Looking Forward to the New Year!

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…" - Philippians 3:13

The things that are behind us is the manner of thinking and living that we abandoned when we turned our hearts to Jesus. This old life we no longer care about. Instead, we care about things that are holy and just, the things that please God. When we were baptized in Jesus name, we buried our old life, the old man of sin. Leaving that old life we used to live behind, forgiving those that have hurt and offended us, we now reach forward to the new life we have in Jesus: peace, joy, and love as we walk in His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

What is Pentecost? Pentecost 2015 is Sunday, May 24, 2015

Pentecost is the day, almost 2000 years ago, that God began pouring out His Spirit.

God loves us so much that He took on the form of man to pay the price of death for our sins. Because of our love for Him, we repented and were baptized in His name Jesus, washing our sins away by the blood He shed for us. It is because God paid the price for our sins that He was able to begin pouring out His Spirit upon us.

"And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4

This was prophesied by the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28.

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" - Acts 2:16-18

On this day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, speaking with divine inspiration, full of the Holy Ghost. He preached the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." - Acts 2:22-24

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36

The Jews that were gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost from around the world were convicted in their hearts when they heard Peter preach the gospel of Jesus.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" - Acts 2:37

"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. 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." - Acts 2:38-39

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:40

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." - Acts 2:41-43

"…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:47

What is Pentecost? The Sound of the Wind and the Spirit.

Jesus commanded the apostles that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:4-5) The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus in us. (John 14:17-18)

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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 will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:15-18 KJV

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." - Acts 2:1 KJV

Jesus had told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) Jesus compared being born of the Spirit to the wind.

He said the wind blows wherever it wants. You can’t tell where it is coming from or where it is going. But you hear the sound of it. (John 3:8)

On the day of Pentecost, there was a sound of wind - a rushing mighty wind.

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

Just as Jesus said, when those in the upper room were born of the Spirit, there was a sound as a wind. The Bible says the sound came from heaven. This sound from heaven was the sound of other tongues (other languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8 KJV

No one could see where the Spirit of Jesus came from, and where it went as it filled each of the disciples, but they heard the sound!

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

Why did they speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost?

On the day of Pentecost, there were Jews from every nation under heaven in Jerusalem. As commanded by God, they were there for the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). They were there to appear before the Lord and give an offering at the Temple. (Deut.16:10, 16)

These Jews all became witnesses of the amazing fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Joel: God had begun to pour out of His Spirit on all flesh! (Acts 2:16-17)

The Jews marveled when they heard the hundred and twenty disciples speaking in the tongue of the countries they were born. These Galilaeans didn’t understand the words they were uttering, but the Jews that were present from around the world did. The disciples were speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Jews heard them speaking in their languages the wonderful works of God! (Acts 2:4-11)

God spoke through them as they allowed God to change their words into another language. (Acts 2:8) This was the beginning of tongues as the sign of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:45-46, Acts 11:15, Acts 19:6) God’s promise had begun to be fulfilled. (Acts 1:4, Acts 2:33, Acts 2:39)

In what language was the gospel preached on the day of Pentecost?

The Jews that were gathered in Jerusalem that day not only knew their native language from the country they were from, but as Jews, they also knew the Hebrew language. They most likely knew Greek as well, as it appears to have been the universal language at that time. Because all those that were gathered were devout Jews, it is most likely Peter was preaching in the Hebrew language. (Acts 2:5)

The gospel message on the day of Pentecost was preached by Peter, not by the hundred and twenty speaking in tongues. The Bible clearly records the preaching that day, and it was by Peter. (Acts 2:14-40)

"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:" - Acts 2:14

The conclusion of his gospel message: what we must do to obey the gospel.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" - Acts 2:37

"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." - Acts 2:38

"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." - Acts 2:39

Worldly Wisdom

The naturally learned, or influential, or wealthy, seem to have difficulty believing in Jesus. They have trouble believing that God today actually works miracles.  

When they see a miracle, they look for some natural reason of how it happened. By human reasoning, they create explanations to reason and explain away the miracles of God. They have more faith in the things of man than they have faith in God. They will come up with some “reason” why it was not God.  

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:" - 1 Corinthians 1:26  

It is by faith that we know that God overshadowed a young virgin, creating for Himself a body to dwell in by the name of Jesus. 

It is by faith that we know that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. 

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." - John 20:29   

It is by faith that we know that Jesus ascended into heaven and will be calling us to meet Him in the air in the rapture, the catching away of the Bride of Christ, to ever be with the Lord. 

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." - 1 Thessalonians 4:14  

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  

It is by faith that we receive the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." - Galatians 3:14  

"And, behold, 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  

"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. 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." - Acts 2:38-39  

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6  

And so, by preaching we hear the gospel which is able to save us, and through our faith we obey the gospel. 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2  

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 

We do not believe in vain, for we obey the gospel when we become dead to sin by repentance, are buried with Jesus by baptism, and are resurrected to new life in the Spirit when we receive the Holy Ghost.  

Most naturally learned, or influential, or wealthy people think that preaching is foolish. To us that are saved it is the power of God. 

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." - 1 Corinthians 1:17-19  

"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." - 1 Corinthians 1:20-21  

So by obedience to the gospel, our faith is not in vain. We repent, are baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Ghost, faithful to assemble together to  hear the preaching of the word, faithful to living a holy and overcoming life, looking for the soon return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of Truth

God is Spirit. He created the universe. He is the Father. His name is Jesus. 

The Father put on humanity and dwelt among us as the Son of God, the flesh and blood of God. 

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" - John 14:9 

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" - Hebrews 2:14  

Jesus shed His blood, dying on a cross, and on the third day rose again. The blood that He shed washes away our sins when we are baptized in Jesus name.  

With repentance and baptism in Jesus name, He gave us a promise. He will give us the gift of the Holy Ghost, His Spirit within us.  

"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. 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." - Acts 2:38-39  

During His ministry, Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples that He would be put to death, but would rise again on the third day. 

"For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day." - Mark 9:31 

After His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was with His disciples for forty days. 

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 

Jesus had also told His disciples that after He departed from them, He would come to them. He would come to them as the Spirit of truth. 

The Spirit of truth is the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus in us. Jesus also spoke of His Spirit as the Comforter. 

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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 will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:15-18 

Jesus gives us His Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost, also called the Spirit of truth, to guide us into all truth. 

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." - John 16:13-15  

While Jesus ascended in bodily form into heaven, He poured out His Spirit beginning on the day of Pentecost. His Spirit is now within all those that have received the Holy Ghost. We are now His body – the body of Christ – here on earth. (1Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 4:12) One of these days, we too will ascend into heaven, in what we call the rapture, to be with Jesus. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)