that moment, the church was born in supernatural power. And that power was never meant to cease.
Addressing the Objections
Over the centuries, various objections have been raised against the validity of Pentecostal experience for today's church. Let's address them honestly.
The Bible is filled with things that sound absolutely bizarre to our modern sensibilities. God told the prophet Jeremiah to take his worn underwear, hide it in a hole by a river, retrieve it later, and use it as a prophetic object lesson. Ezekiel lay on his side for 390 days. Hosea married a prostitute as a living illustration of God's relationship with Israel.
Weirdness is not a disqualifier for something being from God. Our comfort level cannot be the standard by which we measure God's activity. The supernatural, by definition, transcends our natural understanding.
2. "God Is Not the Author of Confusion"
This is true—but it doesn't mean what many think it means. In Acts 2, the crowd was explicitly described as "bewildered," "perplexed," and "confused." The Greek words used actually mean "to be beside oneself" or "totally at a loss."
God is allowed to do things that confuse us. His goal isn't to keep us confused, but He absolutely has the right to challenge our theology and stretch our understanding. When we dismiss something simply because it confuses us, we're elevating our own intellect above God's sovereignty.
3. "They Don't Have the Fruit of the Spirit"
Here's where things get interesting. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church acknowledging they had every spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:7), yet he also rebuked them for being immature, fleshly, and walking in sexual sin that wasn't even named among unbelievers (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 5:1).
They had the gifts without the fruit. Should that have been the case? No. Did Paul correct them? Absolutely. But the presence of spiritual gifts in imperfect vessels doesn't invalidate the gifts themselves.
If we required perfect obedience for the gifts of the Spirit to operate, what would we do with Jonah? He was a prophet who disobeyed God so severely he had to be swallowed by a fish. Yet he still carried the word of the Lord.
4. "It's All Emotionalism and Show"
What about the tiny fifteen-person Pentecostal church with no live stream, no global platform, where a grandmother in the back corner speaks in tongues because she has an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit? Is that a show?
What about Peter on the day of Pentecost, when a sound from heaven filled the room so loudly the entire city heard it? When he stood up and defended what was happening instead of calming it down? Was that emotionalism, or was that the outpouring God had promised?
The Only Biblical Argument Against Pentecost
There is exactly one passage in Scripture that cessationists use to claim the gifts have ceased: 1 Corinthians 13:8-12.
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away...But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."
The question is: when does "completeness" come? The very next verse answers it: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face."
Face to face. Not when the Bible was completed. Not when the apostles died. But when we see Jesus face to face—either at His return or when we go to be with Him.
Until that moment, tongues have not ceased. Prophecy has not ceased. The supernatural gifts of the Spirit remain active in the church.
What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The Greek word for baptism (baptizo) means total immersion—not just a quick dip, but remaining submerged until transformation occurs. It's like pickling: you leave a cucumber in pickling juice long enough, and its very chemical makeup changes. It becomes something new.
Luke uses the word "filled" in Acts 2:4, which means filled to the fullest and overflowing. Peter uses "pour out" in Acts 2:33, which means to pour out greedily, as if emptying a container completely.
Picture trying to fill a cup under a faucet, but the faucet is fully open, gushing water everywhere. That's the biblical picture. God doesn't want to give us a measured, controlled amount of His Spirit. He wants to flood us, immerse us, transform us, and overflow through us.
Removing the Hindrances
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not something we earn through righteousness or intense prayer. Yet there can be hindrances—things we're holding onto that prevent us from being fully surrendered.
Before the outpouring at Pentecost, the disciples spent ten days in continuous prayer. They weren't earning the gift; they were positioning their hearts to receive it. They were removing obstacles, surrendering control, and creating space for God to move.
Sometimes we pray for the Holy Spirit while simultaneously holding up umbrellas of doubt, fear, past hurt, or theological resistance. God wants to pour out His Spirit, but we need to move those things aside and say, "Fill me up, Lord. Remove every hindrance. I surrender completely."
The Invitation
The same Spirit that fell on the day of Pentecost is available today. The same power that launched the early church into the world as bold witnesses is available now. The same supernatural gifts that confirmed the gospel message throughout the book of Acts are still operating.
This isn't about emotionalism or show. It's not about being weird for the sake of being different. It's about believing that God's Word is true, that His promises are for us, and that He still desires to fill His people with supernatural power.
So here's the question: Will you ask Him to fill you? Will you remove the hindrances and say, "Pour out Your Spirit, God. Fill me until I overflow"?
The invitation stands. The promise remains. And there's absolutely nothing to apologize for.
