Pentecost Sunday: His Promise, His Presence, His Power…Suddenly!
Today is Pentecost—the day when we remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the men and women who were gathered in Jerusalem in the Upper Room, waiting for Him to come. The Bible shows us that as they waited, they were united, they were prayerful, they were expectant. And then the Bible tells us it was into that environment, into that atmosphere that suddenly, suddenly He came and they were all filled. All filled.
I'm really excited that today, as we gather here, united in our desire to see Jesus exalted and glorified, united in our desire for more of Him, as we come into this place prayerful, as we've come here expectant, we trust today that once again, we will all be filled with the Holy Spirit, just as they were on the day of Pentecost.
We trust that once again, He will come, and that we will all be filled with the Holy Spirit, amen.
The Historical Context of Pentecost
Pentecost was one of the three major festivals that the Israelites were instructed to remember and celebrate. They were together in Jerusalem at the temple. In Hebrew, the feast is called Shavuot—the feast of weeks—and it marked the giving of the law to Moses. It happened 50 days after Passover, and of course, we are aware of the fact that it was at Passover that the lambs were sacrificed. It was at Passover that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed and on the third day He rose again.
Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. For 40 days, He appeared to His disciples, and then on day 40, He ascended to heaven. And He told the disciples prior to His Ascension that they were to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father.
His words are recorded in Luke's Gospel chapter 24, verse 49: "Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
In Acts chapter 1, verse 4, we read again that it was on one occasion while Jesus was eating with them, that He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).
Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But 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" (Acts 1:6-8).
The Day of Pentecost
For 10 days they waited. Jesus ascended, ten days they gathered in that upper room, they were united, they were prayerful, they were expectant, and they waited. And Acts Chapter 2 tells us what happened next:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:1-4).
That must have been an incredible morning.
These verses remind us of what Pentecost is all about. Pentecost is about His promise—God's promise that He would send the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is about His presence—the Holy Spirit would come. Pentecost is about His power—that believers would be empowered in and through and by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This is not just about information. It's good to have information. It's good to be informed of what the Bible says, what the Bible teaches. But today is not just about information. There is an impartation that we can know today.
Pentecost Is About His Promise
Through the prophet Joel, God had promised that a day would come when the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon His people. The Bible speaks about the fact that God never does anything without first announcing it to the prophets, and then the prophets proclaimed it to the people. And God said, "I am going to pour out my spirit on all flesh."
In Joel 2:28-29, we read these familiar verses: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-29).
What an incredible promise! God said, "I am going to pour out my spirit on all flesh, all people, sons and daughters, young and old, men and women." This is a promise from God for all His people, not just a select bunch, not just for the crazy Pentecostals. This is for all His people.
Not only was it a promise that was spoken of and announced by the prophet Joel, but it is a promise that was spoken about by Jesus Himself. In Acts chapter 1, verse 4, Jesus referenced "the promise of the Father, the gift my Father promised." The promise of the Father was simple: when Jesus left, the Holy Spirit would come.
The Season of Waiting
Between a promise being given and a promise being fulfilled, there is often a little bit of a wait. Jesus instructed the disciples, "Don't you leave Jerusalem, but wait, wait for the gift my Father promised."
Let's be honest—we don't like waiting, do we? Sometimes we can mistakenly think that waiting time is wasted time. But I want to tell you, when it comes to the things of God and the promises of God, waiting time is never wasted time. It never is because in the waiting, we are being prepared for what God has promised. There is a work going on.
In those 10 days of waiting in that upper room, God was doing something in them. Very often, before God will ever do anything through us, He needs to do something in us. The disciples were going to go out, and they were going to preach the gospel to the whole world. They were going to carry the message of Jesus. This was an important task, this was an incredible task. But before they were sent out, before God did anything through them, He needed to do something in them. He needed them to be filled with His presence. He needed them to be filled with His power.
