Synopsis of Sermon 06/08/25

Sermon Deliverer: Bishop Walker III

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)

“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 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.”

I.                      Introduction

There are moments in history that change everything—moments that shift the course of human events and redefine what is possible. Pentecost was one of those moments. It wasn’t just a festival. It wasn’t merely a religious experience. Pentecost was a divine interruption—a supernatural invasion that empowered ordinary individuals to do extraordinary things.

The disciples had walked with Jesus. They saw miracles. They sat under His teaching. They had front-row seats to the Kingdom of God in motion. But even after all of that, they still lacked the power to fulfill their calling. They had the knowledge—but they needed the fire.

Pentecost—meaning “50th”—was originally a Jewish festival held 50 days after Passover, commemorating the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was a time of thanksgiving, a celebration of harvest and God’s provision. But while the Jewish people were celebrating the giving of the Law written on stone tablets, God was giving His Spirit, to be written on the hearts of men.

Today, as we turn to Acts chapter 2, we see another kind of harvest—a spiritual one. On that day, God poured out His Spirit, birthed the Church, and empowered His people. Jesus had told the disciples in Acts 1:8 to go to the upper room and wait. And they went, with expectation. They waited for 10 days—and then it happened. Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

8 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.”

Suddenly, a mighty rushing wind filled the house. Tongues of fire appeared. Everyone was transformed.

They went from:

• Waiting to working
• Silence to speaking
• Fear to fire

That moment was not just for them—it’s for us. The same power that fell at Pentecost is available today. The same Spirit of boldness, comfort, wisdom, and power is waiting to be poured out on our lives. Too many of us get stuck in the “waiting room,” asking: When is it going to happen for me?

I came to tell you: today is a shift—from potential to power, from intention to execution, from hesitation to activation.

The Holy Spirit is not just about shouting and dancing. Don’t reduce Him to a feeling. The Holy Spirit is intelligent. He comes to:

• Help you
• Teach you
• Guide you
• Empower you to get it done

You’ve been trying to live this Christian life in your own strength—your own mind, your own logic—and that’s why it’s been a struggle. You feel like life is a figure eight: you start strong, loop around, and end up back where you began. That’s what happens when you try to walk this walk in the natural.

But God is sending help. And it’s not just encouragement—it’s power!

II.                  The Book of Acts: More Than a Story—It’s a Blueprint

Let’s step back for a moment. The book of Acts was written by Luke, a physician and historian. He also wrote the Gospel of Luke, and both were addressed to “Theophilus”—which means “lover of God.” Whether Theophilus was a person or a community, the message is the same: this word is for those who love God.

You can love God with all your heart and still lack the power to get it done.

Acts is part two of Luke’s writings. The Gospel of Luke is what Jesus began to do and teach. Acts is what He continues to do and teach through the Church. The book of Acts is a history of about 30 years—from Jesus’ ascension around AD 30 to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome around AD 60.

Say this with me: “The book of Acts is a book of history.”

III.              Why Pentecost Matters Today: Five Theological Truths

1. It’s the Fulfillment of a Promise
   1. Jesus promised in Acts 1:8 that power would come—and it did.
   1. God always fulfills His Word.
2. It’s the Birth of the Church
   1. The Church didn’t begin with a service. It began with power.
   1. The Spirit didn’t just visit; He indwelled believers.
3. It’s a Shift in Dispensation
   1. In the Old Testament: God above us (e.g., Mount Sinai).
   1. In the Gospels: God with us (Emmanuel).
   1. In Acts: God in us (Holy Spirit dwelling within).
4. It’s Power for Mission
   1. Not just goosebumps—it’s empowerment to fulfill your calling.
   1. You are called to be a witness, and the Spirit equips you to do so.
5. It’s Unity in Diversity
   1. People heard the gospel in their own language.
   1. Pentecost reversed Babel (In Genesis 11, got confused the people’s language so they could not communicate with each other, because they were trying to build a tower to heaven). Where confusion once scattered, the Spirit now gathers and unites.

