Blessed to Be a Blessing Being Blessed by God Through the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday Sermon Study & Article

Prepared for Pastor Rick Carder

Introduction: Pentecost and the Promise of Power

Pentecost was one of the great Jewish feast days celebrated fifty days after Passover. Jews from many nations gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, a harvest festival remembering God’s provision and faithfulness.

Yet in Acts 2, God transformed Pentecost from merely a harvest celebration into the birth of the Church.

The Holy Spirit descended upon believers with power, fire, boldness, and purpose. Pentecost became the moment when ordinary believers were empowered to become extraordinary witnesses for Jesus Christ.

The work of the Holy Spirit was never intended merely for emotional experience or personal blessing alone. God blesses His people so they may become a blessing to others.

The Spirit empowers believers to witness, serve, encourage, love, and proclaim the Gospel.

Key Theme

We are blessed by God through the Holy Spirit so that we may become witnesses to the world.

A Church Rooted in Revival

Our General Church gathered recently to elect leadership and discuss theology, mission, and policy. Delegates from around the world gathered together in unity to affirm holiness and the mission of the Church.

Historically, the Wesleyan movement was not simply considered a denomination, but a “connection” of believers committed to revival, discipleship, evangelism, and holy living.

Our roots trace back to John Wesley and the revivalist movement that emphasized both personal transformation and practical discipleship.

John Wesley himself experienced this transforming power of God. On May 24, 1738, while attending a Moravian society meeting on Aldersgate Street in London, Wesley famously described his heart as being “strangely warmed” as he listened to a reading from Martin Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans.

That moment became a defining point not only in Wesley’s life, but in the spiritual movement that would impact countless believers around the world.

Theme Verse

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...” — Acts 1:8 (KJV)

Foundational Scriptures

Acts 1:8 — The Promise of Power

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon His followers and empower them to become witnesses.

Acts 2:1–4 — The Arrival of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost marks both the birth of the Church and the empowerment of believers.

The Historical Meaning of Pentecost

Originally, Pentecost celebrated harvest, thanksgiving, God’s provision, and the giving of the Law. In Acts 2, however, God writes His law upon hearts and gathers a spiritual harvest through the Holy Spirit.

Illustration: The Balloon

Imagine a balloon sitting empty.

• By itself, the balloon appears useless.
• The balloon serves a purpose when used as designed.
• The balloon must be filled to become useful.
• Once filled, the balloon brings joy and purpose.

In much the same way, believers are designed to be filled by God.

In holiness language, we are emptied of self and surrendered to God so that He may fill us through His Spirit.

Part One — The Promise and Purpose of Pentecost

I. Pentecost Was Promised

The coming of the Holy Spirit was not accidental. It was promised long before Pentecost ever arrived.

Joel 2:28–29 declares:

“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh...”

At Pentecost, people initially thought the disciples were drunk because they heard them speaking in languages they could understand.

Peter stood and boldly declared that Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled.

The Spirit would no longer rest only upon kings, prophets, or priests. Instead:

• Sons and daughters
• Young and old
• Men and women

…would all receive the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

This reveals the inclusive mission of God.

Andrew Murray once wrote:

“The Spirit-filled life is a life of faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him for the fulfilling of His own promise.”

II. Pentecost Was Powerful

The power of God was unmistakably on display at Pentecost.

The Greek word often associated with this power is dunamis, meaning power, strength, force, or ability. It is the root of English words such as dynamic, dynamo, and dynamite.

Pentecost was more than emotion—it was divine empowerment.

The Holy Spirit was poured out so believers could boldly testify about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Everything in the Christian life ultimately points toward God’s purpose.

Purpose gives meaning to life in Christ.

Acts 2 reveals God’s desire to redeem and reconcile humanity to Himself through the work of the Holy Spirit.

One fascinating aspect of Pentecost is the miracle of languages, often called glossolalia. At Babel, God scattered humanity through the confusion of languages. At Pentecost, the Spirit brought people together as they heard the Gospel proclaimed in their own languages.

Pentecost demonstrates God’s desire to unite people through Christ.

A little humor reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously:

“What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows!”

III. Pentecost Was Purposeful

God purposely established the Church for His glory and for the witness of the Gospel throughout the world.

Jesus explained this mission before Pentecost ever arrived.

John 16:13 says:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth...”

Jesus told His disciples that although He would leave physically, the Holy Spirit would come to dwell within believers continually.

Jesus limited Himself temporarily to a physical body, but through the Holy Spirit His presence would remain with believers forever.

E. Stanley Jones wisely said:

“Unless the Holy Spirit fills, the human spirit fails.”

How often do we attempt to live spiritually while running on empty?

Just like a vehicle cannot run without fuel, believers cannot effectively live for Christ apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus then entrusted His mission to His disciples.

John 16:14 declares:

“He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

The Holy Spirit continues to reveal God’s truth, purpose, and calling to believers today.

Pentecost was not the conclusion of God’s work. It was the beginning.

The Meaning of Pentecost Today

Pentecost marks:

• The birth of the Church
• The fulfillment of prophecy
• The empowerment of believers
• The beginning of Gospel expansion

Acts 2 also reminds us that the early Christians gathered together regularly for worship, fellowship, and encouragement.

The same Spirit who empowered the early Church still empowers believers today.

Final Encouragement

The Holy Spirit still calls ordinary people to extraordinary lives of witness, service, holiness, and love.

