Matthew 28:19 NKJV — “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
File / Archive
The Commission has been given but how do we start? What is the next step? Like an athlete at the starting block we wait for the starter’s gun. It’s been a long road to get to this race. Days, hours, weeks and even years have been dedicated to get in shape and to be ready for this race of a lifetime. The warning bell goes off and the time has arrived. We get in position and we hear the announcers voice, “On your mark! Ready…Get Set…”
The Disciples in the Upper Room
The disciples had walked and lived with Jesus for 3 years. They had witnessed many things…signs and wonders including teachings, healings and people being raised from the dead. They had witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. They felt ready to go out and tell people about Jesus but that wasn’t enough. The Gospel needed to be preached in all the world. Something was missing, something important. Before Jesus ascended to heaven He gave this instruction to His disciples;
Acts 1:4-8 NKJV — And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. “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.”
The Upper Room in Jerusalem
They gathered in Jerusalem and prayed while waiting in the upper room. Like sprinters waiting for the sound of the starter’s gun, they waited, with anticipation, for the power of the Holy Spirit to begin their ministry. Believing in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is a step of faith we must all take if we are to fulfill the Great Commission. “The Helper” as Jesus called Him is exactly that. Opening doors that were once shut, giving the opportunity to preach the gift of salvation through the trust and belief in Jesus Christ and anointing believers with God’s Holy Presence. Jesus explains why the anointing of the Holy Spirit is important;
John 16:7-15 NKJV — “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. 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. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
The disciples knew that with the anointing of the Holy Spirit the courage and boldness to preach the Gospel was more than just giving a story about Jesus it was the opportunity to share the whole living experience of God. People’s lives would be changed and the promise of a peaceful everlasting life would be what they were looking for. The Kingdom of God was at hand. All they had to do was accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and to keep and honor God’s commandments.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV — When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is true for all of us who are in the ministry of the Gospel. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are with us always and with prayer and supplication there is no obstacle God cannot overcome. Jesus said;
Matthew 24:14 NKJV — “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
File / Archive
The race to the finish line is coming at world record speed and the world is in desperate need to hold the trophy of gold that only the Lord can give. We are at a time where our eternal future lies in the balance. Before the Lord returns to establish His Kingdom on Earth there will be an outpouring of God’s spirit around the world and to be in the forefront of that revival will be more of a blessing and a gift that we could have hoped.
Acts 2:16-21 NKJV — “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘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. And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’
© 9 / 2019 TopicalWave.Com, LLC.