Power. Purification. Proclamation.

Power. Purification. Proclamation. Acts 2:1-4AMP

Take an empty glove and tell everyone that it's a magic glove. It’s amazing because it can pick things up. 1. Watch it pick up this book. When it doesn't move, I suggest it might be too heavy, so I move to a smaller book. When it still doesn't work, I move to a piece of paper. -I neglected something important. A glove can't pick anything up without a hand inside it.

We can't do anything significant unless the Holy Spirit is inside us. Just as the glove can do nothing without the hand inside it.

The way I see it, the hand is a necessity, but the glove is an extra.

Church, we get to be a glove. The earthen vessel for God to habit. Our God lives in us. The Holy Spirit is the hand. He’s guiding, directing and leading our way with powerful insight, concepts and ideas. Fully gifted, filled with love. And never forget the anointing that lives inside of you, 2 Corinthians 4:7. P.H

The early church was birthed as our Chief and Commander, Jesus Christ paved the way, paid the ultimate price in every way, all for mankind. And then there were 12, and from, 12, grew, 120 men and women gathered in an upper-room in Jerusalem.

These 120 believers waited for 10 days. Luke 24:49KJV And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 2:1-4AMP When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, 2 and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

Notice, these 120 men and women were gathered together in an upper-room.

So they waited. And waited.

Think about the last 2 weeks of school. The wait is difficult, but it’s exciting. Waiting draws more interest, waiting has a way of moving the insincere and apathetic out of the way. This makes room for excitement.

The prophet Joel foretold of these coming events:

Joel 2:28-31AMP “It shall come about after this That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. 29 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “I will show signs and wonders [displaying My power] in the heavens and on the earth, Blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

From this prophecy in the book of Joel 2, the church of the living God has grown- exponentially. And God’s Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh is a game changer! P.H

- G. Campbell Morgan, “Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” -And so they waited!

Here’s an interesting note on the possible symbolism of the signs of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:

The Three, “P’s"

Power.

Purification.

Proclamation.

1. The first P- Power.

The rushing mighty wind—A symbol of the Holy Spirit’s Power (to convince, convict, and convert).

God created with his breath. The very breath of God, breathed words, everything visible and invisible.

Here’s power- Matthew 9:36-38TPT “When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in. As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest his grain!””

As God breathed life into Adam, so Jesus, “the last Adam,” breathes new life into His people. Jesus becomes, in Paul’s language, “a life-giving spirit,” 1 Cor. 15:45.

Pentecost was an epochal event, signifying the dawning of a new era. Pentecost would usher in the Holy Spirit.

Epochal event meaning, like the moment when man learned to make fire.