Christine Chrisrian: May 2018

PENTECOST - WHITSUNDAY

WHITSUNDAY – PENTECOST

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Pentecost Sunday (Whitsunday) is a celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early church. Pentecost is significant in both the Old Testaments (they called it “Shavuot”) Exodus 34:22 and New Testaments Acts 1:8 Pentecost is actually a Greek word means “fifty” and refers to the fifty days after Christ’s Resurrection (Easter) and ten days after His Ascension into Heaven Luke 24:51 “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Read full Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-11) and forward to the promise of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s last words on earth before His ascension into Heaven John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Jesus confirmed this prophecy with the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in Acts 1:8. He told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the FATHER’S gift of the Holy Spirit, from whom they would receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth Acts 1:3-8. After JESUS’ ASCENSION TO HEAVEN, the Disciples returned to Jerusalem and joined together in prayer in an upper room Acts 1:13 “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room..”. And just as promised, on THE DAY OF PENTECOST, the sound of a violent wind filled the house Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and ALL WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”. On the Day of PENTECOST God provided two symbols of the HOLY SPIRIT’s presence: the WIND, which is associated with the HOLY SPIRIT, Ezekiel 37:9-14, John 3:8, and FIERY TONGUES which divided and rested upon each one in the upper room, showing that the SPIRIT’S BAPTISM included all. The sound of the wind at Pentecost was rushing and mighty. Scriptural references to the Power of Wind is always understood to be under God’s control (remember when Jesus walking on the sea Matthew 14:23–32, Exodus 10:13 “And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night”).

In the Holy Bible, Jesus compared The Holy Spirit’s work to the Wind in Genesis ,John 3:8 “” and Fire is often associated with the presence of God Exodus 3:2 “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” . God’s presence and Holiness are indirect in the Pentecostal tongues of fire. Indeed, fire is identified with Holy Spirit Himself Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”, who would teach the disciples the things of Christ John 16:14 “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”. And they were given the power of communication Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”, which Peter used to begin the ministry for which Jesus had prepared him (read full Acts 2:14-40) and the effect of the sermon was powerful Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” and instructed by Peter to “REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED” Acts 2:38 “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”. Filled with the Holy Spirit fulfills what Jesus promised. This marked the beginning of THE NEW COVENANT AGE, which will last until Jesus returns (Rapture). Speak in other tongues in my opinion, THE WORD TONGUES CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED LANGUAGES AND THAT IS THE SENSE HERE, THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples burst out to tell the world, to spread the Gospel. This was the beginning of the church as we know it and the powerful Biblical reference to the actual events of Pentecost is in Acts 1 to 2.

We all know about beginning of the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, the days when God leave the temple, recorded in the Ezekiel’s Chapter 8 to 11. Ezekiel 10:18 “the Glory of the LORD departed from of….And stud over the Cherubims”, The saddest event witness by Prophet Ezekiel was the departure of THE LORD’S GLORY from the temple. The Glory moved from the Cherubim in the Holy of Holies of the threshold of the house. Later, The Glory of the Lord was stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city (Mount of olives, Jerusalem) and the Glory disappeared. The reluctant departure of God’s Glory from the temple demonstrate that only with great long-suffering and hesitation did God’s Spirit leave. The fact that the Spirit of God was not present in the temple explains how Nebuchadnezzar’s men were later in 586 B.C. able to destroy the temple completely, include the Holy of Holies, without divine judgment. (Note that, Under the Old Mosaic Covenant God’s work with Israel had been external, but under the New Covenant it is internal and PERMANENT COVENANT WITH EVERYONE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM AND BAPTIZED WITH THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT, John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”, Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”, Mark 16:16 “”, Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”, Hebrews 8:9 “Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”, Hebrews chapter 10. Before PENTECOST the HOLY SPIRIT’S work had been without permanent indwelling in person; we seen this in Old Testament that “The Spirit came upon” and after the PENTECOST The HOLY SPIRIT work from within, permanent and involving all. God does not dwell in a temple made with hands but in our Heart. Acts 7:48 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,”, Acts 17:24 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;” But Now, WE ARE GOD’S THE PERMANENT DWELLING PLACE.. John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”, John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”, I Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”, 1 John 3:24 “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” and 4:13 “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because HE HATH GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.”. Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”, 1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”.)