Some of you are waiting on the promises of God. You are waiting. Can I tell you something? The wait will be worth it. And it certainly was for the disciples because that promise that was made is a promise that was kept.
A Promise Fulfilled
Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as we read on in Acts chapter 2, Peter stood up, and he addressed the crowds, and he said in verse sixteen, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). This is what was promised. What you're seeing now is what was promised—the promise of the Father.
One of the things that we all know about our God is that our God doesn't speak and then not act. When God speaks, He always acts. When God makes a promise, He always keeps His promise. And on that day, His word was fulfilled, the promise was kept.
Many of us are carrying some promises in our hearts. We have an awareness of things that were prophesied and promised to us. You will see certain things, you will do certain things, you will go to certain places. I look back over my life, and I can see that some of those things have been fulfilled. But there's other stuff I'm still waiting on. But I tell you this: the one who promised is faithful, and He will do it. It may be taking time, and some of you were wondering when on earth is this thing going to happen. I don't know when, but I know it will.
The promise will come just as it did in Acts Chapter 2. And how did it come? Acts Chapter 2, verse 1 tells us how it came. It came suddenly. And that's one of the incredible things about God. God doesn't work to our time scale, he doesn't work to our calendar. Suddenly doesn't always give us advanced notice, doesn't always give us warning.
One minute they were there in that room waiting, and the next minute they were filled—suddenly, in a moment, it all changed.
There are some folks here today, and you could do with one of God's suddenly—not just in terms of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, but in your situation, in your circumstance, in a moment where it changes. You've been asking God for a breakthrough, you've been asking God for a miracle, you've been asking God to provide, you've been asking God for healing. You need a suddenly, and I pray you get a suddenly—in a moment it changes, and that's what happened for them. Suddenly, everything changed.
Pentecost Is About His Presence
It's very interesting to note that when Jesus spoke to His disciples about this promise, He simply told them that the Holy Spirit would come and that they would be immersed in Him. Look at Acts chapter 1, verse 5: "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5).
Please note that as we read through the Gospels, as we read through the book of Acts in the build-up to this day, Jesus didn't tell them anything about the sound of a mighty rushing wind. He didn't tell them about flames of fire. He didn't tell them that they would be speaking in other tongues, that they would have the supernatural ability to speak in languages that they hadn't learned. He didn't tell them that they would be so physically impacted by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit that some people would think that they were drunk.
He didn't tell them what to expect. His concern was that they would know who to expect.
An Encounter, Not Just an Experience
Pentecost is not about what, it's about who. Pentecost is not about an experience. Pentecost is about an encounter. I am all for experience. I have experienced the Holy Spirit's presence and power. I have shaken, I have rattled, I have rolled, I've had the tingles down my spine. I have had all sorts happening to me.
I remember once traveling back from Toronto, the revival there, and I felt the presence of God in my belly and all I could do is go, "Oh, oh." I remember sitting on the plane and the stewardess came to offer me a drink. "Would you like a drink?" "Yes." "Would you like dinner?" "No." I'm sure she thought I was crazy. I felt out of control, but I just knew the Holy Spirit was doing something. I've never given birth, but it felt like contractions. I felt I was birthing something, pushing something out in the Holy Spirit.
I have fallen on the floor. There was a season where we did a lot of falling on the floor. We don't seem to do it so much now, I don't know why, but I want to tell you I had some encounters on that floor. I really did. God met with me and touched my life and changed my life. Many of you can testify like that—I went down and I came up different, something changed, something shifted. But it's not an experience that's the most important thing.
Pentecost is about an encounter—an encounter with God. The Holy Spirit. Pentecost is about His presence.
The Advocate Who Lives Within
When preparing His disciples for His death and what would happen afterwards, Jesus said in John's Gospel chapter 14, verse 16 and 17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).
