The Holy Spirit (part one)
How much? Of God? Do you want?
Acts 2:1-8, 12-18 NKJ.
1. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Bible tells us, that they had waited and prayed just like the Lord had instructed them.
How many think that, that would have been a challenge?
Can you imagine? For 50 days, praying and waiting for what was going to happen,
not really knowing what was going to happen, but knowing if it was from God, it would be well worth the wait!
When it finally did happen, it was so magnificent and almost indescribable all at the same time.
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance..”
What an awesome display of the power of God it was then, and still is today.
It gave the ones who were there that day, the power to do the impossible! That's what it does for everyone!
The Holy Spirit gave them the advantage they needed, to fulfill the “great commission”
I imagine some of them were thinking, go into all the world and preach and teach everything about Jesus?, huh?
How in the world, are we going to be able to do that?
Although, I do remember hearing Him say; he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
What happened on the day of Pentecost, was only made possible by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit!
3,000 souls were added to the church that day, it was nothing short of amazing!
And the same gift of the Holy Spirit, that they received that day, is still available to all who are willing to seek it today.
God is not a respecter of persons, what He freely gave to the 120, He still gives to all who will ask, still some 2,000 yrs. later,
Now some will tell you, that it was for then and for that time, but not for today.
That’s not what the word says, TBS. in,
Acts 2:38-39 MSG.
38-39. Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away— whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
whomever, in fact, our Master God invites." I don’t think it gets anymore open ended than that, do you?
Thank God, for His inclusiveness to use the word “whomever”, because that invitation was for you and me! Amen?
If we read on into the book of Acts, (and by the way), do you know why its called the book of Acts?
Because it records the acts of the apostles after they received the Gift and infilling of the Holy Spirit!
I like the story of Cornelius that we find in Acts 10:1-6 NKJ
1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2. a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4. And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
Cornelius, was no doubt a religious man who feared God, gave alms to those in need, and prayed regularly to God.
It was probably known around the area, that he was a good and honest man who loved God and had great influence.
The way he lived his life, was his testimony, he was a devout man.
He was devoted to God, God knew who he was and he was found faithful, God clearly had plans for him and his family.
God always has plans for all who are willing to seek Him and come unto Him!
TBS. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 13:4 AMP.
4. The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.
Cornelius had an appetite for the things of God and God rewarded him for it.
Acts 10:34-38,44 NKJ
34. Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37. that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
There is no recipe for receiving the Holy Spirit, if you are hungry for the things of God, you will find them and He will fill you with them!
There are a lot of people just like Cornelius’s in Gods army, Just like he was,
They’ve been going to church all their life, waiting for someone like Peter to tell them that there is more,
There are a lot of people period, that are waiting for someone to tell them more about the things of God.
To come and share Jesus story with them. To not worry about what others might think, but who will just be willing,
to let them know that there is so much more to a relationship with Jesus then religion will ever tell them!
God is looking for men and women like Peter, that will be faithful to the calling,
To step out in faith, knowing that if God is in it, that He will be right there every step of the way helping them,
thru the presence of the Holy Spirit, filling them with the power and capability to do whatever needs to be done all along the way!
Here Peter, was just telling Cornelius and his household about Jesus and His life,
in other words, he was just lifting up the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit moved on all of them
All we have to do is do the same thing, lift up the name of Jesus, the bible doesn’t say it has to be fancy or eloquent, it just says to do it,
Peter doesn’t have anything on us, he was a fisherman,
Maybe the only difference is, that he was a willing fisherman,
Have you experienced your day of Pentecost, In your life yet?
If not, why not?
There’s a lot of people who say, well I find it very fascinating, but I’ve always heard it was of the devil.
That is one of the biggest lies the devil has been spreading of all time.
I was reading a book John Osteen wrote the other day and he said,
He served the devil faithfully for 19 yrs. before God got ahold of him and never one time did the devil have him speak in tongues during that time.
If speaking in tongues is of the devil, why isn’t everyone whose not saved and serving the Lord, doing it?
The answer to that is an easy one, because its not of the devil,
Oh he might try to make you think it is, but it’s a lie from the father of all lies!
Because he knows the Power of the Holy Spirit can have in someone's life!
(personal story) If you seek the truth, you will find it and it will set you free!
You can be all around the presence of the Holy Spirit, but until you seek it out for yourself, you will never know how real His presence can be in your own life!
The devil would have you be afraid and run from the presence of God, don't run from it, run to it!
Oh there a lot of people that have been around it and even marveled at it just like I did.
* they’ve sensed it!
* they’ve smelled it!
* they’ve felt it!
* they’ve seen it in action!
But they’ve never tasted it, experienced it and put it to work in their own life!
Taste of the things of God today, He would never do anything to hurt you, He loves you more than you will ever know!
TBS. every good and perfect gift, comes from God!
With so many souls at stake, and the fast approaching countdown to the second coming of “Jesus Glorious Return.”
With the Urgency to help fulfill Jesus Great Commission, never being greater in our lifetimes then it is right now.
Why in the world, wouldn’t everyone want the same miraculous help,
that God gave on the day of Pentecost, to help get the job done?
We have access to all the answers that their looking for, we have the answer and His Name is Jesus!
We just need to let the world know that they can have the same access that we have!
There is not one thing the world is looking for, that we cannot point them to where they will find it!
And that my friend, is at the feet of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God!!
Everything and anything that is needed in this world, is found in the finished work that Jesus completed on the old rugged cross,
John 3:16 NKJ. Says
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Jesus, already did the hard part, He already paid the price, He already gave His life, so we could live victorious. Praise God!
He conquered both sin and death once and for all, the easy part is up to us.
Just tell everyone what we all ready know and if you can’t do that, just tell what He has done for you!
We were all on the highway to hell at one time in our lives, we could all relate to the words, if you could have seen from where He brought me from, to where I am today, can't we?
Don't you want others to experience the same forgiveness of the cross, that you did?
Don't you want to experience all the gifts that God has for you?
Its way past time to get beyond not being able to share the Gospel of Jesus.
And if you have the fear of witnessing today, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will help you overcome that fear today and start sharing the greatest story ever told like never before!
I say all this because, if our generation doesn’t do it, who will?
(pause and repeat)
Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Have you received the power of the Holy Ghost in your life, through the evidence of speaking in tongues?
The fact is that most people don’t use the power that God has made available and is at their disposal,
because tapping into and using that power requires getting “hooked up with God” in a way that’s unfamiliar to them.
John said: I baptize you with water, but there is one coming after me and he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
The Power source is the Holy Ghost: It’s the anointing of the Holy Ghost that destroys the yoke.
*It’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that heals stage 4 cancer
*It’s the anointing that mends broken families.
*It’s the anointing that changes a hardened heart with forgiveness
*It’s the anointing that changes everything in someone's life
God knew what He was doing when He gave the Gift of the Holy Spirit to equip and power the saints on the day of Pentecost.
And the gift has been available on a continual basis ever since, because the work is and has not been completed yet,
and until we see the Eastern Sky split open, we need to keep occupying until He comes!
How much of God do you want in your life today?
The answer is a simple one to me, I want as much of God that He will give me, I want everything that He has promised me!
Pray and ask God what He has for you, I promise when you do, when you seek it out for yourself, you won't be disappointed with the results!
Let's all pray and seek more of Him in our lives, Amen?
