To many people, Pentecost is a one dimensional event. They focus on only one aspect of the miraculous outpouring. Some see it only as a one purpose event; as God giving the gift of tongues. Some see it as a one time event; an event for a very special occasion, the birthing of the church. Still others see Pentecost as a one place event; confined to Jerusalem.
I see Pentecost as a multi-dimensional event; as God’s power to remove every obstacle in the road to victory for his people. It is God giving his power to his people to empower them in every way necessary for them to succeed at what he has called them to do.
It is true, without the gift of speaking in tongues; the gospel message would never have been communicated to the thousands of people who were gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost. The gift of tongues was not the only gift that was given that day however. Without the outpouring of gifts that day, Peter could never have healed the lame man at the gate to the temple. Peter would not have had the boldness to proclaim to the religious leaders that it was really through the name of Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified, that the man was healed. Multitudes were healed by the shadow of Peter passing over them. See Acts 7:15–16. They were thrown into prison and the angel of the Lord freed them. See Acts 5:18–19.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we read of numerous miraculous events that were worked through the Apostles. Therein is the real key to understanding the full meaning of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost shows us a real demonstration of God working through his people, the church. The individual acts of the Apostles are demonstrations of God working through individuals. The results are the same. The scope of the results may differ but when God works through the individual or the church; the results will be nothing but miraculous.
Pentecost then, is God at work through his people. Peter never performed a miracle in his life. However, God used Peter in a mighty way, working miracles through him. Is God still able to use his people to work his miracles of divine healing, of breaking down communication barriers between languages and of setting people free from sin and the possession of demons? You bet he is.
What is the key to this? There must be a key that explains such a miraculous outpouring. There is, and it is not hidden. It is there in plain view to all who will look for it. Acts 2:1 reveals it to us. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” They were all with one accord. Their being in one accord had brought them all together in one place. They all had one mind and one purpose. None wanted to be somewhere else and doing his own thing. One hundred twenty people shared a common desire and that was to receive the promised baptism of the Holy Ghost. See Acts 1:8.
At least six times throughout the Book of Acts, the people are described as being in one accord. Each time there is unity of purpose and in each instance God works in them to accomplish what he desires. This is the real church in action. Be it working, witnessing or worshipping, it is the real church in action when God is in the midst of his people and pouring his Spirit upon them.
The mighty power of God cannot be contained in a building regardless of its size. It will overflow the building and the hearts of men and women; spilling out into the streets, work places and the market places touching the lives of people everywhere. It will even spill over into other towns, states and countries. Look what God did with the one hundred twenty people on the day of Pentecost. That day was truly the Feast of the First Fruits.
Try, if you will, to get the big picture of Pentecost. Come to understand its full meaning. Let it empower your life so that you may do those things in the Lord that you can’t do on your own.
I see Pentecost as a multi-dimensional event; as God’s power to remove every obstacle in the road to victory for his people. It is God giving his power to his people to empower them in every way necessary for them to succeed at what he has called them to do.
It is true, without the gift of speaking in tongues; the gospel message would never have been communicated to the thousands of people who were gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost. The gift of tongues was not the only gift that was given that day however. Without the outpouring of gifts that day, Peter could never have healed the lame man at the gate to the temple. Peter would not have had the boldness to proclaim to the religious leaders that it was really through the name of Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified, that the man was healed. Multitudes were healed by the shadow of Peter passing over them. See Acts 7:15–16. They were thrown into prison and the angel of the Lord freed them. See Acts 5:18–19.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we read of numerous miraculous events that were worked through the Apostles. Therein is the real key to understanding the full meaning of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost shows us a real demonstration of God working through his people, the church. The individual acts of the Apostles are demonstrations of God working through individuals. The results are the same. The scope of the results may differ but when God works through the individual or the church; the results will be nothing but miraculous.
Pentecost then, is God at work through his people. Peter never performed a miracle in his life. However, God used Peter in a mighty way, working miracles through him. Is God still able to use his people to work his miracles of divine healing, of breaking down communication barriers between languages and of setting people free from sin and the possession of demons? You bet he is.
What is the key to this? There must be a key that explains such a miraculous outpouring. There is, and it is not hidden. It is there in plain view to all who will look for it. Acts 2:1 reveals it to us. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” They were all with one accord. Their being in one accord had brought them all together in one place. They all had one mind and one purpose. None wanted to be somewhere else and doing his own thing. One hundred twenty people shared a common desire and that was to receive the promised baptism of the Holy Ghost. See Acts 1:8.
At least six times throughout the Book of Acts, the people are described as being in one accord. Each time there is unity of purpose and in each instance God works in them to accomplish what he desires. This is the real church in action. Be it working, witnessing or worshipping, it is the real church in action when God is in the midst of his people and pouring his Spirit upon them.
The mighty power of God cannot be contained in a building regardless of its size. It will overflow the building and the hearts of men and women; spilling out into the streets, work places and the market places touching the lives of people everywhere. It will even spill over into other towns, states and countries. Look what God did with the one hundred twenty people on the day of Pentecost. That day was truly the Feast of the First Fruits.
Try, if you will, to get the big picture of Pentecost. Come to understand its full meaning. Let it empower your life so that you may do those things in the Lord that you can’t do on your own.
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