Saturday, May 31, 2014

Pentecost - A Baptism of Fire

John the baptist said, "I baptize you unto repentance, but there comes one after me who shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire".  That was Jesus Christ.  It is the promise He gave His disciples when He told them to go and wait in the upper room until they were "endued" with power and the Holy Spirit came "upon" them. This would manifest with "tongues" or in this case languages of all the different dialects of Jews that had come to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.  They all heard the gospel "in their own language".  It was a day that birthed the church with power to witness, first in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and then the uttermost parts of the world.  Do we need this baptism today?  The answer is simply... do you need power?  Yes, this baptism is for today and releases a fire in your life to declare God's word and demonstrate the "gifts of the Holy Spirit".  There are two actions of the Holy Spirit in the life of the New Testament believer.  First the "indwelling" Holy Spirit that comes at your salvation when you are baptized into the body of Christ. Ephesians calls this the seal of the Holy Spirit. Second is the "upon" Holy Spirit that empowers you when you receive the "baptism of fire". Jesus never needed to received the indwelling Holy Spirit because He was born (conceived) of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. But, as a man, Jesus needed the "upon" Holy Spirit to minister with power and received it at His physical baptism with John at the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit came upon Him and remained upon Him His entire ministry. If you want to minister with the same power that Christ had, you absolutely need that same baptism Jesus had. God's word says, "if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you."  Jesus said, "the works that I do you shall do also and greater works than these shall you do because I go to my Father".  (John 14:12) These greater works started at Pentecost.  They were not greater in substance but greater in scope.  The early church took the gospel to the known world following Pentecost.  Interesting to note that at Pentecost the day first was filled with power. Then the room was filled with power and finally the people were all filled with power and tongues of fire rested on each of them.  The last thing that was filled was the people!  Get in an atmosphere of the fire and power of God to receive.  Find a group of people that agree that this "baptism of fire" is for today and receive it by faith,  just like you received your salvation.  Believe and receive has always been God's way.  Simply say, "Father, I know your power is for me today and through the promise of your Son, Jesus Christ, I receive this baptism of fire NOW".  Let you mouth become the tool of God to speak and sing praises to God. Let your tongue be released to speak to the glory of God.  To learn more, please listen to my teaching below on "Baptism of Fire".  


                                                                                
 

                                                                                



                                                                     

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Pentecost - Feast of Firstfruits




Coming June 8th is Pentecost Sunday!  Israel saw this as a significant feast 50 days after the Feast of Atonement.  Jesus saw it as significant following His death and resurrection.  He said, "Go and wait in the upper room until the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon you".  It was at the feast of Pentecost 50 days later that the Holy Spirit birthed the church.  At the tower of babel man's languages were divided and man was scattered because of language barriers. Now at Pentecost man is united and they all "were of one accord in one place in
the upper room and the place was shaken."  Tongues of fire fell on them and they became "one language" of the Holy Spirit as people from every visiting tribe and nation heard the gospel message in their own language or tongue. The curse of babel was broken at Pentecost!  What is so significant about the day of Pentecost?

1. God brought forth the first fruits of His church with 3,000 souls receiving Christ on Pentecost!  Through the alignment of the apostles standing together and Peter preaching the glorious resurrection the church was born. "Peter stood up with the 11..."  From Jerusalem the gospel then went out to the known world!  Now the body of Christ has become "One New Man" world-wide.  There is now "one Lord, one baptism, one God and father of us all"!  Jew and Gentile forever united in Christ.  

2. Pentecost was the feast of Israel which brought the first fruits to God that guaranteed the 2nd harvest. The Feast of Gathering which is the second harvest is months later in the fall and was the tithe of the 2nd harvest given to the tribe of Levi.  But the first fruit offering of Pentecost was given the the Priests of the lineage of Aaron. This is significant to the church today, because churches and businesses that will practice the first fruit offering will see a significant increase of wealth.  What does that represent today? The office of the Levi priest is tied to the work of the apostle,.  Jesus in Hebrews 3:1 is called "The high priest and apostle of our faith".  Why did God bless Israel with such wealth?  Because they guaranteed their harvest with the first fruit offering. This is one of the most significant things modern kingdom businesses can do... find an apostolic ministry and make a significant first fruit offering to that ministry. You can determine your future blessing through that offering. Modern apostolic ministries are those that are primarily completing the end-time harvest of unreached people groups. Apostolic ministries are not self appointed people who think they have the office of apostle so they can have influence over others, but true modern apostles are those DOING apostolic ministry of laying foundations in nations, of reaching those who have never heard the gospel.  They are the ones like the Apostle Paul who are "Called to be an apostle by Jesus Christ".  If you are not significantly related to this kind of apostolic ministry, please go and find one and began to offer sacrificial first fruit offerings.  I challenge you to test God and see if He does not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you cannot contain!

                                      Please listen to this Pentecostal first fruit teaching
                                                                                  
                       I have seen businesses give to our world vision and experience
                   unusual financial breakthrough and blessing... Take the challenge!