There's a growing sentiment in modern Christianity that believing in the supernatural move of the Holy Spirit is somehow embarrassing. That speaking in tongues is weird. That the baptism of the Holy Spirit is emotionalism. That Pentecostal believers have something to apologize for.
But here's the truth: to be Pentecostal is to be biblical.
The Day Everything Changed
When the day of Pentecost arrived, 120 believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the entire house. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each person, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit gave them ability.
This wasn't a quiet, orderly moment. It was loud enough that the entire city heard it. People from every nation were bewildered, amazed, and confused. Some mocked, saying the believers were drunk. But Peter stood up boldly and declared: "These people are not drunk—it's only nine in the morning! This is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'"
From that moment, the church was born in supernatural power. And that power was never meant to cease.
Addressing the Objections
Over the centuries, various objections have been raised against the validity of Pentecostal experience for today's church. Let's address them honestly.
- "It's Too Weird to Be God"
The Bible is filled with things that sound absolutely bizarre to our modern sensibilities. God told the prophet Jeremiah to take his worn underwear, hide it in a hole by a river, retrieve it later, and use it as a prophetic object lesson. Ezekiel lay on his side for 390 days. Hosea married a prostitute as a living illustration of God's relationship with Israel.
Weirdness is not a disqualifier for something being from God. Our comfort level cannot be the standard by which we measure God's activity. The supernatural, by definition, transcends our natural understanding.
2. "God Is Not the Author of Confusion"
This is true—but it doesn't mean what many think it means. In Acts 2, the crowd was explicitly described as "bewildered," "perplexed," and "confused." The Greek words used actually mean "to be beside oneself" or "totally at a loss."
God is allowed to do things that confuse us. His goal isn't to keep us confused, but He absolutely has the right to challenge our theology and stretch our understanding. When we dismiss something simply because it confuses us, we're elevating our own intellect above God's sovereignty.
3. "They Don't Have the Fruit of the Spirit"
Here's where things get interesting. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church acknowledging they had every spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:7), yet he also rebuked them for being immature, fleshly, and walking in sexual sin that wasn't even named among unbelievers (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 5:1).
They had the gifts without the fruit. Should that have been the case? No. Did Paul correct them? Absolutely. But the presence of spiritual gifts in imperfect vessels doesn't invalidate the gifts themselves.
If we required perfect obedience for the gifts of the Spirit to operate, what would we do with Jonah? He was a prophet who disobeyed God so severely he had to be swallowed by a fish. Yet he still carried the word of the Lord.
4. "It's All Emotionalism and Show"
What about the tiny fifteen-person Pentecostal church with no live stream, no global platform, where a grandmother in the back corner speaks in tongues because she has an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit? Is that a show?
What about Peter on the day of Pentecost, when a sound from heaven filled the room so loudly the entire city heard it? When he stood up and defended what was happening instead of calming it down? Was that emotionalism, or was that the outpouring God had promised?
The Only Biblical Argument Against Pentecost
There is exactly one passage in Scripture that cessationists use to claim the gifts have ceased: 1 Corinthians 13:8-12.
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away...But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."
The question is: when does "completeness" come? The very next verse answers it: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face."
Face to face. Not when the Bible was completed. Not when the apostles died. But when we see Jesus face to face—either at His return or when we go to be with Him.
Until that moment, tongues have not ceased. Prophecy has not ceased. The supernatural gifts of the Spirit remain active in the church.
What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The Greek word for baptism (baptizo) means total immersion—not just a quick dip, but remaining submerged until transformation occurs. It's like pickling: you leave a cucumber in pickling juice long enough, and its very chemical makeup changes. It becomes something new.
Luke uses the word "filled" in Acts 2:4, which means filled to the fullest and overflowing. Peter uses "pour out" in Acts 2:33, which means to pour out greedily, as if emptying a container completely.
Picture trying to fill a cup under a faucet, but the faucet is fully open, gushing water everywhere. That's the biblical picture. God doesn't want to give us a measured, controlled amount of His Spirit. He wants to flood us, immerse us, transform us, and overflow through us.
Removing the Hindrances
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not something we earn through righteousness or intense prayer. Yet there can be hindrances—things we're holding onto that prevent us from being fully surrendered.
Before the outpouring at Pentecost, the disciples spent ten days in continuous prayer. They weren't earning the gift; they were positioning their hearts to receive it. They were removing obstacles, surrendering control, and creating space for God to move.
Sometimes we pray for the Holy Spirit while simultaneously holding up umbrellas of doubt, fear, past hurt, or theological resistance. God wants to pour out His Spirit, but we need to move those things aside and say, "Fill me up, Lord. Remove every hindrance. I surrender completely."
