Part 1-7: The Fire of Pentecost

Bible Reading:

Matthew 3:11—"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Luke 24:49—"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:6-14—“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer [c]and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Acts 2:1-4—"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 2:17-18—"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy."

Acts 2:39-42—"'For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."

The Lord’s Promise of Revival in All the Earth

In the New Testament, the Lord promised that He would bring revival to the whole earth. This call to revival originates from the throne in heaven. It is the will of the Lord, fulfilled through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture we just read shows that when John the Baptist came to testify about Jesus, many people came to be baptized by him. He testified, saying: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) John baptized with water, but Jesus Christ came to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire—this is the promised driving force of revival.

Then, the Lord Jesus truly came. Before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He could not yet send the Holy Spirit, because He had not yet been glorified. So while He was on earth, He preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, and fulfilled God’s will. Finally, He completed redemption on the cross. After His resurrection, when He gathered with His disciples, they asked, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” The disciples were thinking of a revival of the earthly kingdom of Israel. But Jesus replied, “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.” This means that what matters most in the Lord’s heart is not the restoration of an earthly Israel, but the revival of a spiritual, heavenly Israel—a global revival that begins in Jerusalem, spreads through Judea and Samaria, and reaches the ends of the earth.

This worldwide revival does not depend on human talent, strength, or strategy. It requires waiting in Jerusalem for power from above—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only then can the testimony of Jesus Christ spread from Jerusalem to all nations. In other words, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He ignites the fire of revival. That burning Spirit starts in Jerusalem and spreads widely—through Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The fire of Pentecost was the spark that ignited the revival in all the earth. This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, just as the prophet Joel foretold: “God says, in the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.” This is the prophecy of global revival.

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost Is the True Essence of Revival Fire

Regarding the fire of Pentecost, let us offer further explanation. In the past six messages, we’ve looked at six instances of revival fire in the Old Testament—all of which were symbolic. Whether it was the fire before the Tabernacle, the fire on the rock at Ophrah, the flame on the rock at Zorah, the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor, the fire before the Temple, or the fire on Mount Carmel—each one was a foreshadowing of revival fire, representing the work of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t until the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were gathered together, that “tongues as of fire appeared and rested on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” This was the true manifestation of revival fire—the Holy Spirit Himself descending and filling the disciples. From that moment, the revival of the whole earth began.

The Fire of Pentecost Ignited the Revival of the Whole Church

We know that ever since humanity’s fall, the whole earth has been under God’s curse and judgment. Yet through Christ’s redemption, humanity received a great salvation—not only restoring fellowship with God, but also becoming witnesses of Christ. Ultimately, Christ, the captain of our salvation, will lead many sons into glory (Hebrews 2:10). This salvation truly came upon humanity beginning at Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, it sparked a full revival. The once timid and retreating disciples rose up to become bold witnesses of Christ. Peter, along with the eleven apostles, stood up to preach, and that very day, three thousand people were baptized. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. They shared all things in common and were united in heart and mind. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. This was the beginning of the church-wide revival—the starting point of global revival.

1. Beholding the Ascended Christ

   In Acts chapter 1, the Lord Jesus first said to His disciples:"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon 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) After saying this, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. What follows is a significant detail we must pay close attention to: as Jesus ascended, His disciples were "look steadfastly" into heaven. While Jesus was rising, their eyes remained fixed on Him—they were focused on the ascending Christ. “Look steadfastly” means "focus", it implies deep, unwavering attention. They kept their eyes on Jesus until He was no longer visible.

   After Peter beheld the ascended Christ, he was filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In his first message, he declared:"This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made Him both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) Peter saw that Jesus, a descendant of David, was to sit on the throne (Acts 2:30). His ascension was His enthronement in heaven. Peter saw it, and so did the other disciples. After seeing this vision of the ascended Christ, they returned to Jerusalem and prayed. This vision gripped them. Through prayer, they received the promised Holy Spirit and were powerfully revived.

