Last Sunday was PENTECOST Sunday.

Imagine 3000 people being saved and baptized after the sermon, as happened on that day when Peter and the others were FILLED and then spoke with that new Presence within them.

As when Jesus fed the five thousand… the numbered were only the men. Many, many more were there, heard, and may have come to follow Him after the meal.

There were many more than 3000 at Jerusalem during the time Peter was preaching. Most likely, many more heard and hopefully came to follow Christ in His Brand New Church.

Momentum itself will lead one to understand that many more came to Salvation on Pentecost Sunday.

The momentum present in a new believer,

and that should be present in all pursuant Christians,

would lead those converts to spread the news and the message they had been touched with and changed by.

I encourage all of us to remember that same energy and momentum ….and remember when we first felt it.

We all can spread that same excitement and Joy, if we feel it.

And know IT.

Like all great and exciting news, many cannot keep it to themselves. They HAVE to tell someone.

Have you shared the most important news in your life?

What IS the most important news in your life?

The well-known magician Penn Jillette has asked the Christian community,….

“If your Christianity is so important and vital to you, why have you not shared that important thing with me?”

One might not approach Jillette because he is a known atheist. He is a winner of a Richard Dawkins award….given to Atheists. He is well-spoken and prepared to defend his position.

We can get prepared and be confident in sharing Christ and defending His Gospel.

Many times the ones we go speak to and share with are not won and converted by the expertise with which we witness….but by the heart and compassion with which we go.

Your effort may or may not not yield immediate results…but may simply “plant the seed” that another one who witnesses will harvest.

Remember, it is not the messenger who wins the lost….it is the message which changes the Soul.

Always remember, the results are not our responsibility.

Our accountability only rests on our obeying the instruction to speak and share what has happened to, and in, us.

PENTECOST was when prepared followers of Christ were filled with Power and that Power compelled them to speak.

They had heard Jesus’ Words and had seen Him do miracles.

You have heard and read Jesus’ Words and may have seen miracles.

Do you seek the same Power they received?

Do not allow any fear of failure or being unable to speak….keep you from seeking what the Disciples  waited on and received 50 days after The Resurrection.

The ability will come if you are willing to share the Power ….share the News….share the Joy.

Some people keep great news to themselves.

Sunday was the 50th day after The Resurrection.

Is the Great Gift

present in us ….

worth sharing?

The Power promised to them came upon the disciples.

They could have kept it a secret….meditated on it.

They could have talked to each other about it inside the walls of the house they were in.

The command their Master gave them as He ascended though was….”Go ye therefore”.

The command, and the Power they received compelled them to leave the room they were in

and go outside.

That command is our instruction as well.

That same Power they received

can be received by us.

May we be compelled to go and tell as they did.’

The results can be similar ….

if our obedience is similar.

Could you have waited this long?

Could you wait 8 or 9 more days?

In this year, 2018, Resurrection Sunday was on April 1st.

Easter.

As I write this, 42 days have come and gone since then.

If we were disciples of Christ’s, or among His very close group of followers, at this time we would be gathered together….as Luke wrote about in Acts.

Gathered together 

Waiting together

Hoping together.
After His Ascension, He told them to gather and wait on The Holy Spirit to come. 

They most likely had no idea how that would occur, they had no idea exactly when this would happen or what it would truly mean to and for them.

They had been changed somewhat after walking with Jesus for 3 years. 

They had been affected greatly by His Trial, Death and Resurrection and continual Appearances to them during His 40 day Affirmation period.

Most likely, Jesus told them many things during those 40 days. He most likely told them some of the things He told them He could not tell them before He died and rose from His temporary death.

I know He spoke encouragement to them.

I know He spoke Affirmation to them.

Even after seeing Him as Transcendant, they still could not acquaint all of this with what they were to do next.
After 3 years of close-up instruction they had no definite plan going forward.

They had heard and seen and walked and talked with THE WORD for over 1,000 days, but had no understanding about their future save that Jesus told them to go and wait and they would receive His Gift of The Spirit.

How close have we been to spiritual events and experiences, great teaching and maybe The Presence of Jesus at times……and not allowed It to change us.
I believe not one knew what was truly to come.

They had no prior experience with any inner presence of Power. They had seen, touched and heard It…but had no further access to It.
This is true in our lives….we can read the words, listen to the sermons, we can see other people do great work …..

but until we have been invaded by this same Spirit they eventually received…we are as they were before It occurred.

Not truly effective or not truly powerful spiritually.

At this point …..

it’s been two days since The Ascension.

As we would, they were hoping HE would simply return. After all…He did say He would.

We know from Scripture that 10 days after The Ascension they were visited by and filled with The Holy Spirit.

They still had 8 more days until that occurred.

Eight more days to wait.

They waited.

They received.

They changed the world.
Would you have remained in that place?

I have thought as to whether or not any followers did indeed give up and  leave the gathering before The Spirit made His Entrance.

Think…..

Don’t be quick to say you WOULD have remained.

I hope I would have.

It is a matter of not getting distracted by things that are not as profound or as eternal as His Voice.

Do we take Him at His Word…???

Do we believe what He says will take place…???

Have you heard His Instruction in some area…only to give up and go on about your way before The Answer made Its Entrance into your situation…???

Waiting.

Is hard.

Goes against our nature.

But it is another, better, higher Nature….

in the Person of The Holy Spirit that we can receive.

Those few that waited…

received….

and we are talking about It today.