When His Spirit’s In The House

Have you ever been somewhere or in the presence of someone and just felt something was not right? Alternatively, I have gone places and been with people where I immediately felt the presence and energy of love, peace, power and joy. There is a discernable difference that is noticeable. God began His church with a baptism of the Holy Spirit upon believers gathered together on the day of Pentecost following Jesus' ascension. It changed the atmosphere in that place and it ultimately changed the world. Non believers who were around them noticed something different about them. The Holy Spirit emboldened Peter to preach the gospel (Acts 2:32-33, 37-47) and the Holy Spirit convicted people of their sin as they heard Peter's message. Over 3,000 people accepted Christ and were saved from that one message. And all those who believed came together, united in the Spirit, to worship, praise, pray, fellowship and give to support God's work...and He added to their number daily. My prayer is that you will seek God's Spirit to operate with power and favor in your life.

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts (2:32-33) Following the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon those believers who were gathered together in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Peter was emboldened by the Holy Spirit to preach the message that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord. The evidence was Jesus' death, resurrection and exaltation. Finally, Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would come to His disciples and told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received it. Peter's message explained that what observers were witnessing in the disciples was not drunkenness, but it was the result of the Holy Spirit's arrival and its power within them as Jesus had promised. The promise and the power of the Holy Spirit is still available within every one of us who believes and follows Christ.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:37-41) The message pierced people's hearts and convicted them of their sin in rejecting Jesus and being complicit in His crucifixion. And so comes the crucial question on the mind of anyone who desires to surrender their life to Christ in response to the gospel...What must I do to be saved? Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Repentance requires that we act to turn our heart away from the world and turn to God. Baptism is our public demonstration and profession of our faith and that we have died to our old way of life and been raised with Christ into new life. Peter tells them that they can be saved from the corruption of that generation (and every generation has the same opportunity to choose salvation). The word tells us that 3,000 people became believers and were baptized that day after accepting Peter's message...however, make no mistake: The addition of these 3,000 believers was not due to the power of Peter's oratory, but it was the power of the Holy Spirit working to build up the church. "Repent" is a word of great hope. It says you don't have to keep going the way you were going...you can turn to God instead!

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47) We find that all the believers gathered together in Jerusalem and devoted themselves to receiving apostolic teaching, fellowshipping together, giving financially to support the work, meeting together, and prayer. And all of this was done in unity. We see the early church in action in these verses. We can learn from what we see here, as this is still the church's purpose. The church is called to bring believers together for the purpose of enabling believers' discipleship through teaching, prayer, corporate praise and worship, and benevolent giving. When the church is operating effectively in its calling and purpose, it experiences favor..."And Lord added to their number daily" with people being saved. When the church is unified in fulfilling its calling and purpose, it will enjoy God's favor...and people will be saved!

A friend recently told me about something he experienced while being an extra on the set of a tv show. During a break in filming, one of the extras in the scene began playing the piano. The other extras from that scene spontaneously joined in and began singing "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwood. With no microphones, the praise began reverberating off the walls of the room and the featured cast and crew came back to see what was happening. Soon they also began worshiping God in a spirit of praise right there on the set! The atmosphere on the entire set was changed as the Spirit took over. Just as the people at Pentecost were amazed and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit still has the power to bring people together in unity, to change hearts and minds and to lead people to salvation, worship and praise. Whenever we invite God's Spirit in and allow it to have it's way, watch out! Because something great is about to happen... whenever His Spirit is in the house!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn

Please enjoy these songs this week, then let the Spirit take over while you give Him praise right where you are.

“Spirit Break Out” by William McDowell

“He’s My Rock” by Bri Babineaux