Fed up with Religion? Experience PENTECOST!

The word Pentecost is derived from the Greek word pentecoste which means "the fiftieth day." It was called the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16), or the Day of First Fruits (Numbers 28:26), which fell on the 50th day after the Feast of the Passover (Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary). This was the day of the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), and the preaching of the original plan of salvation for the church age (Acts 2:38). Pentecost now speaks of a great Biblical experience that offers to all a better way of life!

PENTECOST PROPHESIED BY THE PROPHETS

Joel prophesied, "It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh..." (Joel 2:28). Isaiah spoke, "With stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing" (Isaiah 28:11, 12). Ezekiel announced, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you..." (Ezekiel 36:26). John the Baptist preached, "...He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matthew 3:11).

PENTECOST PROMISED BY JESUS

Jesus said, "...If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly (Revised Version - from within) shall flow rivers of living waters. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)" (John 7:37-39). (Also see John 16:7; 14:26.) "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem...And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:46-49). "John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5). "And these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues" (Mark 16:17).

PENTECOST EXPERIENCED BY BELIEVERS

Jews Experienced Pentecost
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (120 disciples) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). As Peter preached to the people (devout Jews from every nation) who came to witness the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the question was asked, "...What shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...They that gladly received the Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them (the 120) about 3,000 souls" (Acts 2:37-41).

Gentiles Experienced Pentecost
Peter preached the Word of God to Gentiles in Caesarea: "The Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision (Jews) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Revised Version, Weymouth, Vulgate - name of Jesus Christ)" (Acts 10:44-48).

Disciples of John the Baptist Experienced Pentecost
"...Paul having passed through the upper coast came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said to them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, which is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized (rebaptized) in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon mem, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6).

You Can Experience Pentecost
Both the Bible and history prove that Pentecost has not ceased to be a Biblical experience among believers today, and is now the largest Christian movement in the twentieth century.
Newsweek, June 25, 1973, p. 80 - The Pentecostal phenomenon has spread with surprising speed through all of the world's major Christian churches.
Christianity Today, October 16, 1987, p. 6 -Pentecostalism has mushroomed into the largest Christian movement in the twentieth century. No one knows how big it really is, but statistics are staggering.
The Pentecostal experience is for you if you will believe according to God's Word (John 7:38, 39; Acts 2:38). Peter assured, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).

THE IMPORTANCE OF PENTECOST

The Pentecostal experience is more than just an added blessing: It is essential to salvation! Jesus emphasized, "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Paul declared, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, (how?) by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9).

PENTECOST OFFERS A BETTER WAY OF LIFE

Jesus assured, "...I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY" (John 10:10). "Ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." (Acts 1:8). Paul said, "...The LOVE OF GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5). "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but RIGHTEOUSNESS, and PEACE, and JOY in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY" (2 Corinthians 3:17). "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "...Even so we also shall walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE" (Romans 6:4).

MAKE A CHANGE FOR BETTER LIFE

If you are fed up with powerless, dead religion, why not make a change for the better? You can enjoy abundant life in the Holy Spirit. Simply come to God with a repentant heart and receive ALL that He has for you in His Word. There is no need to miss out on this wonderful experience. I urge you to EXPERIENCE PENTECOST!

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