The Invitation
The same Spirit that fell on the day of Pentecost is available today. The same power that launched the early church into the world as bold witnesses is available now. The same supernatural gifts that confirmed the gospel message throughout the book of Acts are still operating.
This isn't about emotionalism or show. It's not about being weird for the sake of being different. It's about believing that God's Word is true, that His promises are for us, and that He still desires to fill His people with supernatural power.
So here's the question: Will you ask Him to fill you? Will you remove the hindrances and say, "Pour out Your Spirit, God. Fill me until I overflow"?
The invitation stands. The promise remains. And there's absolutely nothing to apologize for.
Kids Dinner Conversation Starter for Parents
1. The people at church kept singing, “All we want is more of you, Jesus.”
• What is one way our family can show Jesus we want “more of Him” this week?
2. We heard stories of people getting baptized and saying, “The old me is gone, and I’m new in Jesus.”
• What do you think it means to live like a “new” person for Jesus?
3. The pastor said the Holy Spirit wants to “fill us up” like a cup that overflows.
• If your heart was a cup, what good things from God would you want Him to pour into you?
4. The Bible story told how Paul trusted God in a big storm and shipwreck.
• When you feel scared or worried, how can you talk to God and trust Him like Paul did?
5. At church they said, “The Lord is good and His love lasts forever.”
• Can each of us share one way we saw God’s goodness or love in our day today?
• What is one way our family can show Jesus we want “more of Him” this week?
2. We heard stories of people getting baptized and saying, “The old me is gone, and I’m new in Jesus.”
• What do you think it means to live like a “new” person for Jesus?
3. The pastor said the Holy Spirit wants to “fill us up” like a cup that overflows.
• If your heart was a cup, what good things from God would you want Him to pour into you?
4. The Bible story told how Paul trusted God in a big storm and shipwreck.
• When you feel scared or worried, how can you talk to God and trust Him like Paul did?
5. At church they said, “The Lord is good and His love lasts forever.”
• Can each of us share one way we saw God’s goodness or love in our day today?
Lifegroup Guide
Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide your time together and to open hearts to receive more of His presence.
Icebreaker (10 minutes)
Question: Share about a time when something you experienced seemed "weird" or unusual at first, but later turned out to be genuinely good or valuable. How did your perspective change?
Sermon Recap (5 minutes)
Pastor Sean challenged us to be "unapologetically Pentecostal" by embracing the biblical reality that the baptism of the Holy Spirit—as experienced in Acts 2—is still for the church today. He addressed common objections to Pentecostal beliefs and emphasized that the supernatural move of God's Spirit is not emotionalism, manipulation, or weirdness, but a biblical mandate for every believer.
Key Takeaways
Discussion Questions (30-40 minutes)
Personal Reflection
Have you ever felt uncomfortable with or skeptical about the more supernatural aspects of Christianity (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.)? What has shaped your perspective?
Pastor Sean mentioned that sometimes we have "boxes" or "umbrellas" that hinder us from fully receiving what God wants to pour out. What might be blocking you from experiencing more of God's Spirit?
The sermon emphasized being "filled to overflowing" rather than just having enough. Where in your spiritual life are you settling for "just enough" instead of asking for "more"?
Application
What would it look like for you personally to be "unapologetically Pentecostal" in your daily life? How might this affect your prayer life, your witness, or your worship?
Paul spent 10 days in prayer before Pentecost. How does this challenge your current prayer practices? What would it look like to pursue God with that kind of consistency?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is described as empowerment for witness (Acts 1:8). How might being filled with the Spirit change the way you share your faith with others?
Practical Applications (15 minutes)
Choose one of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: Daily Spirit-Filled Prayer
Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to pray specifically, "Holy Spirit, fill me up. Remove every hindrance. I want more of You." Journal what you experience.
Option 2: Study the Gifts
Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 this week. Take notes on what the Bible actually says about spiritual gifts. Ask God to show you which gifts He wants to activate in your life.
Option 3: Surrender Something
Identify one specific "box" or hindrance in your life that might be blocking the fullness of God's Spirit. Write it down, pray over it, and take one concrete step to surrender it to God.
Option 4: Pursue the Baptism
If you've never been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, commit to seeking this gift. Ask your group leader or pastor to pray with you.
Group Activity (10 minutes)
Prayer for Filling:
Take time to pray for each person in the group to be filled (or refilled) with the Holy Spirit.