   Dear brothers and sisters, if we want to receive the Holy Spirit of Pentecost and the fire of revival—burning continually and growing stronger—we must keep our eyes fixed on the ascended Christ. Our hearts must be directed toward the heavenly throne. Whenever our hearts turn toward the throne, the Holy Spirit is poured out and fills us wherever we are. Sometimes while preaching, I find myself drawn inwardly to the heavenly throne, and as I speak, the Holy Spirit is poured out. Each of us can be filled with the Spirit at any time. I used to have misconceptions, thinking that being filled with the Spirit meant falling to the ground, shouting, crying, or laughing. Yes, those manifestations often happen when the Spirit first fills us, as He breaks down our natural selves. But not every filling must look that way. The more mature we become, the more steady it appears. Living in the Spirit daily becomes as natural as breathing. If falling or crying were the only signs of being filled, then according to Paul’s command to “be filled with the Spirit,” we’d hardly be able to function. Right? So being filled with the Spirit is a normal, everyday experience for a believer.

   Brothers and sisters, the most basic attitude and intention for receiving the Holy Spirit is this: He alone is Lord, He alone is King. When our hearts are turned toward the throne, the Spirit is poured down and we are filled. Over the past six or seven years, I’ve often prayed, and sometimes during prayer, the Spirit poured out powerfully. Other times, feeling weak, I’ve prayed earnestly for filling—kneeling for long periods, praying fervently—but the Spirit didn’t come. Even after days or weeks of prayer, still no filling. Strangely, sometimes when I wasn’t even asking, the Spirit was poured out abundantly—bringing release, freedom, peace, and joy. Why? What’s the key? What's the problem? Is it confession? Repentance? Fervency? No. Through years of failure and the Lord’s leading, I’ve come to see: the key is a heart fully turned toward the throne—He is the Lord, He is the King. When we behold Christ on the throne, in that very moment, the Spirit is poured out strongly—filling us from within and overflowing with His fullness. This is the most essential truth: when the Lord truly takes the throne in our lives and reigns as King, the Holy Spirit fills us.

   So in Acts chapter 2, when Peter explained the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, he said:"Being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you now see and hear." This means that when Jesus was exalted to glory, honor, and authority—enthroned at the right hand of God—the Holy Spirit was poured out. Just as Revelation 22:1 says:"The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb." Whenever our hearts turn toward the throne of the Lamb, when He reigns as King, the river of life flows among us.

   So what does it mean to experience Christ enthroned? From our side, when our spiritual condition shows the following two signs, it means the Lord has taken His throne in us.

   1. Praising

      First Sign Is Praising. When the eyes of a person’s heart are opened by the Holy Spirit to behold the ascended Christ—or when the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us—we naturally begin to praise: praising the Lord’s victory, His glory, His virtues, His supremacy, and more. In such moments of praise, He is enthroned. As the Psalms say, “Our God is enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) The name “Israel” means “one who has wrestled with God and prevailed,” signifying victory, kingship, and authority. When we stand on the spiritual mountaintop of victory and begin to praise, the throne of the Lord appears. In other words, when our spirit worships and praises because we’ve seen the greatness, beauty, and triumph of the Lord—He is enthroned, reigning in glory. And as a result, the Holy Spirit is poured down from Him. A few of us coworkers often pray together in the mornings. Many times, as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the Lord, we burst into joyful singing: “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” And when we truly praise the Lord from deep within our spirit, the Holy Spirit is poured out, and we are all filled with His presence. Hallelujah!

   2. Falling Prostrate

      Another sign is that our fleshly self falls prostrate—this too is an experience of the Lord reigning from His throne. When the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord, Scripture records:"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne... Then I said, 'Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" Whenever we cry out, “Woe is me! I am ruined,” recognizing that our fleshly nature deserves death, that our old self has no cure but death—and we fall face down before Him—that is when the Lord is truly seated on His high throne. So when we are enlightened, humbled, clothed in sackcloth and ashes, broken and repentant, those are often the moments when the Holy Spirit is poured out and fills us—that is the Lord reigning from His throne.

