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HopeUC Secunderabad
The Power of Forty "Preparing for Pentecost”
The number 40 in the Bible marks seasons of testing and transformation—Moses on Sinai, Israel in the wilderness, Jesus fasting, and His 40 days after resurrection. Each was a turning point.
After Jesus ascended, 120 disciples spent 10 days in unified prayer, leading to Pentecost—where the Church was born through fire, not just ritual. Today, we still choose: be transformed by God's fire or settle for routine.
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I've titled the sermon as the power of 40 all right, and it's basically preparing us for the Pentecost 40 days from resurrection to ascension, right, jesus rose again and then till the day Jesus ascended, it was exactly 40 days, right After miraculous resurrection of Jesus. He did not immediately ascend to heaven, right, that was the mission, by the way, that was expectation of God, the way that was expectation of god the father, that he would die for the sinners. Right, he died, then he rose again. The mission did not stop there for jesus. Jesus continued to stay back on the earth and the bible records it as 40 days, right. So instead, uh, for 40 days, you know, he continued to remain on the earth, not in silence or isolation, but actively revealing himself to his disciples. He was teaching them and encouraging them and preparing them for what was about to come. So jesus mission was already there. He died, he rose again From resurrection. The mission continues, right, preparing, teaching and showing himself the resurrected Jesus, the resurrected person. Right, it never happened in the history People died and probably they came back to life, but eventually they died, right, but this is the only one who died and he rose again. He lives forevermore. Who can say amen, amen. So these 40 days were full of purpose, meaningful, right? Uh, this was the time of confirmation that jesus proved that he died and he rose again. He was showing himself to everybody.
Speaker 1:Then the second thing we look at is it was a time of instruction. He spoke about the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? How should God's children live in his kingdom? What is the kingdom all about? What is the expectation? He starts to teach in a different way. Then the third thing he says restoration. Right, we see Peter leaving and following. Is his restoration? Right? We see Peter leaving and following his own way. Right, then Jesus goes back and brings him back. So it was a time of restoration. Come back into the fold, I have a plan for you. And then we see that this was a time of commissioning, giving commission, giving purpose, showing you what you must do. If you are a disciple, then this is the mission I have for you. So during these 40 days, lots was happening, and that's what we are looking at today the power of 40, preparing ourselves for the day of Pentecost.
Speaker 1:Right, if you go back and see in the Bible, this number 40, I'm not talking about numerology, so please don't get me wrong. Bible talks a lot about numbers. If you read Hebrew and numbers, they correlate, they go hand in hand, right? So numbers have a lot of meaning and they have a lot to offer. And the same happens in the Bible. So, when you read the Bible and come to the word or number 40, right, it holds a deep spiritual meaning. Right, it's a time of testing, preparation, transformation and renewal. Let me break it down.
Speaker 1:Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai. Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness, all recorded in the Bible. Jesus fasted 40 days before his ministry. Jesus appeared for 40 days after his resurrection, which we are talking about. In each of these cases, right, 40 marked a turning point. Right, and a new beginning.
Speaker 1:Every time somebody was associated with this number or year, right, something truly happened in their lives. Right, and I believe the same. As we journey during this time, you know from resurrection, okay, you know, jesus died, rose again. We celebrated resurrection sunday and now we continue to journey along and soon pentecost sunday will come. Pentecost day will come, right? But how are we going to face it? How are we going to, you know, prepare for it?
Speaker 1:There are three births recorded in the new Testament and going forward in the New Testament up till the book of Acts. The first birth is the birth of Christ. The second birth is the birth of the church. The third birth is the birth of a Christian. These are the three things you'll see in the Gospels and in the book of Acts. Right, three things? What are they? Birth of Christ, birth of of the church and birth of a Christian. These are the three things. Quickly, I'm going to talk today and we will also explore the power of 40, preparing ourselves for the day of Pentecost. Let's go to Acts, chapter 1, verse 1 and 2.
