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Receive the Gift

6/25/2017

CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Everyone loves a gift! When someone promises a gift there is an immediate curiosity. What is it? Will it fit me? Will I like it? Why me? All kinds of questions flow through the recipient’s mind. There is an element of surprise and mystery as one prepares to receive the promised gift.

No wonder the disciples asked so many questions on the last day they spent with Jesus. There was a premonition that something was about to take place. They remembered the instruction to “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

Moments before the ascension the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They were getting further away from the subject of what Jesus was planning to do. He brought them back with a new focus on the Spirit that He was preparing to share with His followers, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The gift was received in the next chapter and it was far beyond the expectation of the disciples. It was more than any of them had ever imagined. They laughed. They celebrated. They staggered around under the influence of the Spirit, so much so that some of the observing crowd accused them of being drunk. Peter didn’t deny it, As a matter of fact he said, “These are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 1:15-16).

The city was drawn out to see what was happening and what the noise was about. Later Peter spoke about this experience of salvation as “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 KJV). In the NKJV it is translated, “Inexpressible joy.” Paul expressed his gratitude for the gift saying, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The gift of the Holy Spirit takes on many attributes, but it is always a comfort, a strength, and a promise to every believer. After Peter spoke about this wonderful new plan of salvation, He stated unequivocally, to repent of their sins, be baptized in Jesus name and simply receive the gift of the Holy Spirt! He said, “The promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39).

The gift is still awaiting believers. It is for any who will simply step forward with a willing heart and a humble spirit to approach the one who has shared with every believer since the foundation of the Church. There is the promise of God’s great gift that we want to share with everyone who will listen.

Receive the gift and watch your life be transformed by the power of the Spirit!

Scripture:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

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Equal Opportunity Experience

6/16/2017

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).

The experience of Pentecost is universally available and for all generations. The prophecy quoted here by the Apostle Peter indicated that sons and daughters, young and old, male and female servants, would all be the recipients of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,” the Prophet Joel declared long ago (Joel 2:28). This was a prediction that the prophesied event would take place in a future generation, but also expressed that the Spirit would be for both sexes, neither would be excluded. The phrase, “Your sons and your daughters,” might have been construed to mean it was just for their children. However, this was not a promise just for the young because he went on to include, “Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” All ages were included in the prophecy of the coming of the Holy Spirit!

Even servants were included in the promise. All levels in the socio-economic scale have the same opportunity. The NIV stated, “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:29). From fathers to daughters, servants to kings, the aged to children, all have access into the Kingdom of God through the promise of the Spirit.

Peter further emphasized the generational aspect of the experience. He said, “The promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The Holy Spirit was not just for the Day of Pentecost or the first generation of the church, it is for your children. Once the Holy Spirit was poured out it continued to be available to the present day. It will continue to be experienced until the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

While the birth of the church occurred in the city of Jerusalem and upon the Jewish people, the intent of the outpouring was much broader than one location or a single ethnicity. It was Christ’s intent to deliver the gift of His Spirit to all the world. The promise of the Spirit and the provision of redemption was also for those who were foreign to “Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Paul goes on to say, “In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12–13).

Every nationality, every language group, every age, either sex, or those of any economic position can find Christ through the New Birth experience in obedience to Peter’s simple message, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). There is equal opportunity for all to experience the New Birth through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

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With the Women

6/11/2017

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:4).

Approximately 120 gathered in the Upper Room after the ascension of Jesus. They were awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had been promised they would receive. Along with the disciples and others who were named there was another group who also continued in prayer and supplication together with them uniquely identified as, “the women.” We are not given a specific number or the identity of any of them other than, “Mary the mother of Jesus.”

In a very male dominated culture Jesus carefully included women throughout His earthly ministry, so it was no surprise that women were also among those who gathered for prayer anticipating the arrival of the Spirit. From the prophetess Anna who rejoiced at His birth to the woman at the well in Samaria who brought the town out to hear the words of Jesus, from the woman with the issue of blood to the Syro-Phoenician woman who acquired miracles from the Master, from the woman who gave Him birth to the women who gave Him lodging and meals, there were always women who responded to the ministry of Jesus and sought to follow Him. Jesus invites and welcomes all to become disciples, young or old, male or female.

Peter rose to address the questioning crowd who gathered to witness this amazing event on the Day of Pentecost. The rejoicing crowd of newly Spirit baptized believers spilled out of the Upper Room and onto Solomon’s Porch continuing with such ecstatic demonstration that some accused them of being drunken. Peter explained that this event was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18 NKJ). Notice the inclusion of “daughters” and “maidservants” (or female servants). The prophet and Peter said, “They shall prophesy.”

Women welcomed Jesus into their homes, sat at His feet as they learned from His teaching, wept at the cross, anointed Him for burial, and were the first to discover the empty tomb. Women were among the first to receive the Holy Spirit and were instrumental in spreading the Gospel in the first generation church. They were in the group praying for Peter’s release from prison. A women’s prayer group in Philippi was held by the riverside when one Sabbath Paul and Silas showed up. Lydia, a merchant of purple textiles, was converted and the members of her household were baptized. Her home was opened to Paul and Silas and she insisted that they stay for as long as it was needed. The work of God flourished in that city.

In our culture much attention is given to equality for women in every area of life. This is not a new concept for Jesus. It was His idea first. His call for discipleship goes out to all. Women are welcome!

Scripture:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

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A Sudden Sound

6/3/2017

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1–2).

Among the last instructions Jesus left His followers was to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Just prior to His ascension into heaven from the Mount of Olives, “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). The duration of time was not specified … just wait! The implication was that they would know when the event took place and when they should leave that upper room in Jerusalem.

There was no doubt about it when the Holy Spirit arrived to visit the men and women gathered in the upper room. There were both sounds and signs of the arrival. First, the Spirit came suddenly into the room with the sound of a strong wind. After several days of waiting, praying, and reflecting on the events that brought them to this moment it happened quickly, without warning, like a wind blowing open an unlatched door the Holy Spirit swept in with great demonstration.

The sound was like “a rushing mighty wind,” filling the room with His presence. We can never see the wind, just the effect it makes on the environment around us. The rustling of the the trees, or the whistling of the breezes through cracks in the doors are the most perceptible sounds as the winds appear. The sudden blast of air on your face can be refreshing, an evidence of its presence. So it is with the arrival of the Spirit.

John likened the birth of the Spirit to the presence of the wind. He said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

In addition to the sound of the heavenly wind, the sign of the Spirit was both visual and audible. Tongues of fire appeared upon them and the ecstatic sounds of various languages were heard as the Holy Spirit settled on this upper room assembly. Luke recorded, “There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4).

Numerous languages were heard as they declared the wonderful works of God and people came from everywhere to see what was going on as this group of believers poured out of the upper room onto Solomon’s porch outside the Temple. Of the many Jews gathered from various places for the feast of Pentecost they begin to hear this evidence of the Spirit in their native tongues. While the believers did not know these languages, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit caused them to utter forth the glory of God in languages they had never learned.

When the Spirit arrives it does not require an announcement. There is something about the Spirit that is easily recognized when Jesus is present. May His presence come suddenly to us today!

Scripture:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

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Receive the Gift

Equal Opportunity Experience

With the Women

A Sudden Sound

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