Welcome Home everyone
I would like to thank Pastor Frankie for bringing the Word last week. As you know we were needed for a special service to honor leaders in our region. Included in this service was a wonderful donation to Epic Bible College & Graduate School for $15,000 to help with scholarships and the work that Epic is doing around the world. It seems to be in the air right now but, I feel a stirring of Pentecostal fire. I feel that God has brought us to this specific passage of Scripture for a purpose. I’ve been saying it and God has been preparing us. He has been building us up in His Spirit. And He has confirmed it through the words and prayers of others.
Today we are continuing in Peter’s address to the crowd in Jerusalem. He is confirming not just the prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit but now He is recapping/proclaiming the truth about the resurrection of Jesus Christ as confirmed through the scriptures. Today’s service is going to be a bit different and a lot more interactive. Do I have your permission to shake things up a bit?
My big idea for today comes from Zechariah 4:6 …
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6
And my prayer to is that today you will ask of the Holy Spirit and he will give it to you. If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Acts chapter, verse
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Acts 2:24-32
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Today I bring you 2 things. First, is an encouraging thought that should invoke great joy.
Second, is a directive.
Jesus Christ is Alive!
Today, even now he is seated at the right hand of the father. He is making intersession for you and me. Here peter is reminding his listeners that Jesus is alive and exalted just as David had prophesied. God the Father had kept His promise to David that his ancestor/ Jesus has taken up the throne and will be the everlasting King of kings and Lord of Lords. I love how David puts it;
“‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Acts 2:25-28
There is an expectation of a filling of the Spirit when we are in his presence. Jesus Christ is alive and He said, That He would ascend to heaven so that He could send us His Holy Spirit. We are to expect something miraculous when we come together with God.
This leads me to a perfect segway to the directive and interactive section.
We Are To Be His Witnesses
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Acts 2:32
Before I move forward let me just lay the ground-work out. When the Holy Spirit Fell In that upper room there where a few elements that are note-worthy. There was a mighty wind, and there was fire. Now for a fire to ignite there must be 3 things. Air, heat, and fuel. In all of God’s interactions with mankind. God usually provides the lion’s share of what is needed, leaving a small part for our participation. In that upper room, God provided the heat of His holiness. And God provided His air/wind/ Ruach. But God left the fuel part to the people. What is the fuel that they provided, Pastor? I’m glad you asked. The fuel the men and women in that upper room provided was there hunger for God. They were of one mind united and engaged in His kingdom and His righteousness and nothing else mattered. When the Holy Spirit lit one of them on spiritual fire it was easy for that fire to spread. This is why we are to congregate together so the that your fire can join with my fire and someone else’s fire and we can burn hotter and brighter for Jesus. And in the process together we can ignite a fire in someone else too. Maybe for the very first time. If we are to be His witnesses, we must burn bright together. Let’s recap.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
When Jesus gave this command, He implied a few things. First, Jesus described a Power to do the Job. This is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit he made this point directly. Second, He implied a purpose. This purpose is so the others would believe in Him. He implied a provision to take the mission of God to the ends of the earth. So, could anyone here benefit from a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit? A renewed power/purpose in Christ Jesus? How about this, by a show of hands, is there anyone here that knows someone that needs to know Jesus? Friend or loved-one you have been praying for? How about a healing in your body or perhaps something emotional? Ok, could you use a financial break-through? These are the things that we prayed over at our District Council and we received from the Lord there to bring it back to you.
So if you said yes to any of the things I just mentioned, I want you to come up here right know. We will anoint you with oil and pray for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the salvation of your loved-ones, personal healing, and financial break-throughs.
We are going to spend the rest of our time today praying over each other.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, If we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today.
You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late.
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here. Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’