More
– Week 3 –
There’s always more – more to learn – more to grow in – more facets of God’s personality, and we’re focusing on the Holy Spirit because we need to know that we have a Friend, and that we have an Advocate – a Helper – who comes along beside us to help us. We are inviting the Spirit of God – the very Presence of God – the One who dwells in us – and rests upon us – to literally remind us of our union with Christ. We are one with him, and we celebrate our union with him. Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7 NKJV)
As we continue this series, we are looking for More – we are hungry for more. Nothing moves the hand of God like spiritual hunger. Sometimes the older we get as followers of Christ, we get beat up – we get battered – we get discouraged – frustrated – we get hurt – damaged throughout the years. Over time we have difficulty getting excited again – getting hungry again – which can be an enemy to our soul. We should instead be ever-learning and growing in our knowledge of God.
There’s always more to know about Jesus – about the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we have to ask God for hunger by praying, “Lord, we’re hungry for hunger. We need to be hungry for You, because we don’t want to just sit back in a hammock on a Spring day with a glass of sweet tea and just be okay with that.” There is always more. This series is for us to stir our hearts for more of him.
Sometimes God will bring to us what we need in a package we don’t necessarily like. This is important to our growth if we may be stuck, or if we come up against some things because of what we think or have been taught in the past. When we resist what God is up to because of the package it’s coming in, he may do this to test us and prove us and to shake us out of our comfort zone. We have to be careful that we don’t discount how God delivers what we need. In the Bible, God uses a lot of strange things to get people what they need. He can shock and-awe us with a glorious mountain sunrise with the Presence of God – the Glory of God – the Holy Spirit of God – the Kingdom of God – or – by using an obscure little old church-lady who lives soaked in the Power and Presence of God. He will get to you what you need – and He’s doing that non-stop, if we’ll only pause long enough to see it.
John 14:15-18 NKJV
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
We need to receive that from God in whatever package it takes. We should still want more.
The Spirit of Pentecost
1 – What is Pentecost?
There were three primary feasts or celebrations in the Jewish tradition: Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Trumpets. Pentecost simply means fifty – or fiftieth. Many people are afraid to talk about the truth and significance of such an amazing event. Pentecost in the Old Testament was a celebration of when God gave the Law to Moses. In Acts, chapter two, God gave something else. Early on in the celebration, the Jews were gathered together in Jerusalem – all tribes – all tongues – all nations made their way back to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost – a week-long feast and celebration.
In that context, God showed up – the first time when he gave the Law to Moses – the second time at Pentecost, when he gave the Holy Spirit to the believers, and wrote the Law of God on their hearts – the former being a type and shadow of the latter. One hundred and fifty disciples gathered together – for what? – for the Promise of the Father, which was the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. The disciples were in one accord in one place together. That may say something about how the Holy Spirit likes to show up.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
“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.”
Jerusalem was jammed with people – like Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg. All the people heard this – not just the believers. In verse three what happens is supernatural, which simply means over and above nature – or what is natural or ordinary to us. There is a supernatural occurrence over and above the believers. “… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues…” – languages – spoken by local Galileans who didn’t know those languages. Supernatural – over and above. The Holy Spirit began speaking – He gave them the ability.
For us as believers, Pentecost now takes on a new meaning. It’s actually the birth of the Church as we know it. It’s the birth of believers coming together under One Spirit. Remember, Jesus said, “It is expedient – to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you…” So, Jesus had been crucified – this is all happening right now – the disciples are waiting – as he had instructed them to do – and in their waiting, the Holy Spirit comes and they began to experience what Jesus promised would happen, and what the Father had promised.
2 – What happened at Pentecost?
Acts 2:5-8 NKJV
“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?”
Remember the tower of Babel where the people were unified and came together but they had a different motive. It wasn’t to obey God or to follow God, but to build and literally “reach heaven”. They said they would build something that was going to outshine all of the gods, so God, himself, had to come in (the first Pentecost – Babel) and distribute – re-distribute – confuse the people, because they were of one language – in one accord. So God scrambled their language, literally, and we see these divisions go out. He had to take down the tower of Babel.
Here, at Pentecost, God says, “They’re all together, in one accord, but they’re here for the right reason. They’re waiting, at the command of Jesus, and I’m going to give them one language – one Spirit. They will now be unified and together.”
The first pentecost – Babel – separation, division, and confusion. The second Pentecost – the giving of the Holy Spirit and bringing them together as one.
3 – Can I experience Pentecost?
That really begs the question, “Can we experience this outpouring of the Holy Spirit?” We may think, “Well, I know He dwells in me – I got born again – I gave my heart to Christ, and the Bible says that He comes and takes residence in me.” That’s absolutely right. He comes and makes his home in us – he abides – he dwells with us.
But, we need to understand that there are levels – and there are various approaches, and angles – like looking at a beautiful diamond under a halogen light in a jewelry store. It just sparkles under that beam of light. Now, think about the Personality and Presence of God. It’s the same thing. It’s like a diamond being put on display. When we get the Father, we don’t just get the diamond – we get every facet of his Personality. There is always more to learn. So, can we experience Him in that way?
