The Pentecostal Experience- the Giver. Part 1.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (heavenly & earthly languages) as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4.
Introduction.
Many people think that Father God only uses certain types of people who are holy and dedicated to Him. People think that the Father God only uses pastors and evangelists and teachers of the Word of God. And yes, He does but He also uses the average everyday person who surrender their lives to Him. Much is accomplished for those who surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. But in this study, we will see that those who yield to God will experience a quickening to their faith and life. I have over the years experienced the Lord God using me in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, prophecy, discerning of spirits, the word of knowledge, and healings.
The Giver-the Holy Spirit
Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Counselor, Comforter, Helper) to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him because He resides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17.
This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. Acts 2: 32-33. Jesus prayed to Father God would send another Comforter to abide with the church forever. Many people concentrate so much on the experience that they miss the reality of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39. Here Jesus is talking about regeneration of the person when he spoke to the Samarian women at the well when He stated, “water springing up into ever lasting life.” The second is the baptism of the Holy Spirit when He stated, “will flow rivers of living water.’
The Holy Spirit- An Ever-Present Source of Power
The New Testament gives facts that the father sustains towards believers. 1. God is for us. (Rom. 8:31). 2. God is with us. (Heb. 13:5). 3. God is us. (1 Cor. 3:16).
Our Bodies are the Temple of God.
Many Christians don’t really comprehend that their bodies are the temple of God. In a theological perspective we must understand that the Great one, God Himself dwells within is which is in direct contrast with Old Testament theology. Christians complain about a lack of power, or lack of ability, when the Lord God says we are complete in Him and lack nothing.
This whole concept is knowing that this is our Redemption trough Christ Jesus.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. I John 4:4.
The Old Testament Finished!
In the Old Testament the presence of God was kept within the Holy of Holies and only the high priest could enter with extreme caution once a year to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Before Jesus died, He stated, “It is Finished”. What was finished? Josephus, a Jewish historian stated that when Jesus stated “It is Finished” the curtain separating the Holy of Holies was rent in two. The curtain was 40’ wide, 20’high, and 4” thick. It was torn from top to bottom thus ending the Old Testament. From that time God never again dwelt in a man-made building. Born again Christians are now the dwelling place of God. If you are conscious of this there will be no fear, anxiety, doubt, in your life. The devil will never have a place in your life to oppress you. We will never be defeated by circumstances of life. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.
Remember that scripture is progressive in nature up to the coming of Jesus and His redemptive work on Calvary.
We must understand that the old man ends with the cross and the new man begins with the resurrection of Christ. It says in the scripture “if any man is in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away and behold they are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. The cross terminates the first creation and out of death there’s brought a new creation in Christ the born-again person. I truly believe we don’t understand the new creation. In the Old Testament you will never find anyone born again. In the Old Testament you’ll never find anyone where God dwells within them. In the Old Testament man had to go to the temple to communicate with God. In the New Testament God is within us. We are His temple. We communicate with Him through our spirit. If we are in Christ then Christ comes to us by free grace without any effort on our part but is built on the solid ground a simple faith. How does this become real in our experience. This is the essence of this teaching. Recognizing who we are in Christ. Understanding that our old man is dead and we are new in Christ. Abiding in Him is realizing that God has done the work in Christ and not in us. And the all-inclusive death of Adam there is the all-inclusive resurrection in Christ.
Many people want to live in the Old Testament. The Old Testament was a tutor pointing Israel to the coming Messiah. God‘s laws were written on stone in the Old Testament and the New Testament his laws are written upon our heart. The New Testament does what the Old Testament could not do. The Old Testament showed men their sins but there was no power to overcome them because Christ had not died and resurrected yet. Why don’t we see the teachings and the themes presented in the epistles in the Old Testament or the gospels? The reason is once again that the officials was written to the new creation church. There are no new creations,’ born-again people in the Old Testament. There were no born-again people presented in the gospels. In fact, we found that even those who closely followed Jesus did not understand His purpose. They did not understand his plan of redemption, nor the reason why he had to be crucified. It was not until the end of gospel of Matthew that Peter had the revelation from the Holy Spirit When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but who do you say I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. Matt. 16:13-20.
So, when was this complete? It was not until the completed work of Jesus on Calvary with His death, descension into hell, His resurrection and glorification. Now He is seated at the right hand of Father God and scripture stated we are seated with Him. And all power is given us to us as His church. We are the eyes, mouth, hands, and feet on our Lord Jesus on earth. Let us look at some scriptures to help us understand this very important concept.
Father God revealing His Son, Christ Jesus in the Gospels!
We can see even in the gospels we see God the Father pointing to Jesus. In Matt. 17:1-7, “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses (The Law), and one for Elijah (The Prophets). “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
Also, our Lord said that in the hearing of the scripture that he quoted was completed. In Luke 4:21, “He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus stated do not think I have come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law. What do you mean fulfill the law? Fulfillment of the law was to complete what it could not do. The Law only showed man his sinfulness but did not give him the power to overcome sin and its dominion. In His death and resurrection not only did Jesus pay the ultimate price of his death but He created a new race that never existed on the face of the earth before these are called Born Again Christians. The New Testament church should live in the epistles. You do not see in the gospels the biblical truths as stated in the epistles. The Gospels narrate the life and history of Jesus but not of the resurrected church. That is clearly expressed in the Epistles. This is why the epistles were written. It was and is written to the Resurrected Church. To those who are born again!
In 1 Cor. 15:45, “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam (Jesus) is God come in the flesh. He is a life-giving the Son of God. His words are spirit and life. Romans 8:29. Jesus is the first begotten of many brethren.