IV.             How Do I Tap into This Power?

1. Align Yourself Under the Anointing
   1. The anointing isn’t a churchy word. It’s supernatural empowerment for divine assignment.
   1. Acts 2 shows us they were in the right place, on one accord—hearts, minds, and spirits aligned.
2. Position Precedes Power
   1. The anointing flows where there is alignment.
   1. You can’t be out of position and expect an outpouring.
3. Expect the Unexpected
   1. The disciples didn’t know the when—but they knew the what.
   1. Be ready for your Kairos moment. God’s timing may not match your watch, but it’s always on time.
4. Submit to Spiritual Leadership
   1. Stay connected. Don’t isolate.
   1. You need covering, instruction, and impartation.
5. Make Room for the Spirit
   1. When the Spirit shows up, He doesn’t just move you—He makes you.
   1. He turns ordinary people into Kingdom ambassadors.

Five things to write down. They give us a big job—they give us the backdrop to Pentecost. There was a promise among us. The Holy Spirit empowers you to fulfill your mission and purpose. It’s about unity in diversity: people of different languages and backgrounds heard the gospel in their own tongue.

What do I need to do? I’m glad you asked. Pay attention. Take good notes, because we’re about to go to school.

The first thing I want you to hear today is: you must align yourself under the anointing.

• The anointing is not just a religious term—it is the supernatural empowerment of Godto accomplish what He has ordained for your life.
• The disciples were not just in any place—they were in the right place. They were gathered together on one accord, meaning their minds, hearts, and spirits were aligned with God’s agenda. The Bible says, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come…” This signals a divine moment—aKairos moment. Whenever God tells you to do something, you must put yourself in a position of expectation. Don’t sit looking at your watch—look to heaven and say, “God, whenever it happens, I know it’s the right time.” God’s timing is never your timing. He may seem late on your watch, but He’s always right on time for what He’s trying to do in your life.

Pay attention to this: the anointing flows where there is alignment.

• Let me say it again for the people in the back: The anointing only flows where there is alignment.
• If you’re out of position, you’re going to miss the outpouring of God, because the anointing is not given for entertainment or self-promotion—it is given for the fulfillment of a divine assignment. When the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, they didn’t just feel something—they became something.

We often associate the Holy Spirit with feelings: “Who felt the Spirit?” But you can’t always trust your feelings. What you can trust is that when the Holy Spirit is present, He transforms you into what you were not before.

• The power of God transforms ordinary people into Kingdom ambassadors.

If you want to walk in the power of Pentecost, you’ve got to be positioned correctly. That means:

• Staying under spiritual leadership. What you stand under is what you understand.
• Submitting to the will of God: “Lord, whatever Your will is, I accept it.”
• Making room for the Spirit to move in your life—even if you’ve already written out your plans. Say, “God, whatever You want to do with that—it’s all right with me.”

Understand this: the anointing isn’t just for a one-time event. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and if you walk in the Spirit, there is a continuous flow. You didn’t receive the Holy Spirit to do nothing—you received Him to walk in everything God has for you.

People will look at you like you’re a mystery: “How is it happening for you and not for me?” Let them know:

“It’s not because I’m better—I’m just yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Three men spoke in a dialect they had not been taught—because only the Holy Spirit could empower them. The Spirit gave them the ability to take the gospel to the whole world, and so they began to speak in different languages—so that everyone present could hear the message in their own tongue.

“Christo” may be “hello” in Greek.

“Thank you” in Hebrew.

“Gracias” in Spanish.

“Merci” in French.

“Danke” in German.

“Shalom” in Israel.

So, when the crowd heard, “Wait… how are you speaking in my language?”—they were drawn in. The world only had one explanation: this must be God.

And guess who defended them? Because the Holy Spirit is not just a feeling—you become something else under His power. The same Peter who denied Jesus three times, the coward who cowered when Jesus ascended—that Peter was now in the upper room. And when he experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, something shifted. That same Peter—who last time we saw him was weeping in shame—is now bold under the power of the Holy Spirit. And when they said, “They must be drunk,” Peter stood up and said:

“No, no, no. I know drunk. This ain’t that. This is what was prophesied by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, And your sons and daughters will prophesy.”

V.                 This tongue at Pentecost:

Now—that’s distinct from the gift of tongues, because the Apostle Paul says, “To some, He gives the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.” So everybody who has the Holy Spirit may not have the gift of tongues—but that does not mean you don’t have the Holy Spirit.

Who do you think put all that creative genius in you? That innovation? That intellect? That strength to keep going? That’s the Holy Spirit.

And we minimize the Holy Spirit to just tongues and shouting—but He’s so much more.

Here’s how the gift of tongues works:

A person can be preaching, and suddenly begin to speak in tongues—and then continue preaching, interpreting what they just said. But if someone grabs the mic and says, “I have a word for the house,” and then only speaks in tongues with no interpretation—then they’re out of order.

