New Wine Church

25th July 2025 - Friday Evening Session

Reverend Dominic De Souza

Guest Speaker at Maximise Life 2025

Sermon Title: Church in the Mind of God – A Pentecostal People

Key Scripture(s):

Acts 2:1-4

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Also Acts 8:14-17 and Acts 19:1-7

Description:

This message is a call for the Church to become again what was in God’s mind from the beginning - a people filled, empowered, and set ablaze by the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians today are saved but not empowered. Like the believers in Acts 8 and 19, they have said “yes” to Jesus, but have not yet received the baptism in the Holy Spirit - a distinct and necessary empowerment for mission.

But Pentecost in Acts 2 shows us what’s possible when God’s people are united, expectant, and positioned for His “suddenly”. Pentecost didn’t come to spectators, but to a unified, praying people. The question is not if God wants to move - but whether we’re positioned for Him to do so.

Pastor Dominic explores three powerful signs from Acts 2 - the wind, the fire, and the tongues - and what each means for the Church today:

  • The wind speaks of the breath of God - His life-giving Spirit that transforms lifeless religion into vibrant, Spirit-filled living.

  • The fire resting on every believer reminds us that the Spirit’s power is for all - not just leaders or the spiritually elite.

  • The languages declare that the gospel is for every tribe, tongue, and nation - and that God wants to speak through us in ways people can understand.

Are we living as the Pentecostal people God intended? The Church in the mind of God is one that doesn’t just carry the Spirit for personal growth - but overflows with the Spirit to change the world. It’s time to close the gap between the book of Acts and our current experience. It’s not enough to have the Spirit simply within us; we must also have Him upon us - resting, overflowing, and empowering us for bold witness in a dark world.

Reflective Questions

  1. Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

  2. Are you living in the fullness of the Spirit or simply surviving on your own strength?

  3. Is your life a place where the Holy Spirit can truly rest?

  4. Are you actively protecting unity in your relationships and church community?

  5. Are you positioning yourself for God to move or waiting passively for change?

  6. Are you letting the Spirit use your voice and life to reach the people around you?

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit.

We thank you for salvation - but we confess, we often settle for less than what you’ve made available.

Empty us, Lord. Strip away the pride, fear, compromise, and comfort that resist your movement.

Cleanse us. Make us vessels that are holy, surrendered, and ready.

Fill us afresh. We don’t just want a touch - we want to be saturated with your presence.

Let your fire rest on us, not just visit us. Let your breath animate us, not just inspire us. Ignite in us your presence, your purity, your passion, and your power.

Let us not merely survive until heaven - but burn with purpose here and now. Make us a Pentecostal people, carrying heaven’s flame not just in our gatherings, but in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities - to every place we go.

We are ready, Lord. Let the fire fall. Let the kingdom come.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.