5-29-23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The followers of Christ were frightened and confused. Their Jesus had been tortured, killed, and buried. On the third day He rose from the dead. He was with them for 40 days, then left them again. He ascended bodily to Heaven. But among the words He left were two specific things. He said it was \u201cbetter\u201d that He leave them, because \u201cOne would come\u201d who would give them each, individually, \u201cpower from on high.\u201d None of them understood. He also told them to \u201cwait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, for the harvest commemoration called Pentecost, Jews from \u201cevery nation on earth\u201d were gathered in Jerusalem, many with the Apostles. They waited\u2026 for what? They were confused, nervous, choosing a replacement for Judas, anxious, wondering\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 until, suddenly, in an upper room of a house where they waited, a \u201cmighty rushing wind\u201d blew through. On their foreheads were strange sights \u2013 \u201ctongues as of fire\u201d appeared on those gathered. Then (some began to remember) as Old Testament prophesies and words of John the Baptist had foretold, the men and women were \u201cfilled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is what they were told to wait for. Was it merely a strange occurrence, a bizarre one-time event, with incomprehensible meaning? Some people, in subsequent generations, have attempted to obscure this event, but it was crystal-clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was Jesus\u2019s Promise fulfilled. The Holy Spirit \u2013 the next manifestation of God on earth; the third member of the Trinity \u2013 had come to reside in the hearts of believers in Christ. For that day, and for the rest of humankind’s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many things changed, profoundly, that Day. The fear and confusion among the Disciples evaporated. Peter, who had always been an impulsive and sometimes foolish Follower, was suddenly mature in faith and leadership. He became the head of the newly organized church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, this was the birth of the Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who had gathered from other lands likewise were filled with Truth and Power, and returned home to spread the Gospel. Members of the Twelve became missionaries who visited them, and other lands, to establish groups of believers. So the acceptance of Jesus as Savior, and His Church, spread. Before the year 70 A.D., there were even Christian fellowships as far away as England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second chapter of the Book of Acts recorded these events of Pentecost; and so did secular reporters of the day, and contemporary historians like Josephus. But in ancient Scripture, it had been foretold. And in the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n All through the New Testament are accounts of how God subsequently poured out His gifts. St Paul listed them succinctly in his first letter to the Church at Corinth: Words of wisdom; Words of knowledge; the Gift of supernatural faith; Gifts of healing; the working of miracles; the Gift of prophecy; the ability to discern spirits; speaking in tongues; and the interpretation of tongues. Further than that \u2013 if you might be someone to whom these things sound like fairy tales or delusional rants \u2013 I have experienced many of these Gifts. I have seen them exercised by others. I have seen healings; I have been at exorcisms; I have found myself praying over people things that I had no way of knowing \u2013 not in a trance; nothing like that, but just aware what God wanted me to share. My daughter prayed over my wife who was diagnosed with three types of cancer, somehow aware that God had healed her. Indeed the doctors found no cancers the next day. It was not my daughter\u2019s prayer that healed, but she had an inspiration to share what God had done at that moment. That is a Gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manifestations of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit \u2013 Pentecostalism; the Charismatic Movement; Holy-Ghost Revival \u2013 never died, but since around 1900 have exploded around the world. There are major denominations in America. The Underground Church in China is largely Pentecostal. There are more Pentecostals than Catholics in Africa and South America. The Assemblies of God has more adherents in Brazil than in the United States and Europe combined. Think of news stories you have recently heard of \u201crevival\u201d breaking out in Kentucky and elsewhere…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Readers, you might know and be already at home with many of these things. Or maybe they are foreign to you. Or are rumors you have heard; or perhaps are unknown to you. Your salvation does not<\/em> depend at all on whether you accept or reject the Gifts. You might respond \u2013 or not \u2013 with ecstatic worship. There are no rules! My own \u201cprayer language,\u201d when exercised, is in private. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But just think about the Gifts of God He offers you through the experience of the Holy Spirit. I invite you think back on any Christmas morning, or birthday. How many wonderful gifts were given to you by your loving parents; how many times that you said\u2026 \u201cNo\u2026 not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Really? In the chance any of this intrigues you, please contact me and I can offer you information, and will prayerfully answer your questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not a church service; just worship time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After two thousand years, these Gifts still sound strange to some people, but scarcely are stranger than Jesus, and His followers, making the blind to see; raising people from the dead; and \u2013 perhaps most audaciously \u2013 forgiving people of their sins in the Name of Jesus. Oh, that\u2019s not for today? Then the Savior Who promised these things is a liar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
+ + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n