• Because if you are speaking to the body, then it must edify the body.
• If there’s no interpreter, what’s the message?
• Yes—this is a legitimate gift. And it still happens.
• In places like Africa and across the globe, people operate in this gift regularly. They speak in tongues—and then interpret—and the people are amazed.

There’s the gift of tongues and interpretation, but then there is also a heavenly language—a prayer language—between you and God. That’s what you hear in worship when someone breaks into what sounds like tongues—it’s not for you. They’re not talking to you. They’re talking to God.

And I’ll say this:

• In 33 years of pastoring this church, I have never once prayed for this ministry in the natural. In my first year, God did something in me—He elevated my prayer life. The first time I prayed in the Spirit, I didn’t know what was coming out of my mouth. I said: “Lord… what is this?
• And He said: “I’ve shifted your frequency. Because when you pray in the natural, the devil can intercept your prayer. But I just took you from AM to FM. And now, the enemy can’t interpret what’s happening between you and Me.”
• Who am I talking to today? You’ve been going through warfare, and sometimes as you pray, things come out of your mouth you don’t understand. Don’t be afraid. That’s the Spirit making intercession on your behalf.
• The Bible says in Romans 8:26: “We don’t know what to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
• And in Jude 1:20, it says: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith—praying in the Holy Spirit.”
• This is not the time for “Now I lay me down to sleep”—this is the time to go to another realm, to say:“God, I need to talk to You on a different dimension.”

And the reason why some of you haven’t reached that level yet is because you’re still holding on—to your own thoughts, your own way, your logic, your pride. But when you empty yourself, the Holy Spirit fills you.

When they began to pray like that, when they experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—Acts 2 says 3,000 souls were saved in one day.

Listen:

When I became pastor of this church, we had 175 members. We saw thousands join within a year. People called us a cult. You know why? Because religious people don’t know what to do with growth. Only spiritual people can discern it.

Same with you—when you start growing in your career, your calling, your business—folk will look at you funny. And you need to look them back and say:“Ain’t nothing wrong with me. I’m just under the anointing of God.”

Because wherever the anointing is, there is going to be: Growth. Favor. Increase. Breakthrough.

I declare that when you surrender to the power and move of God, everything in your life is going to start shifting. You won’t even recognize yourself a year from now.

Remember that man in Acts 3—laying at the temple gate, begging every day for alms?

All religion could do was drop coins in his cup. But Peter and John—fresh from the upper room—saw him and said: “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give unto you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” And the man jumped up and ran into the temple, leaping and praising God.

Because when you get around somebody anointed, everything in your life begins to shift.

Touch your neighbor and tell ‘em: “You’re on the right pew today.”

Listen to me:

I’m not perfect. I’m an imperfect man under the anointing of a perfect God. I’ve been in rooms others only dream of. I’ve seen church games. And I told God—I don’t want to play.If it’s not real, I don’t want it.

I want the real thing. I want to pastor people who want the real thing—people who will surrender to the Spirit, not perform for the crowd.

Yes, I’m different. I’m a charismatic intellectual.

I’m the Presiding Bishop of a charismatic reformation, but I read my Bible.

And even if you don’t like me, don’t speak to me, or don’t agree with me…

You can’t deny—God’s hand is on my life.

There’s too much division in the body of Christ.

Every preacher thinks the next one is wrong. But the devil’s not even fighting us—he’s letting us fight ourselves.

It’s time to come together. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

You may not have what I have—and that’s fine. Because what you have, I may not have. But we need each other.

Let me close with this:

There was a little boy with a jug that had a pebble stuck inside. Every time he filled it with water, the pebble contaminated it. He couldn’t get it out. Tried shaking it—didn’t work. Tried digging—his hand couldn’t fit.

So one day he said,“Daddy, can you help me?”

That pebble? That’s the thing in you. The addiction. The pain. The generational curse. The trauma.

But when you start filling yourself with the Holy Spirit, the more He pours in,

the higher that thing rises—until it’s forced out.

You can’t get more of Him. But He can get more of you.

I speak this now:

That thing you’ve been battling for 10 years—today it breaks!

That thing that’s held you captive for 20 years—today it lifts!

Lift your hands. Open your mouth. Say: “Fill me, Lord. Overflow. Until the pebble comes out.”

You’re not leaving here the same. You’re walking out in power, in purpose, in freedom!