Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 10
Saturday


THE POWER
OF PENTECOST

READ:
Acts 2:1-17
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You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you;
and you shall be
witnesses to Me.
__Acts 1:8
___________________________________

A pastor I know and love is discouraged. Although he is diligent in prayer and works hard, his church remains small while a new congregation nearby is rapidly developing into a megachurch. Yet when I think of the alcoholics, drug addicts, and sexually immoral people he has led to the Savior and a new way of life, I see him as one who witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because of what happened on the Day of Pentecost (described in Acts 2), we tend to associate the Holy Spirit's presence and power with amazing phenomena and large numbers. We forget that a little later the same people filled with the same Holy Spirit were rejected, flogged, imprisoned, even executed. But through it all they were powerful witnesses!

The Holy Spirit's presence and power can be evidenced in a dynamic preacher who attracts great audiences. But it is seen as well in the volunteer who carries on a one-on-one prison ministry, in the person who witnesses to a co-worker or a neighbor, and in the Sunday school teacher who faithfully teaches week after week.

The power of Pentecost is not especially reserved for the highly gifted. Rather, it is available to all believers in Christ who want to serve Him. __Herb Vander Lugt
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``````````God's guidance and help that we need day to day``````````
````````````````````Are given to all who believe;`````````````````
```````````````The Spirit has come and He is the source````````````
````````````````Of power that we can receive. __Branon````````````
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The power of God's Spirit gives power to our witness.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 2:1-17**************

1 When the day of
Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord
in one place. 2 and suddenly
there came a sound from
heaven, as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled the
whole house where they
were sitting. 3 Then there
appeared to them divided
tongues, as of fire, and one
sat upon each of them. 4 And
they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to
speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them
utterance.

5 And there were dwelling
in Jerusalem Jews, devout
men, from every nation
under heaven. 6 And when
this sound occurred, the
multitude came together, and
were confused, because
everyone heard them speak
in his own language. 7 Then
they were all amazed and
marveled, saying to one
another, "Look, are not all
these who speak Galileans?

8 And how is it that we hear,
each in our own language in
which we were born?..."

13 Others mocking said,
"They are full of new wine."

14 But Peter, standing up
with the eleven, raised his
voice and said to them, "Men
of Judea and all who dwell in
Jerusalem, let this be known
to you, and heed my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as
you suppose, since it is only
the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what was
spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 'And it shall come to pass
in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out of My
Spirit on all flesh; your sons
and your daughters shall
prophesy, your young men
shall see visions, your old
men shall dream dreams.' "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Feast of Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Firstfruits.
Coming 50 days after Passover, it celebrates the early harvest as a
recognition of God's provision for His people. __Bill Crowder