Further on in that chapter, verse 26: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit—as the Advocate, He is the one who comes alongside us to provide guidance, comfort and support. As we go through life, we need that someone beside us who can give us that guidance, that comfort and support. Some of us right now are really glad for the Advocate that He is giving us that comfort, that guidance and that support.
In these verses, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will help you. He said He will be with you, He said He will teach you, He will remind you of my words. But the most important thing He said about the Holy Spirit is this: He will live in you.
The Indwelling Presence
I really feel this is the most important thing of what happened on that day of Pentecost—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You see, not only would He be with believers, but He would take up residence in believers.
Up till now, up till this point, up till Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would come upon people. He would enable them and empower them to do things for God. And then when they had done those things for God, the Holy Spirit would lift off them. Holy Spirit would come on people and then be lifted off people. He would rest on them and lift off them.
But Pentecost was the day when all that would change. No longer would there be any coming and going of the Holy Spirit. He would remain as a constant companion, He would remain as a constant presence.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 6 verse 19, he made a declaration, and he said this: "Your bodies are the temple, are the dwelling place, are the abode, are the home of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
As believers, this body is His temple. It's where He lives. We were created for the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives. We were created for that. We were created to have God living in us. And on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and took up residence in believers' hearts and lives.
Pentecost is about His abiding presence. God is not only with you; God by His Holy Spirit, if you're a believer, lives inside you. And Pentecost changed everything—the abiding presence, the Comforter has come, the Comforter is here.
24/7, He is with us, He is here, He is present, He's living in us. He's doing His work in us. Part of what He's doing is helping us to become more like Jesus. He is producing fruits in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, and you need that when listening to one of my sermons—long suffering. Some of you have suffered long in these sermons. Producing fruit, but also releasing gifts in us, supernatural gifts in and through our lives that can bless others.
Pentecost Is About His Power
Luke 24, verse 49, let's hear the words of Jesus to the disciples: "Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). This power that was coming was not earthly in origin, not earthly in source. This was a power from above, this was a power from heaven—clothed with power from on high.
Acts chapter 1, verse 8: "But 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" (Acts 1:8).
Pentecost is about His power—two verses there, a clothing with power and also a receiving of power. And as we gather here today on this Pentecost Sunday, I believe there is a clothing with power that we can know, and there is a receiving of power that we can also know as well.
What Is This Power For?
But what is this power for? Why was the Holy Spirit sent that we might be empowered? What's this power for?
The power was given so that the believers—us, the disciples—would be able to walk the walk and talk the talk. What's that about? It's about us having the ability to live the lives that we have been invited to live, to live the lives that we have been called to live.
The fact of the matter is, without the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it's impossible for us to walk the walk and talk the talk. We can't do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit's empowering. I can't live the life.
Some people have said to us over the years, "Christianity is a crutch for weak people." Well, I want to tell you those people have never tried to be a Christian. They have never tried to follow Jesus, because if they did, they would know that following Jesus can be hard work.
There is great joy in following Jesus, saying no to sin and yes to Jesus, and living like He lived, turning the other cheek, being nice to people who are nasty to you. Living kingdom principles is not easy. It is a challenge, but it's not an impossibility. We can do it, because the Holy Spirit has come to enable us and empower us to do it.
You can be nice to that nasty relative, you can be nice to that nasty neighbor, you can be kind to that unkind person, because the Holy Spirit lives in you and empowers you to do it.
In ourselves, we can't do it. That's why we need the Holy Spirit's empowering.
Power for Mission and Ministry
It's quite clear in the scripture that the Holy Spirit's power was given for mission and ministry too. "When the Holy Spirit comes, you will be my witnesses."
Jesus had a plan for their lives that they would carry His message to the world, and that didn't stop with the disciples—that is resting with us. We are ambassadors of Jesus, we are people who are called to mission and ministry. We are His witnesses, just as the disciples were the ones to speak of Him, the ones who would make Him known, the ones who would carry His message. That responsibility is on us.
