I have been a cartoon lover from my young age. I watch cartoons for hours and hours without any break. I like cartoons like Superman, X – Men, He – Man and Spider Man. These super heroes intrigued and fantasized me. I always would think how I can have the same powers. Can I some day like Storm (X - Men) can control the weather. Can I have the sense of trouble like Spider Man.? Is this possible for man to turn into a super human? My answer like everyone else would be no that is not possible. It is just an imagination, a dream world not more than that. But one day while going through the bible I came to an incident where normal human beings suddenly turned into extra ordinary. How did it happen? Come let’s go to the place where the event took place back in time.
Destination Jerusalem
Pentecost, celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover, was one of the three major holidays of the Old Testament. Pentecost marked the adoption of Sinai's legislation under the Prophet Moses when the Jewish people were liberated from Egypt and entered into alliance with God nearly fourteen hundred years before Christ's birth. At that time the Jews promised to be obedient to God and He, in turn, promised them His mercy and blessings. Because the feast of Pentecost coincided with the end of the harvest season, it was celebrated with great joy. Many Jews scattered over various parts of the vast Roman Empire hurried to Jerusalem to participate in this feast. Having been born and having grown up in different countries, most of them could hardly understand their mother tongue. They made an effort, however, to observe their national and religious traditions and, at least from time to time, to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. So the hustle and bustle in the city was more than normal. Thousands of people were celebrating and enjoying themselves.
But a group of people were sitting in Mark’s upper room. They were ordinary people. They were not scholars, bureaucrats, generals, or aristocrats. They came from very moderate backgrounds. Fishermen, tax collectors and others like them were present there. There leader was crucified fifty days back and everybody had written them off. But the disciples or apostles what Bible calls them had seen Jesus of Nazareth alive. Before His ascension to heaven He had ordered them to wait in Jerusalem until they are clothed with the power from on High (Luke 24:48). Their hands were raised and all were praying. Suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. Suddenly the complete atmosphere changed. Filled with the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.
As we have discussed earlier that Jews from different nations were present in the city. When they heard this sound the crowd came together and was amazed what they heard. Every one could hear his language being spoken there. Astonished they said are these not mere Galileans who are speaking in our language. Galilee was a small town in Israel at that time. Living in Pakistan I can understand what they were saying. Villages and small towns do not have the facilities which can improve their living standards. People who belong to these places are not expected to show any kind of intellectual attitude. This amazed the Jewish community. How can ordinary people show this kind of extra ordinary intellectual behavior? How can they speak in different tongues with so clarity?
They could not understand one thing which is very simple. An ordinary human being converts into an extra ordinary being after filled by the Holy Spirit.
Simon Peter a man ready to jump into anything and everything. He remained with Jesus Christ and was fearless while proclaiming his love for the Savior. When the Master was capture and took to the house of the high priest. He followed Him till the courtyard and stayed there in the crowd. May be he wanted to observe what they will do with the Master. Suddenly people started asking him are you not one of them. You were with Him? This brave man suddenly started to crumble. All his words went into vain. He denied his relationship with the Savior not once but thrice in front of mere humans.
While going through the books of Acts chapter No. 2. One observes that Peter suddenly transforms. The transformation from a scared man to a man brave enough to speak the truth is quite visible. What brought the change in Him and others? Was this an accident which converted them into something special?
They were filled by the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ before His ascension into heaven had promised them regarding the Holy Spirit and ordered them to wait till they are clothed with the power from on High. Jehovah had promised to out pour the Holy Spirit in the end times (Joel 2:28). They received the power the outpour of the Holy Spirit filled them as promised by the God Almighty. Peter had denied his relationship with the Christ in front of a servant girl and others. Filled with the Holy Spirit he got completely transformed. Peter first sermon filled by the spirit touched the heart of the multitudes and approximately three thousand gave their life to Jesus Christ. Sick would get healed even if Peter’s shadow would touch them. People would put sick on the way through which Peter would pass.
Apostles transformed from ordinary to extra ordinary. Peter, Paul, John, Phillip and others were mightily ministering in different places. We can read how God Almighty used them in the Acts of Apostles
But this did not stopped with the apostles and the people present in the Mark’s upper room. Whoever repents and is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
No more ordinary living
I gave my life to Jesus Christ in September 2001 and was filled with the Holy Spirit on January 2002. From there onward it has been a different journey all alone.
There was heavy rain in our city. The sewerage system in our area flooded. Rain water almost filled our lane and garage. The water was almost going to enter into our rooms. It seemed that our carpets and furniture is going to be destroyed or damaged. My family came together and we started praying. We commanded the storms to stop in the name of Jesus. Suddenly the winds started to blow. Rain stopped immediately and water level started to decrease. Nothing in our house was damaged that day by the Grace of God. Although many houses that day had flooded with rain water. A family called me for prayer in their house. Evangelist Amir Noman and I visited their house. After the meeting when we were ready to leave. They asked me to pray for a young boy. He was suffering from high fever and his brain was not functioning properly. Due to which he could not move his hands normally. After praying for his healing as I was going to tell him to have faith for the healing. He started shouting excitedly that his hands have started to function normally. Everybody present there was amazed with what had happened. We had to stay a little longer and pray for everyone. These are just few instances which I have shared with you. I have witnessed many miracles. People being delivered from bondage and spirits. People being healed and restored.
Conclusion
Like the crowd in Acts chapter two and verse seven many still get amazed with what they see. They ask questions like is it possible? How can this happen? But I want to tell you that if you think I am a normal ordinary human being. These things are not possible for me. Stop living an ordinary life. Repent for your sins and proclaim JESUS as your personal SAVIOR. You will receive the Holy Ghost as a gift from the heavenly Father.
Like Apostles and many others. You will live an extra ordinary life. The choice is yours or the power is yours (The famous phrase from Captain Planet).