Speaker 1:In my former book, theophus, I wrote about all the things Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen Right. So the writer, who is Luke you know the gospel writer Luke and is the same writer of Acts you know he is saying until the day he was taken up to heaven, he was giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to all the apostles he had chosen right. So the author is writing to this person called Theophilus and he's explaining to him after seeing everything. If you go and read the gospel of Luke. He clearly explains after verifying, after studying, after doing my research, I'm writing this. He's not a news reporter. Luke is not a news reporter.
Speaker 1:When you read this scripture, it is not news, it is fact. It is the information that he has seen and is writing and this book probably is written around 70 or 80 AD After Jesus came. He was born, he died probably 33 AD 33. And then this book was written around AD 70 or 80. At that time he's writing this book and he's writing to a person called Theophilus and he's explaining things of the things that have happened. So if you go and read Acts, chapter 1, verses 3 onwards, it says he also showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs that has been seen. Of them 40 days. Not all the gospel writers record this, only the writer of Luke records the book of Acts and he says that Jesus was seen for 40 days on the earth.
Speaker 1:These 40 days were significant for the disciples. Something happened to them Really, they were transformed. They really understood the heart of God. These 40 days, these three years, whatever they did, they saw it was all fine, but after death, resurrection, these 40 days of waiting and preparing did a lot good to them, amen. And then these 40 days. You know seen 40 days speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Speaker 1:One of the occasions, while he was eating with them, he gave this command. Somebody say command, not a suggestion. What is the command? Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father has promised, which you have heard me speak about, for John baptized with water. But in few days from now no date, no time you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Then he gathered around him, they gathered around him, all the disciples. And Lord, are you going to, are you, at this time, going to, restore the kingdom of Israel? Kingdom of Israel?
Speaker 1:While Jesus was talking about you know, holy Spirit, preparing them for the Holy Spirit, disciples mind was deviated. They think they were asking Lord, are you going to take over? Now, now that you're the king of kings, now that you're the Lord of Lords, now your mission is to take the Roman government, dethrone the Roman government and the government that is existing now. Will you take over? Will you rule? Will you take charge? They did not understand the principles and the kingdom of God that Jesus was trying to preach.
Speaker 1:I want you to look at verse 7. He said unto them it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. It's not for you to know. Know, but what is that you should be interested in? What is that you should be concerned about? What is that command that I am giving you? You must ponder on that. It is not who's going to take the kingdom, it is not who's going to rule and reign. It is for you to understand what is the will and plan of god for your life. Basically, he was telling the disciples. Now. Then, verse 8, he says you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem, judah, samaria and ends of the earth.
Speaker 1:After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes. The cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going up and suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them, men of Galilee. They said why do you stand here looking up into the sky? The same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back. This is the key text for us this afternoon, as you have seen him go into the heavens. He will. What are you doing here? Why are you wasting your time? So these 40 days Jesus taught them, instructed them. These 40 days it changed their world. During these 40 days that we have after resurrection of Jesus, will it change our world? Have after resurrection of Jesus? Will it change our world? Will we be in the place where God wants us to be, according to his will and according to his plan?
Speaker 1:In this chapter Acts, chapter 2, we see the birth of the church, the birth of Christ. We know, know it was. We all celebrated during christmas. But this is the time acts, chapter 2 church was born, amen, and we see that in this uh chapter that is very clearly explained. So when in acts, chapter 1 and acts, chapter 2, the church was born, and when we come to acts, chapter 2, that's that's what we have read in Acts, chapter 1. All these things were explained by Luke in his gospel, in Luke, chapter 24, to you Just see like a summary of it. Even in that chapter you'll see Jesus ascending into heaven. So Luke records it. But it just did not happen like that. There was a period of time 40 days. Jesus was on the earth.
