AMAZING DAY OF PENTECOST
Every time someone is filled with Holy Ghost (also called the Holy Spirit) it proves that Jesus is alive. Where is he? By the right hand of God exalted? What is he doing? Shedding forth the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:33.) This is it!
Jesus said to his disciples, “I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5: Acts 2:1-4.) The word endued means to be clothed upon.
On the Day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter stood up and excitedly proclaimed that this is that spoken of by the prophet Joel. (Acts 2:14.) This is what the prophets spoke about – men and women being wonderfully filled with God’s Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues, and fully clothed in power from on high.
- This is what the prophets enquired and searched diligently for (1 Peter 1:10.)
- This is the GRACE of God (1 Peter 1:10.)
- This is what the prophets said is the GLORY that should follow the sufferings of Jesus (1 Peter 1:11.)
- This is what the angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:12.)
- This is how we receive Jesus (John 13:20; John 14:23.)
Do you comprehend the POWER that comes with receiving the Holy Ghost?
Perhaps you’re familiar with the story of the woman who reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. She said to herself: “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (Matthew 9:21.)
As soon as she touched Jesus’ garment she was healed of a sickness she’d had for over 12 years. However, she wasn’t the only one this happened to for we read in the gospel of Matthew: “…and (the sick) besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” (Matthew 14:36.)
If so much power was available from just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment then how much more power is there for the people who are totally clothed with the Holy Ghost? There are many scriptures that talk about us being IN Christ. We are baptised into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. We are no longer on the outside looking for a glimpse, a touch or some crumbs. (Matthew 15:27.)
It is very similar to the story of Elijah and Elisha. We read how Elijah performed many miracles (a type of Jesus) and that when he was taken away (a type of Jesus taken up into heaven) he left behind his mantle (a type of Holy Ghost) which Elisha took up (a type of being clothed upon from on high).
We are told that Elisha (who is a type of Spirit-filled Christian received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah empowering him to do even more miracles than Elijah. (2 Kings 2.)
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater (works) than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12.)
Receiving the Holy Ghost is so important that Jesus even said, “… I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7.)
Expedient means more profitable. It really is that big a deal. That’s why Jesus told his followers to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from high. (Tarry means to await, wait for, remain steadfast or a temporary stay.) By tarring they received the Promise of the Father, the Holy Ghost, the Power, the Glory, the Grace of God. The Bible tells us that they received what the prophets and angels desired, and all the associated benefits.
But what if they didn’t tarry? If they hadn’t tarried they would have missed out on the most incredible gift ever given to mankind.
Jesus told his disciples to wait (this also means to look forward to) for the infilling of the Holy Ghost (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:1-5.) and by obeying the Lord they were all partakers of this wonderful event as well as we, who can now enjoy our own amazing Day of Pentecost.
God has told us to wait (look forward to) another major event and that is the return of Jesus Christ.
“Don’t be … tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,(and) cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:14.)
Receiving the Holy Ghost is the number one priority above all things. Don’t go anywhere, don’t be distracted and don’t be misled. Receiving the Holy Ghost is the most important thing in life if you want to live forever. The best chance people have of partaking in this wonderful gift and its associated benefits is to tell them of the urgency of the situation.
It would have been a tragedy if some of the early disciples listened to the sleight or deception of men and didn’t tarry for the Holy Ghost. The same goes for us today. Make sure that we don’t listen to men’s deceptions. It would be a tragedy for anyone to miss the next big event for which God has told us to tarry. So, tarry until the Lord returns.
All of you Spirit-filled believers are involved in the real thing. The prophets searched for it. The angels wanted to look into it. But we are the ones who got everything when we were filled with the Holy Ghost. It’s a very exciting thing to be able to stand up as the apostle Peter did and say – This is it.
For many of you who have not been born again (John 3:3-8; Acts 2:38-39), today is the day of salvation. Search for the truth and the truth shall set you free. (John 8:31-32.)