God blesses us through His Spirit so that we may become a blessing to others.

May we continue to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and allow God to use our lives for His glory.

“Pentecost was not the conclusion of God’s work. It was the beginning.”

Blessed To Be A Blessing — Gifts We Give God

A Mother’s Day Reflection from the Life of Hannah

1 Samuel 1–2

When I think about Mother’s Day, I often find myself reflecting on my childhood and

remembering the countless things my mother did for our family that we rarely appreciated at

the time.

My mother is Dutch, organized, and very much a neat freak. Honestly, with eight children

running through the house, I’m not sure how she survived.

Laundry was never-ending in our home. We would throw piles of clothes together for Mom to

sort and wash, and somehow, instead of helping, we usually made things worse. My brothers

and sisters and I would actually jump into the piles of clean or sorted laundry, scattering

clothes everywhere while my mother tried desperately to keep order in the middle of chaos.

We ran in and out of the front and back doors all day long, leaving a trail of destruction behind

us—dirt on the floors, shoes scattered everywhere, wet towels tossed aside, dishes left

behind.

And somehow, my mother kept serving.

As children, we rarely stopped to think about how exhausting that must have been. We simply

assumed the laundry would be folded, the meals would appear, the house would function, and

somehow Mom would always be there holding everything together.

The older I get, the more I realize that many of the greatest acts of love happen in ordinary

moments that nobody applauds.

That is one reason the story of Hannah speaks so powerfully to us today.

Hannah demonstrated both persistence and obedience—two hallmarks of genuine faith.

The Silent Pain of Hannah

Hannah was deeply loved by her husband, Elkanah, yet she carried enormous pain because

she could not bear children.

In that culture, infertility was not merely a private disappointment—it often became a public

sorrow.

Then there was Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, who continually provoked Hannah. Every

child Peninnah held became another reminder of what Hannah longed for but could not have.

Yet what is remarkable is that Hannah did not become bitter.

Hurting people often become hardened people—but Hannah did not.

Instead of attacking Peninnah, Hannah carried her pain to God.

That is one of the great lessons from her life: pain can either harden the heart or deepen the

soul.

Isn’t it amazing how God can transform pain into joy?

Lesson One — God Hears the Honest Cry of a Surrendered Heart

In 1 Samuel 1, we see Hannah pouring out her soul before the Lord. Her lips moved, but no

words came out. She was praying from the deepest place of her heart.

Eli misunderstood her and accused her of being drunk. But what Eli failed to recognize, God

fully understood.

Sometimes churches misread broken people.

Sometimes spiritual leaders become more skilled at managing appearances than discerning

hearts.

But God sees hidden tears, silent prayers, exhausted mothers, and faithful people carrying unseen burdens.

Hannah teaches us that some of the holiest prayers are prayed silently through tears.

D. L. Moody once said:

“Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.”

Hannah became one of those kneeling figures in Scripture.

People may misunderstand your struggle, but God never misunderstands your prayer.

It makes you wonder how much we might miss if we are not persistent in our prayer life.

And perhaps this is a good place for a little humor. Someone once asked why the Mexican

archer had trouble hitting his target. The answer? Because he didn’t “habanero.”

There is something beautiful in this love story between a husband and wife. It reminds us,

men, how we should treat the women in our lives—especially our wives. It also reminds us that

our value is not based on what we produce, accomplish, or achieve. Our value comes from the

simple truth that we are created by God.

Lesson Two — A Blessed Life Learns to Release God’s Gifts Back to Him

After God answered Hannah’s prayer and gave her Samuel, she did something extraordinary.

She gave him back to God.

That is the heart of this message: Blessed To Be A Blessing.

Samuel was not merely a gift to Hannah—he became a gift through Hannah.

True worship begins when we stop clinging to what already belongs to God.

John Wesley once wrote:

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God… andthey alone will shake the gates of hell.”

Samuel would become one of those spiritual voices because a mother first surrendered him to

God.

Mothers Shape Generations

Long before Samuel stood publicly as a prophet, he was shaped privately through the faith of

his mother.

Quiet faithfulness leaves eternal fingerprints.

Many mothers wonder if their sacrifices matter.

Hannah reminds us that they do.

Some of the greatest spiritual leaders in history first learned faith from a praying mother.

Abraham Lincoln famously said:

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

The prayers of mothers echo longer than we often realize.

The Song of Hannah — Worship After the Struggle

The story of Hannah does not end in bitterness. It ends in worship.

First Samuel 2 records what is often called The Song of Hannah. The woman who once

prayed silently now lifts her voice publicly in praise.

Her worship teaches us that God lifts the humble, remembers broken people, honors

surrendered hearts, and reverses impossible situations.

Some of the deepest worship in Scripture came from people who first wept before they sang.

There is something beautiful about a believer who can still worship after disappointment, grief,and waiting.

Conclusion

Hannah’s story reminds us that when God blesses our lives, He often invites us to become a

blessing in return.

The gifts we give God are not always material things. Sometimes they are our prayers, our

trust, our surrender, our worship, our children, our service, and our willingness to say:

“Lord, everything I have ultimately belongs to You.”

Because sometimes the greatest gift we give God… is surrender.

Hannah’s story began with silent tears, misunderstanding, and longing. But it ended with

worship, surrender, and testimony.

The same God who heard Hannah still hears the cries of His people today.

Blessed To Be A Blessing — Gifts We Give God

Prepared for sermon and blog development by Rev. Rick Carder