Speaker 1:Right now, going back to Acts, book of Acts, chapter 2, verse 1. I want you to see this when the day of Pentecost came, when something was happening, there was an event, event called day of Pentecost. When it came Right, so all the people were gearing up for Pentecost. When it came right, so all the people were gearing up for Pentecost. All the people were excited for Pentecost. Everybody, all the Jewish people. They were waiting for this day. And when that day came, alright, they were all together in one place, right? What is so significant? In one place, right? What is so significant about this Pentecost? And we even have a denomination by this word, called Pentecost, pentecostal church. Right, but where did this Pentecost come from? What is this? What are the people doing? Whatever you know this Pentecost come from, what is this? What are the people doing? Whatever you know this Pentecost is all about, you have to go back to the old testament to see what God told them about this Pentecost.
Speaker 1:If you turn to Leviticus, chapter 23, verses 1 to 4, the Lord said to Moses speak to theites and say to them these are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. God is telling moses if you all want to follow me, if I am God, then you must practice these festivals, you must participate, you must celebrate these festivals. We all have festivals to celebrate. What festivals, any festivals, christians celebrate? Are they there in the Bible? Both are not there, but we celebrate anyhow. Let's leave those festivals aside, we'll go back to the. These are the festivals of the Lord. These are.
Speaker 1:Festivals means appointed times. You read the scripture. The word is used there appointed times, appointed. You have appointment with God. You have to come and meet with me at least during these times. And even in these seven appointed times, there are times where you have to personally come and visit the temple. Before we go there, I want you to see a sandwich verse. Everybody say sandwich.
Speaker 1:It looks like it is totally out of context. It it looks like totally off to what God was instructing. A verse suddenly pops up, a statement suddenly pops up. That is verse 3. If you are able to read verse 3, what does it say? There are everybody.
Speaker 1:There are 10 days in a week. There are 6 days when you work. Then Seventh day is a day of Sabbath, day of rest and A day of assembly. You are not to do any work. Wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the lord. Do you know what it's saying? It looks like this out of context. He's talking about festivals. He's talking about the appointed times. These are the appointed times. Wherever you come or not, it's okay, but at least these seven times you must must come, you must celebrate. This is if you really want to be my son, my daughter, my child. You celebrate this festival.
Speaker 1:He gives them a command, he gives them an instruction. In these, he puts this verse and he tells them you work six days, you work hard six days, but one day belongs to God. One day you must take time out. One day you cannot work. What does it say? A day of Everybody, a day of what is sacred, holy. Next one Assembly. The day of Sabbath is a day of sacred assembly. You cannot be sitting in home, you cannot be sleeping in home. Whichever law that governs your country, your state, your place, and that day is determined that you go to worship the Lord. You must be found there. Six days you work, but seven days you go into your church and you worship the Lord. I don't know why God put this scripture in middle of these festivals that he longs children to celebrate. I believe this is also one more festival God wants.
Speaker 1:Every Sunday, one week, one day in a week, one day, you come and you celebrate. You come and meet with me, you come to my house. You be in the assembly, you be with the brothers. No, but in the brothers. I have problem. I can't go to these brothers. I have problem with this brother. I have problem with that pastor. I have problem with this situation. I don't want to be in this team. This team has so many problems. But the Bible says one day out of the seven days you must be in the sacred assembly. This is not a suggestion, my friend. This is not something that you feel like it, you know or not. God tells each of us you must be found in the sacred assembly. But there are problems, pastor. Yes, there are problems. Wherever people are there, you will find problems. People are the problem.
Speaker 1:When Jesus called the twelve, they were not perfect. They were the biggest problem for Jesus. They were the baggage for Jesus In the crucial time. Jesus said please pray for me. I'm going to the bed of death, pray for me. And these so so called holy disciples, followers of Jesus, what were they doing? Snoring? How many times? He caught them? Three times, not once, twice, three times. He caught them. Leave these, fellows. My god, these are good for nothing. Fellows, let me go on and pray. And and he prayed and blood sweat dropped like the way he prayed Amen. This is one of the festivals God wants you to do. I'm laboring on this. This is not my, this is a side point for me. We have 101 things to tell, 101 things.
