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.
Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day the Holy Spirit came along side the church and the people spoke in new tongues. Pentecost simply means fiftieth day – the fiftieth day from the end of Passover. The first Pentecost occurred during the Celebration of Weeks or Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Law by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Jesus said He would give us a New Law, one not written on tablets of stone, but one written on tablets of flesh – our hearts. How appropriate, the Holy Spirit came with the evidence of new tongues, came during the celebration of the old Law to give us power and ability to live under the new Law.
Thousands were in Jerusalem that day as the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh. Thousands heard the good news of Jesus Christ in their language. As we read further in Acts 2, Peter preached is first sermon, emboldened by the power of the Holy Spirit and over 3000 were added to the church. You, under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit can do great things because God brings it to pass.
Without the Holy Spirit, Peter would not have been able to preach that sermon. Peter had gone back to fishing. He had gone back to his trade and livelihood of pulling in fish. With the Holy Spirit, he now became a fisher of men. He was out trolling for souls to bring into the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit gave him that ability.
Because of that first Pentecost, we are seeing evidence of the Holy Spirit weekly here at River of Life Church. We see evidence in the worship and the presence of God. We see it in the unity of our church body. We hear it through prophesies given during our time of fellowship. We see as members of the body pray for and minister to each other. We see the evidence each Wednesday night as many gather to pray and intercede for our church, community and nation.
As a result, our church body is growing. It is the third Sunday of the month – Building Sunday. I want to thank each of you who have given and continue to give beyond your monthly tithe so we can expand our facilities. God is on the move. The Holy Spirit is touching lives. And our church body is growing. And our building will keep up with the demand.
#offeringthoughts
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