Restoration, Freedom, and New Wine

Pentecost Sunday

24.05.26 – Pastor John Powell

Pentecost: a day of Restoration, Freedom, and New Wine

Pentecost is one of the most significant moments in both Jewish and Christian history. In the Jewish calendar it is known as the Feast of Weeks, and in the Christian church it is often called Whitsun Sunday — the fiftieth day. But Pentecost is far more than a date. It is a hinge in the story of God and His people, a moment where heaven touches earth and everything changes.

It marks 2 things moments in history:

1. the Giving of the Law

On the fiftieth day after Passover, Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. It was meant to be a gift — a way of life, a standard, a covenant. The Year of Jubilee echoes this: a year where debt is forgiven and forgotten, where the land rests, and where people are restored. Pentecost has always carried this theme: Reset. Restoration. Renewal.

Today is a day of restoration.

1. the Giving of the Spirit

Romans 8:2 and Acts 2 show us the contrast:

• The Law revealed death — an unyielding standard no one could keep.

• The Spirit revealed life — a new covenant we could finally live in.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:6: “He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant… for the letter (law) kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

The Law is a good guide, but impossible alone. The Spirit brings life.

Reverting to Old Ways

Exodus 19–20 shows the Israelites slipping back into what they previously knew. If we don’t keep our eyes on Christ, we revert back to type.

Like Lot’s wife, we look back. We mourn old things that bring death. We cling to what God is trying to free us from.

Moses was 80 when God called him. His previous life was comfortable, settled and yet he gave it all up to deliver a people who fought him every step of the way.

God has given you a promise — stand on it.

Why the Law?

3000 people died after the golden calf was created because they threw God’s goodness back in His face. The Law brought death because we needed a Saviour. Even on our best day, we are “filthy rags.”

The Law is the gold standard — and we could never reach it.#

So why give it? To show us our need. To reveal our lack. To expose idolatry and corruption.

Jesus summarised it perfectly: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” (Matthew 22:37–38)

Pentecost said: keep it or die.   Jesus kept it (the only one would could) — and died — so we could live.

Everything credited to Him is now credited to you.

John recalled the film Bruce Almighty, where Bruce tests God by asking, “How many fingers am I holding up?” and God gives him six. A reminder: You are messing with the wrong God.

And yet this same God says: “Call on My name and you will be saved.”  

That’s it. Follow. Believe.

The Law is fulfilled in Christ. The journey home is done in Him.

During the Pentecost feast, the people repeat: “That would have been enough.”   If He had died and forgiven us — that would have been enough. But He went further. He gave us the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit — 'Ruach': Breath of God

He is the breath, the wind, the oil, the anointing, the new wine.

John shared how many times God has stirred friends across the world to encourage him — the oil poured out warm, healing, refreshing, even over the phone.

New wine — being filled with the Spirit — is like being drunk. Everything you need in that moment to refresh and inspire you.

When John was considering planting Church on the Move, the Lord said: “If you stay drunk, I’ll do the rest.”   Stay in worship. Stay in love. Stay uninhibited.

There are many types of drunkards — the fighters, the sleepers, the ones who love everyone — but the Spirit transforms like alcohol transforms personalities.

“Do not get drunk on wine… instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

Power, Ability, Efficiency

Acts 1:8 says: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”   Power. Ability. Efficiency.

Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait. “Having done all — pray, declare — then shut up, sit down, and wait.”

Sometimes prayer comes from fear. He already knows what you need. Say it out loud — then wait.

The Sound of Pentecost

At Sinai, they saw thunder and lightning. The shofar blasted — 100 players — scripture was spoken between blasts, the sound growing louder as they climbed the mountain.

In Acts, no shofar was needed. The Spirit Himself arrived in thurnderous rumbles and settled on the people.

Tongues — The Language of Heaven

John’s friend Steve once phoned him mid‑encounter, thinking he was having a stroke because he was speaking “gibberish.”

Acts 2:5 shows foreign languages being spoken. A friend of John's once spoke in tongues in church and a Spanish visitor understood every word.

In Genesis 11, humanity spoke one language as they were united in pride to build a tower up to the heavens. God scattered them by confusing their speech. At Pentecost, that division was reversed. The Spirit enabled everyone to hear the gospel in their own language.

“How is it that each of us hears in our own native dialect?” (Acts 2:8)

Let the church return to a state where the unsaved are asking, “What is all this?”

Peter explained: “They aren’t drunk — prophecy is being fulfilled.”

We Are Living in Pentecost

We are living in the days of Pentecost until the last trumpet (1 Cor 15:52–55). Pentecost will end when Jesus returns. The Spirit is being poured out until we go home.

The days of “drunken men” begin with the outpouring of the Spirit. Just ask Him to fill you. This is open to everyone — not the elite.

Drunkenness changes your temperament, attitude, thinking, reasoning.

The Holy Spirit does the same — but with transformation.

Peter denied Jesus three times, yet preached a three‑minute sermon that saved thousands.

Everything changes. A great awakening begins.

Transformation Is Personal

John shared how self‑conscious he once was. Anne (his wife) even said, “How could you be a pastor? You can’t speak in front of people.” But the Spirit changes attitude, behaviour, courage. He teaches you to work smarter, not harder. “Put God first, rest in Him, and have nothing to worry about.”

Azusa Street — The Spirit Levels Everyone

Azusa Street Revival, began with a small chruch who heard about the Welsh Revival and began to pray day and night. William J. Seymour, watched from the doorway. A young black boy who was blind in one eye and not allowed to enter. But the Spirit doesn’t recognise divisions.

When the Spirit falls, He levels everyone.

Seymour had already experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, an elder recognised the anointing on him and invited him onto the stage. He taught them what to ask God for — not striving. The Spirit fell. The Pentecostal movement was born.

“If God can qualify the son of a slave — then there is hope for me.”

Trumpet blast

In the last two weeks, God has shaken the house. Are you prepared for the ground beneath you to shake?

There is new wine available. A new way — if you want it.

Today we celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit. What is stopping us, if Jesus fulfilled it all?

Thank You, Lord, that there is more.

Lift your arms and say: “Fill me and I receive.”

He is the breath and the wind. “Lord, breathe here today. Empower the weak. Give boldness. Let drunken transformation come. I declare you are being continuously filled — not as a one‑off, but 'empowered beyond myself', to be the shining example of transformation."

Tongues of fire will fall again. All equal. All welcome.

A Final Testimony — Faith’s Story

Faith Jarvis shared: “I was 20 when I went to America. I was the only one not dancing. A lady called Hope came over and said, ‘You’ll enjoy it more if you just dance.’ I realised I’m supposed to be free — so here I go.

You are filled with new wine — now put it into practice.”