Speaker 1:I am more than 25 years in ministry as a pastor. As of today. I've heard multiple things. I have never stopped going to church, for whatever reasons, never. Unless, I was sick and hospitalized couple of times. I was in and hospitalized couple of times. I was in the hospital. I could not go. There was a time when this, I don't know this IV was there. I asked the doctor permission. I put a bandage, I came, I preached in the church, in my church. Then I went back to the hospital, put it back again and lie down. You can't miss church. Went back to the hospital, put it back again and lie down. You can't miss church. You can't miss church. Come on, imagine what Jesus did for you and you have a story to tell him. This is their pastor. That is their Lord. This is their Lord, I don't like this church. I don't like the way they worship. I don't like this church. I don't like the way they worship. I don't like 101 things. They put chappal in church. They don't put chappal in church.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, for everything we have something or the other. These are all baseless things. What matters to God, what is important for you? Don't be worried of too many things, disciples, that is not for you to know, that is father's business, but what is your business? You understand what God has given you, the commission and the, the, the commandment he has given you that all you follow. And he was telling them.
Speaker 1:You celebrate these festivals, but Don't forget Six days you work. One day you gather together in the sacred assembly. The word sacred is used here Because holy. It's not because of us, we are not holy. Only he is holy and he shows up and that becomes a sacred assembly and that's where we are right now. Amen.
Speaker 1:Please learn this principle, please tell it to the people around. They must know it. Right, sometimes for various reasons. Right, they are not in church. I don't know. You go to. You know. Evening service, afternoon service, morning service, late night service, whichever service, go and sit in the church. Go and sit in the church. You don't like the pastor, go and sit in the church. You don't like the worship, go and sit. If that is your church, be there in your church. Amen, amen, what brother, amen, what brother? Somebody say amen? You all can swear these are not my words. Even I get encouraged and sometimes taken aback with I said lord, what is this sandwich scripture you put in the middle of festivals. You're talking suddenly. You're talking about work for six days.
Speaker 1:Seventh day, an assembly go and worship the lord, give one day to the lord, amen. I'm not saying don't work on the seventh day, but don't miss church. That's what I'm saying. Don't miss the assembly of gathering of believers, for whatever reason. Go for God to church that you belong to go for Jesus, for the sacrifice, for the love. Go for him and not for anything else. Any church you go, you'll find 101 things. Out of experience I'm telling you. But our focus should be God. You are there for me. I come to this church because I want to worship god, I want to serve him, I want to serve the people. That's why I come to this church. Are there 101 things? Yes, 101 things that we can talk about write theses or we can write theses, amen. But we don't want to concentrate on those, we want God Going back to our topic.
Speaker 1:Right, verse 4. These are the Lord's appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at the appointed times, the festival of weeks. Right, can I have my slide up please? For the day after sabbath, the day you bought sheaf of the wave offering. Count of seven full weeks was 16. Count of 50 days up to the day after seventh sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord, verse 17,.
Speaker 1:Out of these seven festivals, three times a year all men are to appear before the sovereign Lord. Out of all these seven festivals, I am declaring to you as my children three times you must come. That's why there was a time when Jesus was a small baby. Parents, joseph and Mary. They were going to worship the. They were going to the temple Because of the one of the festival. They were supposed to present themselves before the Lord. So they were going. The parents took even Jesus at that time.
Speaker 1:And these are the seven feasts that are recorded. Amongst the seven feasts, there are three feasts that the Lord wanted them meant to be in person the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, which we just read, or Pentecost, and the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles. These are the three times where God wanted men to appear before the Lord. So they leave all their places, wherever they are stationed. If they are in Egypt, they will walk from Egypt. If they are in some other place, you know, they will start their journey way ahead and at the time of Pentecost they will land there. And that is exactly the scenario we are in in Acts, chapter 2.