Have each person who desires prayer come to the center
Lay hands on them (with permission)
Pray specifically: "Holy Spirit, remove every hindrance. Fill them to overflowing. Release Your gifts in their life."
Encourage people to receive by faith, surrendering fully to whatever God wants to do
Memory Verse
Acts 2:17
"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Additional Resources
Encourage your group to participate in evangelistic outreaches where the Spirit moves
Youth Ministry: "Children in the Word" summer program for students
Church App: Direct members to the SR Church app for Bible reading plans and upcoming events
Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide your time together and to open hearts to receive more of His presence.
Icebreaker (10 minutes)
Question: Share about a time when something you experienced seemed "weird" or unusual at first, but later turned out to be genuinely good or valuable. How did your perspective change?
Sermon Recap (5 minutes)
Pastor Sean challenged us to be "unapologetically Pentecostal" by embracing the biblical reality that the baptism of the Holy Spirit—as experienced in Acts 2—is still for the church today. He addressed common objections to Pentecostal beliefs and emphasized that the supernatural move of God's Spirit is not emotionalism, manipulation, or weirdness, but a biblical mandate for every believer.
Key Takeaways
- The Day of Pentecost is Biblical and Current - Acts 2 describes the birth of the church through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and this experience remains valid for believers today.
- Common Objections Addressed:
- "It's too weird" - The Bible contains many things that seem unusual to our natural minds
- "God is not the author of confusion" - God can do things that confuse us without intending to leave us confused
- "No fruit, no gift" - The Corinthians had spiritual gifts while still struggling with sin
- "It's just emotionalism" - The supernatural move of God cannot be dismissed as mere emotion
- The Baptism Defined - Being baptized in the Holy Spirit means total immersion, being filled to overflowing, and experiencing God's greedy outpouring of His presence in our lives.
- Surrender is Key - While the baptism is a gift, we must remove hindrances and fully surrender to receive all God wants to pour out.
Discussion Questions (30-40 minutes)
- Read Acts 2:1-4 together. What specific details stand out to you about how the Holy Spirit came upon the believers? What was the immediate evidence?
- In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you." Why is this power important? What is it for?
- Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-12. How does this passage relate to whether spiritual gifts are still for today? When will tongues and prophecy cease according to this text?
Personal Reflection
Have you ever felt uncomfortable with or skeptical about the more supernatural aspects of Christianity (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.)? What has shaped your perspective?
Pastor Sean mentioned that sometimes we have "boxes" or "umbrellas" that hinder us from fully receiving what God wants to pour out. What might be blocking you from experiencing more of God's Spirit?
The sermon emphasized being "filled to overflowing" rather than just having enough. Where in your spiritual life are you settling for "just enough" instead of asking for "more"?
Application
What would it look like for you personally to be "unapologetically Pentecostal" in your daily life? How might this affect your prayer life, your witness, or your worship?
Paul spent 10 days in prayer before Pentecost. How does this challenge your current prayer practices? What would it look like to pursue God with that kind of consistency?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is described as empowerment for witness (Acts 1:8). How might being filled with the Spirit change the way you share your faith with others?
Practical Applications (15 minutes)
Choose one of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: Daily Spirit-Filled Prayer
Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to pray specifically, "Holy Spirit, fill me up. Remove every hindrance. I want more of You." Journal what you experience.
Option 2: Study the Gifts
Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 this week. Take notes on what the Bible actually says about spiritual gifts. Ask God to show you which gifts He wants to activate in your life.
Option 3: Surrender Something
Identify one specific "box" or hindrance in your life that might be blocking the fullness of God's Spirit. Write it down, pray over it, and take one concrete step to surrender it to God.
Option 4: Pursue the Baptism
If you've never been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, commit to seeking this gift. Ask your group leader or pastor to pray with you.
Group Activity (10 minutes)
Prayer for Filling:
Take time to pray for each person in the group to be filled (or refilled) with the Holy Spirit.
Have each person who desires prayer come to the center
Lay hands on them (with permission)
Pray specifically: "Holy Spirit, remove every hindrance. Fill them to overflowing. Release Your gifts in their life."
Encourage people to receive by faith, surrendering fully to whatever God wants to do
Memory Verse
Acts 2:17
"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
- Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit
- Ask for boldness to be unapologetically Pentecostal
- Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in your church, families, and city
- Declare that you want to be filled to overflowing
Additional Resources
Encourage your group to participate in evangelistic outreaches where the Spirit moves
Youth Ministry: "Children in the Word" summer program for students
Church App: Direct members to the SR Church app for Bible reading plans and upcoming events
Recent
Archive
2026
2023
November
No Comments