THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Promise of the Father - with Heather Keating         

 Questions: Is the book of Acts relevant for today? Are the gifts in operation today?   Is the power that came upon those in the upper room, the infilling of the Holy Spirit for today? Did the disciples exercise faith in their walk of witnessing to others for Christ? Do we want to see as well as participate in real time what God is calling you, and me to do. Be an active participant not just to be an observer? To receive the gifts, He has for each of us and operate in them?

The Book of Acts is a sequel to the life of Christ that was recorded in the Gospels. It is a record of the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome. This is the initiation of the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations in Matthew 28:18-20.

In Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJ), Jesus spoke to the disciples, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

In Acts 1:4-8 (AMP), “He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “You have heard Me speak. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.” ^… they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “of the earth.” It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” That includes the whole world.  After Jesus had spoken these words, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

These scriptures are key to this book. It predicts the outpouring of the Spirit and its powerful witness from Jerusalem to the end of the earth. The action that we as believers need to take is to “believe that the power of God comes only by the Holy Spirit.” (In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was given to those who were uniquely called or anointed of God. We are under the New Covenant which means every believer is given the promise of the Father. (Spirit filled Bible)

^“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 NKJV). Jesus was promising that they not only would be witnesses of the gospel but they and everyone after them would have available to them to receive the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. They were to wait until they received this gift. We need to receive this gift so that we can operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear His voice and to understand His word.

Thus, the coming of the Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost and “The Promise of My Father to be endued with power from on High” that Jesus spoke of are one and the same.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4 NKJV)                                                                                 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all ^[a]with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (Footnote Spirit-filled Life Bible “As of a rushing mighty wind: not a wind, but like the sound of a wind(see John 3:8), suggesting the mighty but unseen power of the Spirit) “ ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

We see here the miracle of Pentecost, the receiving from the Father what was promised by Jesus. The infilling of the Holy Spirit being demonstrated in the form of speaking in tongues. Those visiting Jerusalem at the time were hearing in their language the testimony of the “wonderful works of God” in their native tongue. Some thought they were full of wine but it was early in the morning and Peter assured them this was not from too much wine but what was spoken of by the prophet Joel that in the last days we would see a pouring out of His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28-32).

In the Book of Acts, we see that prayer is a priority. Not just prayer but fervent prayer and persistent prayer. They were commanded to wait by Jesus, and they were obedient. Acts 1:14 tells us that “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” They received what was promised. It is available to those who are open to receive today. Unity in the Body:  Unity is not an option. Discord hinders growth, unity takes us forward.

Acts tell us what the risen Lord continues to do and teach through the Holy Spirit. We need to learn from Acts which is a record of examples to apply to living a Christian life under the power of the Holy Spirit. (Ie. Acts 2 Peter preached boldly and 3000 received Christ in their heart.)

Probably the most important characteristic of the early church Christians was their spiritual power. They prayed and fasted with zeal. Thus, their faith released the miracle working power of God. (Acts 6:4; Acts 13:3) In Acts 3:16 Peter gave credit to no human powers but to faith in the name of Jesus for the lame mans healing. “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

In Acts 8:4-12 Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

There are 3 facts that confirm the greatness of salvation:

Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him…”

1) It was spoken by the Lord it was confirmed by the apostles. 2) It was clearly evidenced by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through miracles and spiritual gifts. 3) Salvation should not be looked at as an escape from hell, it should be looked at as the beginning of a new life in Christ.

In a conversation with Jesus through the Holy Spirit yesterday I believe He said the following to me: “Mankind is an instrument that when yielded to Me will make beautiful music in the world. Their life will shine the love of the Father. They will be guided by the Holy Spirit. When they stand on My word, have faith and believe, the Holy Spirit will work through them for My glory, not mans. You must do your part, and I will do mine.”

WHY WE NEED TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT - by Pastor John Keating

Acts 1:8 -  ^“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^[c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Why do we need to be fill with Holy Spirit today? We need to be filled with power. Have you ever felt that you have been less than victorious over the situations in your life? You are a born-again Christian; Jesus has forgiven you of your sins; you think that all things are become new, but you still do the things you do not want to do.

 1 John 4:4 says this,” You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” That is, the Holy Spirit living inside of me is greater than any demonic force outside of me. We need power to be witnesses of Jesus, we need power over every demonic force that will try to stop both the inward witness of what God is doing and also the outward witness. When we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we were new creatures in Christ Jesus. That news needs to be shared, of what God is doing for you.

All nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, listed in 1 Corinthians 12, needs to be in operation in the church today. We desperately need all of them to be operating.  They operate through those who are filled with, baptized in the Holy Spirit. They are given to each one for the profit of all. Everyone benefits when the Holy Spirit is working.

