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Acts 2v1-21 The Day of Pentecost.
1 Cor 12v3b-13 The gifts of the Spirit.
John 20v19-23 Receive the Holy Spirit.
God’s Harvest.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The firstfruits of God’s Harvest.
The Day of Pentecost is a Jewish festival, the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (lev23v15-16) Pentecost is also called the Feast of Weeks (Dt 16v10), the Feast of Harvest (ex23v16) and the day of the first fruits (Nu 28v26).
The Wind of the Holy Spirit came upon them all while they were all together v2, and they a flame of fire that rested on each one of them v3, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they babbled in different languages.
Three evidences of the Spirit, Wind, Fire, Speaking in a different tongue, language.
And Peter moved by the Spirit remembers and proclaims the prophecy from Joel 2v28-32.
“The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given for the common good.” Teaches Paul. 1 Cor 12v7.
Message of Wisdom, message of knowledge, Faith, Healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, different languages, interpretation of different languages.
He gives them to each one as he determines. v11.
They are not given for personal gratification or boosting pride or arrogance.
They are given to those willing to use them as servants of others in humility.
They are spiritual or supernatural gifts, not taught, learnt or natural abilities.
Why did God send upon them the Holy Spirit?
“Jesus appeared to them and said, Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you, and he breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven.”
Jesus said to his disciples with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. John 20v22-23.
What a time to talk about sending them out and forgiveness! They were scared, hiding behind locked doors, where they felt safer from the world, fearful that they would be next.
Remember what Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
Jesus sent them out with the ministry of forgiveness to grow the church!
We need to make the most of the opportunities God gives us each day in his world amongst a people He loves, remembering that God has sent us with his love, that God is present with us, and that God empowers us as we are obedient to his call to go and forgive!
In a society where people no longer come to church, God has invited the church to go to them, and so our mission is create ways in which we can carry the Gospel to the people!
Let’s all go out with God to where His action is taking place in people’s lives!
That’s what I call ‘exciting’ to witness!
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