      Over the past few years, we’ve often experienced the Lord’s throne in these two ways: Sometimes through humble prayer, confession, repentance, and falling prostrate before Him. Other times, the opposite—overflowing with praise as we behold His faithfulness, love, mercy, victory, glory, and majesty. Especially during prayer meetings or breaking of bread, when true worship and praise arise from the spirit, we often experience the Holy Spirit being poured out continuously—here a wave, there a wave—not chaotic, but orderly and rhythmic, wave after wave of being filled with the Spirit. Praise the Lord! When this kind of Spirit-filled work appears in the congregation, many brothers and sisters are filled with joyful laughter, shouts of praise, and songs of hallelujah. These are the results of our hearts turned toward the throne.

      Brothers and sisters, at Pentecost, the disciples were baptized in the Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit. They received power and their hearts burned with passion—because their hearts were turned toward the throne. Likewise, when our hearts are drawn to the throne, that is the prelude to being filled with the Spirit. Of course, some fillings are intense—like when D.L. Moody was filled, he had to quickly find a place to hide because he couldn’t bear it and had to ask the Lord to stop. But sometimes, when God brings sweet and deep communion, the Spirit fills us in a gentle, tender, and loving way. Either way, this fire of revival comes from above. To usher in revival on earth, we must receive it. Many of us already have, but some have not yet. This morning, may the Lord be gracious to us—may our hearts turn toward the throne, so that the Holy Spirit may fill us too.

2. Obeying the Lord

   At that time, the disciples not only witnessed Jesus’ ascension, but they also followed His command to return to Jerusalem. Just as the Lord instructed, they obeyed—this is what it means to obey the Lord. Brothers and sisters, if you desire to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, you must continually obey the Lord. Acts chapter 5 records Peter standing up to deliver a powerful message. In that message, he said: “The Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32) This means that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, because the Spirit is also called “the Holy Spirit given to those who obey.” Therefore, obedience is essential to receiving the Spirit. We’ve often spoken of fire descending upon the burnt offering. A burnt offering represents the surrender of self to God—no personal choices, but submission to the Lord’s will and arrangement. This is obedience. And with such unconditional obedience, the fire naturally comes down. The more we obey the Lord and the Holy Spirit, the more we are filled with the Spirit.

   John said: “God gives the Spirit without limit.” (John 3:34) This is a lifelong, inexhaustible experience—an endless filling. It’s like placing an empty bottle into the ocean. The amount of water inside the bottle is limited. But if both ends of the bottle are opened, the ocean’s water can flow through it continuously, from beginning to end of the year. If we receive the promised Holy Spirit by faith according to the Lord’s word, and rivers of living water flow from within us—letting the Spirit flow outward—it’s like both ends of the bottle being opened: water flows in from one end and out the other, endlessly.

   There was a sister who saw some Spirit-filled gatherings that were noisy and not quiet, and she strongly disapproved. As a result, she developed prejudice against the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Later, through God’s Word, she gradually discovered not only the reality of the Spirit’s outpouring but also the importance of being filled with the Spirit. She began to long for the Spirit’s filling and outpouring. She prayed to the Lord, expressing her willingness to receive the Spirit’s outpouring and filling—but she didn’t receive it. The reason was that she only wanted a quiet, calm experience that suited her preferences. She was unwilling to accept any expressions she considered embarrassing. Eventually, she was enlightened and realized that she had made her own choices about how the Spirit should come—she had not fully surrendered to let the Lord lead freely. So she offered herself to the Lord again, saying: “Lord, even if You want me to cry or laugh loudly, or fall to the ground—I am willing.” Because of this obedience, the Holy Spirit was poured out and filled her. In the end, she didn’t cry or laugh loudly, nor did she fall to the ground—but she received the Spirit’s outpouring, was filled, and spoke in tongues. Praise the Lord!