Speaker 1:You know, going back to that scripture, acts chapter 2, right, verse 1, what does it say? When the day of Pentecost came? So, at this time, jesus died, rose again, right, he ascended into heaven. And then the day of Pentecost came. So 40 days are over. Jesus ascends into heaven. Now the day of Pentecost has come. How many days is it now? How many days is it? 50 days from resurrection Right, 40 days until Jesus' ascension, and from 40th day till the day of Pentecost, 10 days, 10 days of repentance, 10 days of renewal. We see, in the lives of these 40 days and these next 10 days change the lives of the disciples.
Speaker 1:When the day of Pentecost came, the day which we talked about, they were all together in one place. This is for us, my friends, as church. Suddenly, a sound like blowing of violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Verse three they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire. Somebody say fire that separated and came and rest on each of them. Everybody say each of them, some of them, few of them, hello, each of them. Then verse 4. Some of them, oh yes, this is the Bible All. Somebody say all what is left after all? Nothing is left. All, all of them. Somebody is excited, praise God. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Speaker 1:Church was born that day, right, church started to explode. We know this story. It's not something new. You know it all. Amen. The birth of the church, birth of christ, the birth of the church, right, 40 days. And then the 10 days. It truly transformed them, right? So I just like to read something here 40 days that changed their world From resurrection to ascension. 40 days. Ascension to outpouring is 10 days.
Speaker 1:The city was busy, right? Yeah, I want you to see this. There are two pictures in this picture. On one side, you see people are busy. All right. The pilgrims gathered, food was abundant, the atmosphere was festive. Who doesn't like festivals? Christmas comes, go for shopping. Everybody likes festivals, right, the atmosphere was electrifying.
Speaker 1:In the midst of all of that, something radically different happened, not to everyone, but only a select few. What happened? While the masses celebrated a tradition, the 120s encountered transformation. While the thousands came to observe a festival, the 120 were obedient with an expectant heart. While many enjoyed good food, 120 were filled with the bread of life and drank new wine, not the wine that you get in those shops outside there. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about new wine which talks about the Holy Spirit, fresh touch of God. They all received, while some people it was a festival. Can I have my next slide, please? For some people it was a festival and for other people, what was it? Huh, a day of fire. Fire, a day of fire.
Speaker 1:Either you are just celebrating a festival or you are experiencing the fire of God in your life. All came for the same purpose to celebrate Pentecost. All came for the same reason, but only select few had an encounter, while everybody else, it was a party. While everybody else, it was a party For everybody else, it was food. For everybody else it was sacrifice, but for the select few of the 120 who gathered together, something happened to them.
Speaker 1:The same is with us, my friend. We can be in church, but we are party animals. We can be in church. We are just worldly people. We can be in church. We are just worldly people. We can be in church. We have nothing to do with God. We have good Christian names but no character of Christianity, no Christ-likeness even in our lives. We got to think and evaluate our lives.
Speaker 1:Either you are a Christian who are just celebrating a festival. Soon, I think one festival will come, even in churches. You know what it's called. Either you are a Christian or just celebrating a festival. Right, soon, I think one festival will come, even in churches. You know what it's called. It starts with H, some vest, har, ah. You all know. Huh, it's called what? Har vest. Is it a festival or what no? But I thought they told me it's harvest festival. Harvest Is a festival or what no? But I thought they told me it's harvest festival. And I was growing up I said harvest will come, Harvest festival will come. You get everything there which in paradise you get, and there and everything you'll get there that one Sunday, you'll get Definitely no problem with that Celebrate. So either you are a person who are a festival Christian or you are a person who are on fire for God. The challenge is left to us. The difference is one group had a feast, the other had the fire. They all came for the same purpose, they all had the same destiny, but the difference was these people had the fire of God, amen.
