Prayers that Produce Pentecost (June 1, 2025)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, June 1, 2025
PASSAGES: Acts 1:12-14; Acts 2:1-2; Acts 2:42; Acts 3:1-8; Acts 4:31; Acts 4:23; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:46-47
Acts 1:12–14 ~ “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
First, we must define the word “Pentecost”. The Jews celebrate Pentecost as it marked the time that God gave the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, to Moses on Mount Sinai, 50 days after Passover. It is for us a time to remember the giving of the Holy Spirit to the early church in Acts 2, 50th inclusive day after Easter Day. The word Pentecost means fiftieth.
Pentecost is also NOT a one time event, but rather an ongoing lifestyle experience. A real Pentecost experience should produce an inward desire to outward life that is Spirit-led and Spirit-filled, until Jesus comes back.
When looking at the book of Acts, we see a few prayers that touched God and as a result helped facilitate the oncoming outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The Prayer of Unified Purpose
Acts 2:1 ~ “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”
- They were all in one accord.
- They were all in one place.
- Unified purpose is a two fold statement.
- They prayed with unity.
- They prayed with purpose.
- There were not 120 different prayers: Andrew is not praying for authority, while Thomas is praying for love, while Peter is praying for healing.
- They all prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:2 ~ “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”
- The word “suddenly” means unexpectedly, unforeseeably.
- There came an audible sound from heaven.
- A mighty forceful wind.
The Prayer in Sound Doctrine
Acts 2:42 ~ “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
- A prayer that is biblically sound will produce Pentecost
- Paul wrote to Timothy about a time when people would run after false teaching.
- Pentecost doesn’t come as a result of someone’s opinion or emotion or new theology.
- We live in a time where we have a vast variety of doctrines available to us.
- Our prayers must be based on Scriptures.
- None of us has a right to pray anything except that it be found to line up with the Word.
The Prayer of Faith
Acts 3:1–8 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”
- The word “prayer” is not used in these verses, except to establish a time of prayer.
- We know that prayer is certainly implied.
- The experience at the gate called Beautiful brought about the first soul-saving thrust for the early church.
- This event led to five thousand more souls coming to know Jesus Christ and it all began with a prayer of faith.
- Look at verse 6.
- When the puny become powerful and the anemic take on authority, Pentecostal effectiveness will characterize the church again.
The Prayer of Boldness
Acts 4:31 ~ “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
- The prayer of boldness helped to produce Pentecost.
- If you have the mindset of “I can live with it or without it” you will never experience true Pentecost.
Acts 4:23 ~ “When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.”
- It is significant that they returned to their friends, others that were alike in faith, brothers and sisters of like minded faith, after being severely threatened by the chief priests and elders.
- There is nothing like being in the company of those who have faith like you do.
The Products of Pentecost
Power – Acts 1:8 ~ “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Purity – Acts 5:1-11 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit and lost their lives. Some think that Pentecost is only a shout and celebration, but true Pentecost will also produce a purging of sin out of the church.
Praise – Acts 2:46–47 ~ “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Prayers that produce Pentecost also produce power, purity and a praising and worshipping church.
Pastor Andy Lambert
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101