Pentecost does not belong to the PENTECOSTALS!
In Christ we are all HOLY SPIRIT PEOPLE!... It’s a gift from God! On the day of Pentecost ALL who were there were filled with the Holy Spirit! [Acts 2:4]
Pentecost is for everyone!
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them…[Acts 8:14-16] In Acts 19 we see Paul asking Christians in Ephesus: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed and were baptised?” They replied: “No, we didn’t know that could be done!” Then Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. [Acts 19:2-6] What happened to those in the upper room was now also happening to the believers in Ephesus. In His letter to them he reminded them: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled (plērousthe) with the Spirit.” [Ephesians 1:13; 5:18]
Jesus said: I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay until you have been clothed with power from on high. [Luke 24:49] Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. [Acts 1:4-5]
Pentecost does not belong to the PENTECOSTALS! It’s God’s free gift for all who believe. It’s free to those who ask for it and want it. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for good behavior, a feature of a specific group or a prize for extra special people. NO!... the bible says He is God’s promised gift to the WHOMSOEVER will turn to Jesus, believe Him, obey Him and wait on Him. This is a gift that can be taken or left. Pentecost is for everyone... but not everyone wants it!
We celebrate Christmas.
We proclaim the Resurrection.
BUT WE PARTICIPATE IN PENTECOST. 🔥
In the rush of wind, in the tongues of fire… THE CHURCH was birthed. On that day the Holy Spirit came and filled ALL those who obeyed, came together, prayed and waited… and so the church of the living God was born. The bible says… ALL of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. [Acts 2:4] For in the one Spirit we were ALL baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and we were ALL made to drink of one Spirit. [1 Corinthians 12:13]
🍇FAITH, WORSHIP and FIRSTFRUITS -
In Jewish festivals Pentecost was the day of FirstFruits. It is significant that God chose this day for sending Holy Spirit. It was on Pentecost that God, within every Christian, brought forth His FirstFruits by His Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Him they are all now in season. [Galatians 5:22-23] Jesus told us... Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. [Matthew 6:33] In Pentecost we celebrate the day of putting God first by putting Him first in all things!
Where God is... it MUST be HOLY! God is intimately involved with those who love Him and Holy Spirit makes that real. Many become reverently fearful at the concept that the presence of Holy Spirit will not allow any kind of sin to abound in their life anymore. BUT... If it’s normal for Christians to live by faith… then it must also be normal for them to live by the Spirit.
God's invitation remains and it’s up to you… DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU! The infilling of God is your invitation to God to FULLY move into your life. It’s Him becoming Lord of your life! It not asking Holy Spirit to take up residence (He is already there)… its asking Him to take over, lead and empower you to live the Christian life!
If you ever doubted God’s desire for all to be saved and NONE to perish… look at this: The bible says anyone can ask for and receive the Holy Spirit. He is freely given to ALL who desire to come into the household of God! [1 Corinthians 2:12] God willingly and freely gives His Spirit to anyone who’ll obey Him. Anyone who seek to be disciples of Jesus and who will follow Him. [Acts 5:32; Hebrews 10:20]
He is Jesus’ promise to the children of God:- I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. [John 14:16-18]
On the day of Pentecost Peter said: These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: “In the Last Days,” God says,“I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’LL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON THOSE WHO SERVE ME, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. [Acts 2:15-17]
In Christ we are all HOLY SPIRIT PEOPLE!... Pentecost is for everyone… but not everyone asks for it and not everyone wants it! But the truth is ... We all need a Pentecost revival! … an awakening of the things of God! What we all need in our life are more events and things we have no way of taking credit for and cannot control. Things we cannot explain… but for God!
It’s time to come back to the UPPER ROOM of faith, worship and FirstFruits!!!
May God grant us a fresh revelation and experience in Pentecost!
The church… and the world… needs Him now more than ever!
BY NICO SMIT
'PENTECOST IS FOR EVERYONE' - published 15 May 2024
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