The uniqueness of Christians experience resulted from the union of Christ and the believers. This is expressed in scripture as Christ being in the believer and the believers in Christ. Ten times Pastor Paul uses the Greek preposition “Sun” together to describe this relationship. Believers were crucified (see Galatians 2:20) death (see Colossians 2:20), buried (see Romans 6:4), quickened or made alive (See Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:13),Raised (See Colossians 3:1, Ephesians 2:6), Seated (See Ephesians 2:6), and Glorified (See Romans 8:17) Together with Christ. Jesus used the image of the vine and it’s branches to describe His union with the believers. On the basis of this union pastor Paul showed how THE SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE can be open with FOUR KEY words in Romans chapter 6

· Know (Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”)

· Reckon (Romans 6:11 “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”)

· Yield (Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”)

· Obey (Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” And Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”)

WE, THE CHRISTIANS CAN CONQUER SIN BECAUSE CHRIST LIVES IN US, Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”.

Imagine the beauty of Jerusalem and the temple, imagine yourself in ancient Jewish clothing! Hahaha.. Okay……. Back on our topic! At Pentecost, the disciples witness THE BIRTH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH in the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. In verse Acts 2:4-17 “The witness in Jerusalem” the beginning with Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and continuing through, his sermon is the first in a series of speeches and teachings in Acts, it consists primirly of scripture proofs, sitting (see Joel 2:28-32, Ps 16:8-11), Ps 110:1 “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”, .Later, other Apostle and poster Paul preached Gospel to all nation, Acts 11:19-26 Where it’s recorded that the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called CHRISTIANS, it was from ANTIOCH that Pastor Paul started on His missionary journey and the very FIRST CHURCH. We saw in Revelation Chapter 2-3 mention about main 7 CHURCHES IN ASIA but there were more than 7 churches. Note that, here in Revelation chapter 2-3 “7 CHURCHES” represents the 7 stages of era of the Church History describe in chart below…

Church	Church History typified	Era	Israel’s History typified	Scriptures
Ephesus	The Apostolic Church	30-100 A.D.	The day of Israel’s Espousals (Exodus)	Revelation 2:1-7
Smyrna	The Church of the Roman persecutions	100-313 A.D.	The period of Israel’s wandering (Numbers)	Revelation 2:8-11
Pergamum	The Church of the Age of Constantine	313-600 A.D.	The wilderness period (Numbers)	Revelation 2:12-17
Thyatira	The Church of dark ages	600-1517 A.D.	The wilderness period (Numbers)	Revelation 2:18-29
Sardis	The Church of the reformation	1517-1648 A.D.	The period of Israel’s (Kings 1 n 2 Kings)	Revelation 3:1-6
Philadelphia	The Church of the great missionary movement	1648-1900 A.D.	The period of Israel’s removal (1 n 2 Chronicles)	Revelation 3:7-13
Laodicea	The Church of the apostasy	1900 A.D.- Present day	The period of Judah’s Kings (2 Chronicles)	Revelation 3:14-22

Today, in many Christian churches, Pentecost Sunday is celebrated to recognize the gift ofthe Holy Spirit. It is a reminder that we are co-heirs with Christ, to suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him; that the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good Romans 8:16-18 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” And 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (read full John 20:19-23) that we are all baptized (With Water and The Spirit) by one Spirit into one body 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” AND THAT “THE SPIRIT” WHICH RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD LIVES INSIDE BELIEVERS Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (read full Romans 8:9-11). This gift of the Holy Spirit that was promised and given to all believers on the first Pentecost is promised for you and your children Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”.

2000 Years ago, When Jesus Ascended into Heaven He instructed His disciple to remain in Jerusalem until they should receive Power from on High. As a group of 120 were praying in an upper room (Fifty days after Jesus’s death, resurrection and ten days after His the Ascension), the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of great wind and tongues of fire which settled upon each one of them. They began to speak other languages and to preach boldly in the name of Christ, with the result that 3000 were SAVED. In rebuttal to criticism by devout Jews, Peter stood up and, under the inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT, gave a wonderful sermon. And….. The last days begins with Pentecost (see Hebrews 1:2) the will continue until CHRIST’S RETURNS (Rapture).

The Acts 2:1-21

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Galatians 5:16-24

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

More on Spiritual Gifts : 1 Corinthians 14;1-40, Romans 12:6-8, Acts 2:1-47, Isaiah 11:-3, Timothy 4:14-16

John 14:15-31

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father for my Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

♥

We all sinned n deserve GOD’s judgment, but our loving FATHER, GOD sent HIS only begotten SON to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in HIM. JESUS, our LORD who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that HE died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buries n rose from the dead according to the Holy Bible. If you truly believe n trust in your heart, receiving JESUS alone as your SAVIOUR, declaring (by Baptism) JESUS is The LORD n SAVIOUR, you will be SAVED from the judgment n spend ETERNITY with GOD in HEAVEN…. In The name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. Amen