Acts 1:4-5 NLT
“Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. [5] John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ”
There’s a Gift – there’s Something coming, and Jesus said, “Go and wait.” In verse five – we absolutely got the Holy Spirit when we were born again. He came to take up residence in us – He’s within us – but that doesn’t mean that he’s upon us. The “upon” piece is the “anointing” – so called in the Old Testament. They would “anoint” kings. They would anoint warriors – armies – individuals – and it was a commissioning for something – towards something.
Remember, the prophet Samuel anointed David. He poured oil over him. It was symbolic of the Spirit of God – the Presence of God resting on him – the commission of God on him. And David grew up knowing that he was anointed to do this. In like fashion in the New Testament, we now see the anointing – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – like the type and shadow of the oil (as water, wind, and fire are types and shadows) being poured out upon a person. Jesus said, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 11:16 NKJV) “baptized” – bap-tid’-zo in Greek – to be overwhelmed by – to be whelmed over. To be baptized means to be immersed into – covered over – overwhelmed – whelmed over – or even – controlled by.
Acts 2:3-4 NLT
“Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
When the Holy Spirit came – in this instance – he came upon them – not just within them. We need to understand the distinction – that when the Holy Spirit is with you – dwelling with you – living with you – abiding with you – that he’s in you – he’s your Helper – he walks with you – he talks with you – he instructs, enlightens, informs, and teaches you. He’s the Spirit of Truth – he leads us and guides us into all Truth. But – when he overwhelms you – and controls you – it may be for a very specific task or assignment.
Holy Spirit, will You whelm us over with Your Presence? Baptize us – anoint us – control us as we go through this week? We ask and pray for and then by faith we receive, and by faith, we say thank You, Lord! We pray to be anointed and we believe we are, because we walk by faith and not by sight. We step into what God has called.
Acts 2:38-39 NLT
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away – all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ ”
The results – “Then” you will receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Turning in repentance – receiving him – knowing him – and now – there is something else to come – the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse thirty-nine, here’s the Good News – it’s not just for those few – this is empowerment – this is outpouring – this release – this Presence upon (not only within, but upon) is for you too. The question is, do you need Help for something?
It would be a good idea to be overwhelmed if you had a business meeting to attend, or a job interview. It would be nice to know you’re anointed going in – or stepping into a classroom that you’re empowered – anointed – the Spirit of God is upon you. Sometimes we need to be anointed to walk in the door after a hard day to be a good dad or husband in that moment. Why not? Why do we think that the anointing – the empowerment – the baptism – all these things – are just for some church meeting, a revival service, a crusade, or a conference? Why not for now? Why not here? – why not now? – right in this moment?
We are empowered to testify – empowered to witness to the world – and we don’t want to do that in our own strength – but we’re not only empowered to witness with our words, but with our lives – to our children – our family – the people we work with – the people we do life with. They all need to see us anointed with the Power of God – and it’s ours! It’s ours for the asking. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13 NKJV)
So, the key is to ask – just ask -and then by faith, take the step forward and say, “You know what? I may not feel any different after I prayed this, but I am different – because I believe by faith – and I walk by faith, and I do everything I do by faith. I work by faith – I parent by faith – I husband by faith – I wife by faith – I do everything by faith – and I am anointed to do so… because I ask.”
Prayer
Father, thank You for the Gift. Jesus said, Go and wait for the Gift that was promised – that You, Father, promised this Gift. So we are here right now, standing before You – walking with You as sons and daughters – Jesus on the inside of us by your Holy Spirit. So, Lord, we also want to be whelmed over by You – baptized in You – to receive You fully, not only within, but upon.
Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – an intentional word. Not within, but upon – “and you shall be witnesses…” So that’s our heart right now. Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Dear Lord Jesus, by faith, we receive the Truth of Your Word – the Scriptures. We receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Would You fill me with Your Spirit – baptize me in Your Spirit? – and would You immerse me into your Spirit? – whelm me over in Your Spirit?
I receive by faith. Thank You, Father. I am whelmed over. I am empowered, and I walk out of this place differently than when I came in! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Receive it. Bask in it. Enjoy it!”
Jimmy Pruitt is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. As an idealist, his words are filtered through his spirituality with the expectation that he will encourage and inspire people to “Live Up in a Down World.” He is committed to being an authentic person in all he does. Because everyone has been through something, or is currently struggling, Jimmy believes the proper response to life is humility; it is the signature of Jesus bringing forth both pain and glory. He and his way better half, Annette, have been married for30 years. Agreeing their family is amazing, placing “Fun” in dys-Fun-ctional. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren that bless their lives beyond what they could ever dream. He is currently Lead Pastor at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, TX, and has started a new podcast titled: “Living Up in a Down Word – Making Faith real for the rest of us.”
Feature Image by Ann H
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