3. A Heavenly and Transcendent Position

   When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they went up to the upper room where they were staying to pray. The spiritual meaning of “going up to the upper room” speaks of standing in a heavenly and transcendent position—separated from sin, immorality, and the evil of this world, as well as from earthly customs, habits, impurity, entanglements, worries, and burdens. It is a realm of heavenly elevation and spiritual detachment. In such a state, the fire of Pentecostal revival can remain among us continually. But whenever sin enters, the Holy Spirit withdraws. Whenever the world or impurity creeps in, the Spirit departs. Because the Holy Spirit is holy, even when burdens, worries, or entanglements come in, He quietly leaves. He is as sensitive as a dove—any slight disturbance, and He flies away. You might ask, “Then should we stop doing anything?” Not at all. Outwardly, we still fulfill our duties—whether soldier, farmer, worker, merchant, man, woman, young or old—each in their own role. But inwardly, our spirit remains connected to heaven, constantly communing with the Lord through the Holy Spirit, living in the ascended life, and maintaining that transcendent, heavenly position. In this way, the fire of revival will not be extinguished, but will continue to burn within us with lasting intensity.

   Today, the reason we don’t see the fire of the Holy Spirit in the church is because the church has allowed sin to enter. Many believers, though baptized, live no differently from unbelievers. Even more troubling is when the church aligns itself with the world, losing its sanctified essence. No wonder revival is hindered and the power of the Holy Spirit is not evident.

4. A Harmonious Spirit

   The disciples were all “of one accord,” which speaks of a harmonious spirit. Whether in a church, a family, or even within an individual, whenever the spirit is not in harmony, the work of the Holy Spirit immediately stops. At that time, the disciples were united in heart and spirit, and the fire of revival burned among them. Brothers and sisters, being blamed by others is a small matter; what matters is that you always maintain the unity of spirit given by the Holy Spirit toward others. We are not here to please people, but to please God. In daily life, it’s inevitable that we may offend or hurt others, or be misunderstood or opposed. But we must be careful to remain in harmony with others. If you truly have wronged someone, you should confess and reconcile with them. Our spirits must be in harmony with both God and man, without any barriers.

   Over the past few years, the Lord has taught me much in this area. Sometimes I’ve seen meetings filled with the Lord’s presence, and other times I’ve noticed the Spirit not moving, and the sense of His presence gradually fading. We know the Lord’s presence is tied to the movement of the Holy Spirit. In a preaching meeting, the Spirit finds a speaker as His vessel; in a prayer meeting, He finds someone to pray; in a fellowship meeting, He finds someone to share His word. The Spirit must be able to move freely in the gathering, finding an outlet to express His will—then the Lord’s presence is there.

   So remember: whenever our spirits are out of harmony, the Holy Spirit cannot flow and becomes blocked, and naturally, the Lord’s presence is lost. Sometimes in a meeting, the Lord’s presence suddenly disappears, and it feels as if the whole gathering has fallen from heaven to earth. Though there may be songs, testimonies, messages, fellowship, and prayer, inwardly we know the Lord’s presence is gone. The next morning, the coworkers kneel together to ask the Lord: “Where is the blockage? What is hindering the Spirit?” Gradually, it becomes clear—perhaps a brother and another brother, or a sister and another sister, are not reconciled. The Spirit is blocked in the meeting. So we kneel and pray for them—fervent, persistent prayer. The Lord hears, the issue is resolved, and His presence returns. Sometimes after prayer, we ourselves are enlightened and realize that among coworkers, there has been a lack of harmony, mutual support, and care. Thank the Lord—He gives us grace to confess to one another, and our spirits are reconciled. Then the Lord’s presence returns. Because of His mercy, He gives us a united heart, and our spirits are in harmony. The Holy Spirit can move freely again, bringing the fire of the Spirit, and the church moves forward. This shows that to maintain the fire of Pentecost, unity and a harmonious spirit are absolutely essential.

