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And
when the day of Pentecost
was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of
them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts
2:1-4)
PENTECOST What's That?
The day of Pentecost was observed
in Jerusalem fifty days after the celebration of the Passover, which
commemorated Israel's deliverance out of Egypt. It is significant
that this day was chosen by the Lord to begin the fulfillment of
Joel 2:28: "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh...
."
The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples in an overwhelming
manner. Their complete commitment to Christ and His commission evoked
a mighty baptism of God's power. This was evidenced initially by
their speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). The Spirit was resident in
their lives from that moment. The Spirit-filled early church witnessed
many outstanding miraculous happenings (Acts 3:1-7; 4:31). They
were able to lead victorious lives as a result of their Pentecostal
experience. Two baptisms were disclosed on the day of Pentecost.
There was a baptism in the Holy Spirit, and in the Apostle Peter's
message that followed, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
was commanded (Acts 2:38). This outward, physical baptism mysteriously
merges with that of the Spirit, and is the "one baptism" of Ephesians
4:5. This is what Jesus referred to as being "born again" in John
3:3-7. And how wonderful to be born into the family of God-changed,
transformed, and made a "new creature in Christ Jesus". No, Pentecost
is not a denomination. It is a new birth experience. It is primitive
Christianity made relevant to today's world. The people referred
to as Pentecostal simply believe, teach, and receive all that transpired
on that birthday of the church...Pentecost, 33 A.D. Calvary Pentecostal
Ministries embraces these basic Christian truths and experiences.
You owe it to yourself to attend-and see what Pentecost can really
mean to you!
Is the Pentecostal Experience Necessary
to the New Birth? The
Pentecostal experience is as necessary to the New Birth as breath
is to the body becauseit is the Breath (Pneuma) of the Body of Christ.
The Pentecostal Experience is likened to the Genesis account when
the Lord created man, he was not a living soul until God Breathed
the breath of life into him. Likewise, before the day of Pentecost
the Church was a concept and finished work in the mind of God. Remember
when Jesus told Peter "Upon this rock I will build my Church" (Matt.
16:18), Jesus was revealing His ultimate plan of the birth and establishment
of the Church. Yet it was not a breathing, moving organism until
the Breath of Pentecost was breathed into it, which is validated
by Acts 2:41 where we see the Church again, but empowered by the
Holy Ghost "and the same day there were added unto them (the Church)
about three thousand souls." Secondly, it is necessary to the New
Birth Experience because it corresponds to the third order of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is The Resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).
Just as Repentance corresponds to the Death, the Baptism Corresponds
to the Burial, the Pentecostal Experience or the Holy Ghost, corresponds
to the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many have died to
sin by repentance, been buried by baptism, but have been left in
the grave because they have not received the resurrecting power
of Pentecost which is the Holy Ghost. What differentiates Christ
Jesus from the others that claim to be the "Christ" is that Our
Lord Jesus GOT UP FROM THE GRAVE. Had he not gotten up from the
grave, He would have been no different than Buddah or Muhammad.
But our Savior Got Up; HALLELUJAH (Rom. 8:11)! So beloved, it is
not enough to experience the death and burial, but we must have
the Pentecostal Experience, which is the quickening power of the
Holy Ghost if we want to experience the resurrection.
Do
the Events of Pentecost Still Happen Today?
Yes. The Bible states in Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many
as the Lord our God shall call." The message of the Pentecostal
Experience is resounding louder and being embraced more readily
now than in our previous contemporary years. Denominations that
once denounced or under emphasized the Pentecostal experience are
now coming into the knowledge of the Power that comes from the this
experience (Acts 1:8), and are coming out of the closets to embrace
this supernatural phenomena as a ecessity. As a result, the prophecy
of Joel 2:28,29 has been, and is still being fulfilled.
How Can I Experience Pentecost?
"and they were all in one place on one accord" Acts 2:2-4
The Holy Ghost fell on those that were gathered together in the
upper room. It was the Promise of the Father that Jesus talked about
(Acts 1:4). Now that the promise is in the earth, we no longer have
to wait for it, the Holy Ghost is now a gift, just waiting for us
to receive it! The Bible states that they were all Filled with the
Holy Ghost and began to Speak with other tongues as the SPIRIT gave
them the utterance or the language (Acts 2:4). This is the initial
evidence of one being filled with the Holy Ghost in scripture. Notice
the it reads "As the Spirit gave them the utterance". Not as the
preacher or any human influence dictates, but as the Spirit dictates.
Receiving the Holy Ghost is a Supernatural phenomena, which means
that it is given by God and Him Only! Many have been influenced
to speak in their Holy Language as they are taught. But this is
not the scriptural way to receiving the Holy Ghost. It is erroneous
in it's process and weak in the flesh, because it is taught by flesh,
and not inspired by the Spirit. Beloved, please do not be deceived,
no one can give you the Holy Ghost, or teach you how to Speak in
another tongue, only the Spirit can give you the Utterance to Speak
in tongues. If you desire the Gift of the Holy Ghost, just Ask!
For the Bible states "Ask and it shall be given". God is So ready
to fill you up with His Spirit! After you've asked Him, begin by
faith to believe that you are going to receive it, and begin praising
Him for it. God will begin to take over your lips and your tongue
(Isa. 28:11), and before you know it the Holy Ghost will Rush in
on your soul just as it did on the Day of Pentecost and you will
begin to Speak in another tongue! My God, what a refreshing! The
Holy Ghost is REAL! You owe it to yourself to experience the refreshing
breath of Pentecost. This is not a denominational thing, it's a
God thing; prophesized in Joel and revealed in Acts: "and it shall
come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17). You
need the Holy Ghost, come and Receive it!
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