Pentecostal Power, part 3

They were, men and women who simply wanted what God had in promise for them. Luke (the writer of the book of Acts) goes on to say that these people were gathered in ONE PLACE, in an Upper Room. But even more significant than the place, is the POSITION, they were meeting “IN ONE ACCORD” NJKV. Some translations simply say, “…they were all in one place…”  but many others say, “…they were in one place, in one accord…” Just a quick side note – there were about 120 people; they weren’t in a Honda, there were of one mind; waiting for the same thing – the gift God had promised to send them.
 

There have been a lot of misconceptions and errors when it comes to unity. To understand what this unity is about, you need to understand that this unity is NOT a CONTRIVED unity, neither a CONTROLLED unity; forced from outside the church.  The Greek word Luke uses, is the word ‘homo thu madon.’ This word shows up 11-times, in the Book of Acts, and once more in Romans 15:6. It means, “with one mind together.”
 

No one forced these followers of Jesus to be together. They chose, of their own accord, to be together because they had a common cause; a common purpose; a common Savior; common desire. The important thing is this, the day they had been waiting for came! And when it came, they were ready. They were all there together in one place; doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do. They were praying and waiting for the Father’s promise.

Pentecost EMPOWERS Ministry…

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the primary empowering of God that every New Testament believer can experience. It is so important, that Jesus gave His followers this command, in Acts 1:4-5, “… Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized in water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit” NIV.
 

Following salvation and being baptized in water, Spirit baptism is the next step in your development as a Christian. God wants you to be baptized in, and filled with, the Holy Spirit. Those who say, “I don’t need to be Baptized in the Spirit,” simply do not fully understand it. The Baptism of the Spirit is not the same as salvation. At salvation, you are born again by the Spirit. 
 

This is what is called… “the regenerating work of the Spirit.” The Bible says we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit in that very moment.  The indwelling of the Spirit happens the moment we repent of our sins. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Roman believers – Romans 8:9: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” NIV.
 

All those who have been born again, have the Holy Spirit living inside them. You don’t “GET” the Holy Spirit at a later time. You GET Him from the very beginning of your new life in Christ, it is an instantaneous thing; sin is washed away and the Holy Spirit moves in. Every believer has the Holy Spirit living in them, but the Bible plainly shows that Spirit Baptism is different from, and occurs after, this indwelling experience. Some will think, or even say: So, if I already have the Holy Spirit living in me, from when I was saved, then what more do I need?



Continued tomorrow