So there they were, together, just as Jesus had instructed them to be. They were obedient, because they trusted Jesus to do what He said that He would do. Acts 2 busts out with
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting."
Can you imagine being in there at that time? The sound that came must have been tremendous! Was it as loud as a jet fighter? Was it louder? To be there when that happened must have been so exciting!
Then, to top it off, the fire that John the Baptist prophesied about came. (Matthew 3:11)
"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." (Acts 2:3)
A huge sound of wind and then BAM! Tongues of fire! Awesomeness!! But God was not done yet! No, they had not yet experienced the best part.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
The Holy Spirit came down and filled them up! That is way more cooler than Azusa! That is not all that happened. Peter gave his sermon, revealing to all of them that the last days were upon them. the Holy Spirit giving him power to preach straight, to not pull any punches. To literally tell all who were there exactly what they had done when they crucified Jesus. And then Peter went on to reveal what Jesus then did;
"...whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it." (Acts 2:24)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter how Jesus had been able to defeat death and the secret was that Jesus was "both Lord and Christ." (vs. 36) Making the unequivocal claim that Jesus was deity! Then the revelation was so clear to people that they were cut to the heart. So much that they asked what they should do to be saved! When was the last time you heard someone ask what they must do to be saved? Usually there is some sort of invitation, beginning with "all heads bowed and all eyes closed..." Not here, here the Power of God's baptism of fire was so great that people asked what they should do.
So Peter answers them;
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38,39)
Then after that around 3000 people became Christians. All from the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This is so cool, because, like I wrote yesterday, I was so in to wanting to be part of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit like there was in Azusa that I realized that I had missed why there was even an outpouring at all. The people in that revival were waiting on God like the disciples. They wanted an outpouring like the day of Pentecost. That is what I should be looking for, that is what I should be praying for, that is what I should be encouraging those around me for. Why? Because, seeking the signs and wonders is not enough. I said, seeking the signs and wonders is not enough! What was enough was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the testimony that Jesus was the Messiah!! You can read in the last part of this chapter that it was not until after the people received salvation and were baptized both ways that the apostles did the signs and wonders. (Acts 2:43)
I want the Baptism by fire that I received when I was 10 years old along with the testimony that Jesus is the Messiah, the only one that can forgive sins, the only Begotten Son of God who died on a cross and not even death could defeat Him because He is God, to be enough to make people ask, "what..must...I..do...now?"! Because, I am going to Heaven when I die and I want to grab as many out of this dying world that I can, so that we can all be with our Lord and Creator forever, and ever.
Don't get me wrong, signs and wonders will come, they are awesome, I want to see them, but they are just a byproduct of a response to the outpouring of the promise of the Holy Spirit in me, and all of those "who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)
Azusa had its time and place, I want a new outpouring. And my model is found in Acts.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting."
Can you imagine being in there at that time? The sound that came must have been tremendous! Was it as loud as a jet fighter? Was it louder? To be there when that happened must have been so exciting!
Then, to top it off, the fire that John the Baptist prophesied about came. (Matthew 3:11)
"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." (Acts 2:3)
A huge sound of wind and then BAM! Tongues of fire! Awesomeness!! But God was not done yet! No, they had not yet experienced the best part.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
The Holy Spirit came down and filled them up! That is way more cooler than Azusa! That is not all that happened. Peter gave his sermon, revealing to all of them that the last days were upon them. the Holy Spirit giving him power to preach straight, to not pull any punches. To literally tell all who were there exactly what they had done when they crucified Jesus. And then Peter went on to reveal what Jesus then did;
"...whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it." (Acts 2:24)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter how Jesus had been able to defeat death and the secret was that Jesus was "both Lord and Christ." (vs. 36) Making the unequivocal claim that Jesus was deity! Then the revelation was so clear to people that they were cut to the heart. So much that they asked what they should do to be saved! When was the last time you heard someone ask what they must do to be saved? Usually there is some sort of invitation, beginning with "all heads bowed and all eyes closed..." Not here, here the Power of God's baptism of fire was so great that people asked what they should do.
So Peter answers them;
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38,39)
Then after that around 3000 people became Christians. All from the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This is so cool, because, like I wrote yesterday, I was so in to wanting to be part of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit like there was in Azusa that I realized that I had missed why there was even an outpouring at all. The people in that revival were waiting on God like the disciples. They wanted an outpouring like the day of Pentecost. That is what I should be looking for, that is what I should be praying for, that is what I should be encouraging those around me for. Why? Because, seeking the signs and wonders is not enough. I said, seeking the signs and wonders is not enough! What was enough was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the testimony that Jesus was the Messiah!! You can read in the last part of this chapter that it was not until after the people received salvation and were baptized both ways that the apostles did the signs and wonders. (Acts 2:43)
I want the Baptism by fire that I received when I was 10 years old along with the testimony that Jesus is the Messiah, the only one that can forgive sins, the only Begotten Son of God who died on a cross and not even death could defeat Him because He is God, to be enough to make people ask, "what..must...I..do...now?"! Because, I am going to Heaven when I die and I want to grab as many out of this dying world that I can, so that we can all be with our Lord and Creator forever, and ever.
Don't get me wrong, signs and wonders will come, they are awesome, I want to see them, but they are just a byproduct of a response to the outpouring of the promise of the Holy Spirit in me, and all of those "who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)
Azusa had its time and place, I want a new outpouring. And my model is found in Acts.
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