5. Emptied by the Lord

   The disciples were in the upper room in Jerusalem, with one accord and devoted themselves in prayer. This devoted prayer speaks of their endurance and fervent intercession. Because they spent sufficient time pouring out their hearts before the Lord, they received much enlightenment and were emptied by the Lord. The more they were emptied, the more they were filled with the Holy Spirit. So the more a person is emptied, the more the Spirit fills them. The story of the widow in 2 Kings chapter 4 illustrates this: the more empty jars she borrowed, the more oil was poured into them—until there were no more jars, and the oil stopped flowing. Likewise, the more we are emptied, the more the Holy Spirit fills us—until we overflow.

   We cannot empty ourselves by our own strength. But wonderfully, when the Holy Spirit moves us to pray earnestly, we receive light and naturally begin to empty ourselves—through repentance, confession, renouncing the world, and judging the flesh. In this way, we are emptied by the Lord. In the ten days leading up to Pentecost, the disciples prayed continuously—morning, afternoon, and evening, without ceasing. What could have kept them praying so persistently? I believe much of their time in prayer was spent receiving divine light, humbling themselves, and continually emptying themselves. And finally, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and they were filled.

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

After the disciples received the spiritual preparation described in Acts chapter 1, chapter 2 begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and the result was a great revival. Peter, who had once cursed and sworn to deny Jesus when He was arrested—and who returned to fishing after Jesus’ death—was a broken man and a total failure, seemingly unfit to bear witness. But when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, tongues like flames of fire appeared and rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and became bold, standing up to preach. That very day, three thousand people repented and were baptized. This was the work of the Holy Spirit—a clear demonstration of His power. That power encompasses many dimensions: the authority of the Kingdom, the strength to deny oneself, the cost of bearing the cross, the power to obey, and much more. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit and great faith, spoke with wisdom and the Spirit. Even at the moment of martyrdom, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prayed for his enemies. His ability to die as a witness for Jesus Christ came from seeing the ascended Son of Man and a result of beig filled with the Spirit.

Dear brothers and sisters, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost ushered in a glorious revival. The baptism of three thousand people revealed the unprecedented work of the Spirit. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer—these were tangible expressions of revival. The apostles performed many signs and wonders. They shared all things in common, met daily in unity, and broke bread both in the temple and in their homes, eating with glad and sincere hearts. This was the fire of revival from the Holy Spirit, melting and bonding them together to live out the fullness of Christ’s testimony. Among them was the reality of God’s family—loving one another—and the number of those being saved increased daily. All of this was the glorious revival brought by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The Revival Fire That Burns Across the Earth

Not only was this revival for Jerusalem—it was meant for the whole earth. According to the Lord’s promise, as the church faced persecution, the disciples were scattered throughout Judea, preaching the gospel (Acts 8:4), and the fire of revival spread with them. On another front, the Lord sent Philip to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. The Pentecostal fire of the Holy Spirit followed him, and signs and wonders accompanied his ministry. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully, and the entire city was filled with great joy (Acts 8:5–8). Philip then preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, a servant of the queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26–38), and the gospel reached North Africa. The flames of revival grew stronger, spreading far beyond Israel to the Gentiles.

Peter later brought the message of salvation to Cornelius’ household in Caesarea, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He had at Pentecost (Acts 10:44–48). The fire of revival had reached the Gentiles.

Then Paul was raised up. When he was called and saved, the Lord sent Ananias to lay hands on him so that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). The fire of revival ignited in him as well. Controlled by the vision of Christ on the throne and covered by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul was consumed by the fire of revival and carried it throughout Asia, bringing spiritual awakening and establishing churches across the region.

Even now, this fire of revival continues to spread—growing stronger and more widespread. From Jerusalem, to all Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth—it burns! Burns! Burns! Until the whole earth becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Hallelujah!

<-- Back Part 2 -->