Pentecost

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 NIV

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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 1:6-8 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4 NIV

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Acts 2:13 NIV

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:14-18 NIV

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:36-37 NIV

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Acts 2:38-40 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 NIV

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who had a recent fall and injured their coccyx bone. This is causing severe pain and hindering your day-to-day activities.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone with severe ear pain.

Happy Mothers Day!

• God never intended for us to follow Jesus alone, we need a strong faith community to mirror as we grow. Receiving empowerment of Holy Spirit is where we begin.

After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me;for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:3 (CSB)

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” Acts 2:1-11 (CSB)

• Pentecost reversed isolation and gathered people together through the Spirit.

But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. Acts 2:14 (CSB)

• Their competition became cooperation, their ego gave way to unity and their self-interest surrendered to shared mission and purpose.
• Let’s be careful not to make the mistake of believing transformation can happen without proximity.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (CSB)

We Are An Imperfect, Yet Spirit-Filled People Who...

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength Mark 12:30 (CSB)

• Romans 12:10
• 1 Corinthians 16:14
• Psalm 95:6
• John 4:23
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Psalm 20:7
• Psalm 56:3-4
• John 10:27
• 1 Samuel 15:22
• Acts 5:29
• James 1:22

Demonstrate Honor:

Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 (CSB)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Psalm 100:4
• Colossians 4:2
• Ephesians 6:18
• Galatians 5:13

Forgive Quickly:

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 (CSB)

• John 15:11
• Romans 14:17
• Nehemiah 8:10
• Colossians 4:6
• 1 Peter 4:10
• Matthew 5:7
• Luke 6:36
• James 2:13

Share Pain:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (CSB)

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (CSB)

• Matthew 5:9
• James 1:19
• Matthew 7:12
• 2 Corinthians 9:7
• Acts 20:35
• Acts 4:32
• Philippians 2:3–5
• Colossians 3:12
• Ephesians 4:2
• James 4:10
• Romans 13:1-2
• Hebrews 13:17

Prioritize Unity:

May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. John 17:21 (CSB)

Diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. Ephesians 4:3 (CSB)

• Isaiah 32:8
• Colossians 3:23
• Proverbs 10:9
• Proverbs 11:3
• Psalm 25:21

Speak Identity:

No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (CSB)

• Romans 12:10 & 15
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (CSB)

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal people who are battling thoughts of suicide.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone with a fractured tibia that was caused by an injury at work. Doctors have reported that this will be a long road of recovery, but we believe the Lord wants to heal you today.

Prophetic Themes:

Prophetic Themes:

• This is a Window of "Mercy" for America
• There is Power in Agreement and Declaration
• This is a Call to Return to our Spiritual Foundations
• We must Guard against Idealism
• America is at a Crossroads
• Our nation desperately needs the anointing of the Spirit of Prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus, to rightly discern the times we live in!
• How could we know what we are to do and who we are called to be without the Spirit of God making known to us in real life?

Christianity is NOT intellectual agreement, religious activity, or moral improvement! It's new life in Christ empowered by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

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 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (NIV)

How to be Baptized in The Spirit:

• Did I receive Holy Spirit at Salvation? Yes!
• Am I a Second-Rate Christian if I don't speak in tongues? No!
• Does the Spirit override my will? No!
• Is one filling enough? No!

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6 (NIV)

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

Biblical Steps to Receiving Baptism in Holy Spirit:

1. Believe and Ask:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 1:13 (NIV)

2. Be Hungry and Thirsty:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

• Come to Jesus
• Drink
• Release

The Spirit does not force your mouth or your voice; you get to choose to humbly cooperate.

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone struggling with bladder issues.
• We believe the Wants to heal someone struggling with stomach ulcers.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. Acts 2:43 (ESV)

• Get The Word planted in you, become good soil.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23 (ESV)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:7-8 (ESV)

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. Acts 2:44 (ESV)

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Acts 2:45 (ESV)

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 (ESV)

Words of Knowledge:

• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who recently experienced a significant burn. We believe the Lord wants to bring healing in a way that eliminates all scarring and infection.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal people struggling with Chron’s disease.
• We believe the Lord wants to heal someone with a broken heart. We saw a vision of someone sitting outside in some sort of swing, and you were crying out to the Lord for help. We believe the Lord wants to meet with you today, He sees you and wants you to know that this pain will not overtake you. He wants to heal your heart today.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 (ESV)

but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. Luke 24:29 (ESV)

4 Kinds of Tongues:

• Baptism in the Spirit:

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (ESV)

2. Holy Spirit Intercedes Through Us:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)

3. Message in Tongues:

If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 (ESV)

4. Our Prayer Language:

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV)

The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4 (ESV)

How To Receive The Baptism in Holy Spirit:

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

My First paragraph with bold text.

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 (NASB1995)

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 (NASB1995)

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 (NASB1995)

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [a]in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:22-23 (NASB1995)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
“Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NASB1995)

For seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach!” Isaiah 4:1 (NASB1995)

When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:13-14 (NASB1995)

• We are Fire Starters
• Unity vs Uniformity

For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NASB)

Refer to Revelation Chapter 2

Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24 (NASB1995)