Also, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed in Galatians. ^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Fruit is something that is produced from that which is healthy. If the Holy Spirit is making your Spirit healthy, the Holy Spirit in you will produce this fruit.

Fifty days before, the events of the day of Pentecost Peter had denied ever knowing Jesus. The day before he vowed to Jesus, he would be with Him until the death. No doubt, he was at his lowest place in life. Now the Holy Spirit came and empowered him to speak an anointed sermon, probably directly out of what the Holy Spirit was giving him to say in the moment. (I don’t think he had much time to prepare a sermon.) He spoke to the crowd of watchers that had gathered. He was a changed man. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he spoke and Acts 2:41 tells us that about 3000 souls were add to the church that day.  Shortly after that Peter and John preached at Solomon’s portico in the temple, and another 5000 men, this time were added to the church. The apostle Peter lived the rest of his life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a young boy, and I can remember a hunger for more of God and a recognition that I needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I can’t remember how old I was when I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongue, but Close to that time, my family had just moved close to the city and I experienced bullying among the boys in my community. The Holy Spirit kept me. I became a youth leader in our church. I wasn’t in the popular group in school because they were doing all the things I wanted to stay away from. My relationship with God was most important to me. 

Today, I recognize our need for Holy Spirit empowerment more than ever before. We can’t just come to church and play church. We need Holy Spirit anointed services and a fresh experience of His presence more than ever. We also need a revelation of Jesus. He is our savior and Lord, but He is now our King. He is setting on the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us in the throne room of heaven. That gives me comfort that there is not a situation that I am in here on earth that they aren’t talking about. Praise the Lord!

 I believe we are living in what the Word of God calls “the last days.” The Bible says that in the last days, deception will run rampant. Just in natural ways now, with AI we can make convincing productions that are totally false. People can be made to say whatever the AI user can make them say. In fact, my son in law sent me a video during President Trumps first term in office. It was President Trump wishing me a happy birthday, telling me I was a great guy. So, if even the natural is deceptive, what would a demon inspired world be like? The Holy Spirit gift of discernment is needed so much. We are to try the spirits to see if they are of God or not. Very Important. We can do that when Holy Spirit is in us to overflowing.

In closing I would like to talk about speaking in tongues. To me, speaking in tongues is talking to God with my spirit, not my understanding. It by passes the limitations I have in my understanding. God is spirit and He has given me a spirit, and we can communicate spirit to Spirit. Speaking with tongues lifts me up, edifies and encourages me, reassures me that all things are possible if we are in the Spirit together. Let’s not be jarred by fear and whatever else that may be hindering us from committing your all to God.

 In 1Corinthians 14:18, Paul said that he spoke with tongues more than you all. We need all the Holy Spirit gives us to be able to live an abundant, effective life, in the victory that God has given.  All of us at Hope Centre Family Church needs the Promise of the Father, the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the power that comes with Him. Praise God!

CHRISTIANITY IS A SUPERNATURAL RELATIONSHIP by Pastor Jerry Kendrick

Christianity is GOD IN US! In John 7:38 Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Christianity is not a religion – it is a supernatural relationship!

Someone recently commented, “The Valley is dry!”  It doesn’t want to be – it wants to be a babbling brook! You can have a church, and you can have a dry church!  It’s better to confess, “It’s beginning to rain” then complaining, “It’s dry!”

They were all in “one accord” (even Mother Mary). Mary needed the Holy Spirit as much as the rest of them in the Upper Room. Jesus would once again be inside her.    Jesus had told them not to go out until they had received the Promise of the Father.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is GOD IN US! 

It was God’s joy to walk and talk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  When they sinned, they felt naked.  Their nakedness was the absence of the presence of God.  In Genesis 3:15 God promised a “SEED” (Jesus) to restore mankind back into relationship with Him.

Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him…”

So as Spirit-filled believers we are ready and set to go – in one accord with Jesus, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Are you in one-accord with Jesus? If so, you want everything the Father has given you from the Son.  God is still on the throne!  We need His wisdom in everything He wants to give us! 

How do we handle the supernatural? Very carefully!  It’s always Jesus!  Christianity is a supernatural relationship.   We must never lose sight of that! If I am in one-accord with Jesus, then I am in one-accord with the Father. 

Our eyes get dried up in the natural.  What about your spirit?  We need prayer; we need wisdom; we need God’s blessings; we need to serve God; we need to be dedicated to Jesus again; we need the Holy Spirit! 

God is in charge of our times (Psalm 31:15).  Nothing is impossible with Jesus (Luke 1:37)! Let’s pray in such a way that is so bold that our hearts become strengthened, believing that everything that He wants for this church will happens as we are in one-accord!