Speaker 1:What truly turned a traditional celebration into a divine encounter? The believers. They're gathered together to be in one accord, one accord. How many are in one accord? One accord? How many of us are in one accord? Right, for anything you put up, we have so many opinions we have as believers, even in your family. You go and see, you put one thing, you have 101 opinions and nobody will vouch for that opinion. You are bent upon your opinion. You must do it like this. No, this is right, this is wrong, this is wrong. That's it. We are like that, our families are like that and we are growing up like that and we want church to be like that.
Speaker 1:But this church that started that birth was not like that. The believers gathered together, they were in one accord, they were continuously devoting themselves to prayer. You know, fire came how it came. I said fire came how it came Devoting themselves to prayer, waiting in God's presence. These elements created an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit could be poured out powerfully. It reminds us that God often moves when our hearts are prepared. When our hearts are ready, we have this encounter of the Holy Spirit. Before the fire fell. The ground has to be prepared. Before the rushing wind came, the church was united, prayerful, expected and obedient.
Speaker 1:If we long for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters, in our time, we must return to these foundational truths. We must go back what they did. If you do, you'll have the same encounter. You'll have the same experience. But, brother, we are living in another time, another century. Our ideologies are different. It doesn't match you, no problem, brother. Do they match this book called the bible? If they match, great. If they don't match, please throw them out. That's not the will of God. This is the book we follow. This is where God has given it to us. We have to come back to the foundational truths.
Speaker 1:These insignificant disciples, so-called unlearned. Something happened to them the day fire came upon them. They were no longer the same. Their preaching was not the same. Their ministry was not the same. Their walk was not the same. Their talk was not the same. Everything was different about them, everything. People gave up on them. They said oh these foolish Galatians, oh these people, what good will come from Nazareth? These are the very people, my friend. They turned the world upside. Their world changed that day, my friend. Will your world change today, or will your world be the same? That's the question we must ask.
Speaker 1:Fire showed up from nowhere. Do you know what is significant here? Church Fire showed up from nowhere. Do you know what is significant here? Church Fire showed up from nowhere. What happens when fire shows up? What it burns? It spreads. All right, very good, you're true in what you're saying, but when Moses encountered the burning bush listen to me, church, as I'm closing Moses encountered the burning bush. Listen to me, church, as I am closing Moses encountered the burning bush. The bush was not consumed, but the fire was still there.
Speaker 1:The difference between that fire and this fire is that fire will consume and burn you. This fire will not burn you. It will consume you by the power of the Holy Spirit. You will have that consuming you in your heart If there is a problem, it will not bother you. If there's anything, it will not disturb you. You know why. You're full of the Holy Spirit, you're in one accord, you're devoted to prayer and your life will change 40 days.
Speaker 1:Those 40 days the disciples had an encounter with Jesus in a new way. There was restoration taking place, renewal taking place, a lot was happening. And 41st day to the 50th day, what were they doing? They all went into the upper room. They can choose to go to that place where feast was there. They can choose to go to that place where celebration was there, where dance was there, where music was there, where party was there. But they isolated themselves. They went into upper room where nothing was happening. Probably there's no musician, also worship leader, also like the privilege we had today and the anointing we have today. Probably that was not the case that day.
Speaker 1:But that day these disciples came and said God, we are sorry for what we have done. Lord, we want you to come into our lives. We are waiting for that promise. What we have done, lord, we want you to come into our lives. We are waiting for that promise. Jesus never told them it's going to happen on the Pentecost day. He never told them Wait. He said wait, church, are you listening to me? He said wait, how many days, lord. How many days, lord. How many days I should wait? Days, lord, how many days, lord, how many days I should wait, lord. That was their cry. What is your cry today? They had to wait. You don't have to wait. Your time is now. You just have to say God, consume me with your fire, consume me with. Say God, consume me with your fire, consume me with your fire, consume me with your fire.