We are His witnesses, we are called to speak of Him, we are called to make Him known, we are called to carry His message. And let me say, carrying His message is not just words—it's deeds too. We carry His message in words and in deeds.
The Evidence and Effect of Empowerment
In the book of Acts, Chapter 2, as we read on, we see that the evidence and the effect of this empowering is immediately seen and heard. When you and I are empowered by the Spirit, the evidence and the effect of that will be seen and it will be heard. It will be seen in the way we walk the walk, it will be seen in the way we talk the talk, it will be seen in our ministry and our mission. It will be seen in how we share Jesus with those around us.
In the book of Acts it's very clearly seen in the fact that those who had hidden themselves away in fear now positioned themselves on the streets of Jerusalem, fearlessly standing for Jesus. Peter who had denied Jesus, now stood before thousands of people, boldly proclaiming Christ. What had happened? He had been empowered by the Spirit. What had happened to those disciples who locked themselves away in that upper room because of fear? They were emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The effect and the evidence of His empowering was immediately seen and heard. And alongside that, when they were filled, the Bible tells us they spoke in other languages that they had not learned. It was a supernatural ability, a supernatural gift. They spoke with other tongues.
I remember as a new Christian reading about this experience, and I remember saying to God, "God, I want that, I want that, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit, I want to be able to speak in other tongues. I want it, God, I want it." And God heard my prayer, and He filled me with His Spirit. He baptized me in the Holy Ghost. I spoke with other tongues, I speak with other tongues, and I encourage you, if you've never had that empowering, to seek it in Jesus' mighty name—be released in that supernatural gift. We were called to the supernatural. It's the realm in which we live.
So when He comes, there will be evidence and there will be effects in our lives, but also in the life of this house. The city of Swansea needs to see some of the evidence and effects of His empowering. The city of Swansea needs to see something of the evidence and effects of His presence among us, and the city of Swansea is going to see it in Jesus' name.
Holy Spirit, Rain Down
We began our service with the words of a song that we turned into a prayer: "Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down, oh Comforter and friend." And He is our Comforter, He is our friend. "How we need your touch again."
Many times through my Christian life, I have cried out to the Lord, "Lord, would you touch me again, touch me afresh." I know that because of Pentecost, your presence, the Holy Spirit is in my life. I know that I have been empowered, I've received gifts of the Spirit, I have the ability to speak in tongues, but oh, would you touch me again?
This morning is one of those mornings where we together can say, "Holy Spirit, would you touch me again?" Maybe you have never been touched by the Holy Spirit, then this morning could be your morning. "Holy Spirit touch me, Holy Spirit rain down, rain down, let your power fall."
Some of us in the room know and have known the presence of the Holy Spirit because the moment we were converted, the Holy Spirit came, His presence has filled our lives, but maybe we've never known anything of that empowering. Ask Him this morning that He might empower you. "Let your power fall, let your voice be heard, come and change our hearts as we stand on your word."
We are not asking for anything this morning that is not in accordance with the scriptures. What we're asking for today, what we've been talking about today is here, it's written. There is a promise of presence and power. We're standing on your word: "Fill me again with your presence and your power, Holy Spirit, rain down."
Pentecost—what is it all about? What's the fuss about? It's about His promise, a promise made, a promise kept. It's about His presence, and it's about His power. And you know what? It's not either/or—it's both. We need His presence and we need His power.
Holy Spirit, rain down.
We welcome you, Holy Spirit, you're so welcome in this place. We don't need to welcome you, you're already here, you're already here, move among us. We prayed at the start of this message that we might all be filled with the Holy Spirit, afresh and anew. Father, as we conclude our service today, fill us afresh and bless you in the mighty name of Jesus, all over this room, in the homes of those who are with us online.
On this Pentecost Sunday, "Oh, God, fill me afresh, God fill me afresh and anew."
This blog is based on a sermon delivered by Pastor Michael Williams on June 6, 2025 at the City Church Swansea