“POWER FROM HEAVEN”
Acts 2:1-4
"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."
People of God, Pentecost means "Fiftieth" because this feast was held fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:15-22). The calendar of Jewish Feasts in Leviticus 23 is an outline of the work of Jesus Christ. Passover pictures His death as the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
"The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
From the Feast of Firstfruits, we see the picture of His resurrection from the dead (I Cor. 15:20-23)
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruit of them that slept.
for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
Fifty days after Firstfruits is the Feast of Pentecost, the Jews celebrate the giving of the law, but Kingdom Believers celebrate it because of the giving of the Holy Ghost to the church.
THE SPIRIT CAME (Acts 2:2-3)
The Holy Ghost had been active before Pentecost and worked in creation (Gen. 1:1-2). In Old Testament History Judges. 6;34; I Sam. 16:13) and in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:30-34, 4:1,14; Acts 10:38)
Now there would be two changes; The Spirit would dwell in people and not just come upon them. Two, His presence will b permanent, unless you return to sin, and not temporary (John 14;16-17)
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
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."
The Holy Ghost could not have come sooner. It was essential that Jesus die, be raised from the dead, and return to heaven before the Holy Ghost could be given.
(John 7:37-39)
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But his 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.)."
The Holy Ghost is God in us or the way God applies salvation to the heart of the Kingdom believer (Romans 8;9-11; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 4:4-6).
The Holy Ghost is for everyone because God said, He will pour out the gift of His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). Peter said, "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 hall call." (Acts 2:39, 10:44-48). The Holy Ghost is for Jews and Gentiles alike, Cornelius being a Gentile in Acts 10:45-48, received the Holy Ghost as well his household.
Some people believe the moment a person believes he has the gift of the Holy Ghost or Spirit of God. But this is not so. So yes, a person must believe to receive the Holy Ghost, but because he thinks that is not a sign, the Holy Ghost has come in. To prove this, read (Acts 8:12-16; 19:1-6).
Some people think the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit are two different Spirits. But that is far from the truth. For in Matthews 3:16, the Bible said that he saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. While in Luke 3:22, doing the same incident, the Bible said, the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him. So then, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are the same Spirit. You cannot have the Holy Spirit without having the Holy Ghost. If you don't have the Holy Ghost, you don't have the Holy Spirit.
It is essential to have the Holy Ghost to go to heaven; Romans 8:9 says,
"But ye are not in thee 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.'
Romans 14:17
"For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but RIGHTEOUSNESS, and peace, and JOY in the HOLY GHOST."
II Corinthians 13:5
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
May this Word of God find a place of peace and growth in your spirit, that you will be blessed beyond measure. KEEP THE FAITH AND RECEIVE THE BLESSING!!!!
Love
Bishop T. W. Jackson I, ThM
