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Personal and corporate Pentecost!
"Now as they observed the confidence
of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained
men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with
Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had
nothing else to say in reply." Acts 4:13
HOP is a "Pentecostal" church, not in
the religious meaning, but in the biblical meaning. God once spoke to my heart
that if someone is a member of our church, other people they meet have
the right to expect the miraculous to flow out of their lives!! People around
us should be in a constant state of "marveling" because we are
carriers of Pentecost!! I don't see a biblical picture of a Pentecostal
church, a non-Pentecostal church a ???? church. I see a group of people who
were baptized in the fire of the Holy Spirit. "and they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 4:31!!
Whatever true unity the church will ever have will be this baseline: waiting
in the upper room until endowed with power from on high!! "It
is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." John 6:63
We see from Hebrews that
the role of high priest was to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Hebrews
5:5 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not optional or debatable, they
are part of our DNA as Christians. And a fruit of what Jesus did on the cross. Being
"Pentecostal" is not our decision, it's the will of our Father. "how
much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask
Him." Matt 7:11.
Are you asking for power
from on high? Are you content with what you have so far? As Pastor Dan and I
pray for our men here we are asking for Acts Chapter 4 men!! Ordinary men
filled with Pentecost fire!! If that is not our desire then this is the wrong
church to be in!! Because the Holy Spirit is going to "hassle us",
challenge us, encourage us, every time we settle for less!! The only way
the great commission is going to be filled is with this Pentecostal power of
God that we read about in the book of Acts. We may try different ways and we
may prefer different ways but they will not be lasting fruit for the Kingdom
of God. Again if the Bible made a way for different "streams" of
churches that would be awesome (and easier by the way!!) but we do not see
that option given to us. Every man, woman and child has to have a "upper
room" experience with being with Jesus until power flows out of their
belly, on a regular basis. "He who believes in me, as the
scripture said, From his innermost being (belly) shall flow rivers of
living water." John 7:38 You have to go thru the book
of Acts before you can live the rest of the New Testament Books of the Bible.
Even as God uses music, the arts, movies etc. to call people to Himself, He
then wants them to experience Pentecost in their personal lives and in His
House!! This isn't a experience from 1978 or a one time encounter, it's a
weekly, even daily experience. Ephesians 5:18 says "to be
continually filled with the Spirit." When we meet with Jesus in
our quiet time, our church life and our daily lives, we ask Him to fill
us with His Spirit. And as we pour out, He pours back in to us.
The gifts of the spirit were not for once in awhile use, they were in use
every time the church got together!! Exhibiting Pentecost means speaking
in tongues, prophesying, practicing gifts of healing , gifts of miracles etc.
etc. etc. Church as unusual!! Ordinary people walking in extra-ordinary
power!!!
That's what our church is
all about, so get ready every time we meet together to participate in
Pentecost. If you want a comfortable pew, a comfortable service, a comfortable
expectation then this is not the place for you!! We are an "upper
room" group of people who are satisfied with what we have so far
and at the same time completely ready for, and expecting MORE,
every time we meet together!!!
Keys for your personal
Pentecost would be spending as much time with Jesus as possible. Throughout
your day and with your family and friends in the temple of your heart, in
bible study/mediation and corporately on Sundays before service, during
service and after service and on Tuesday prayer day/night. Once you have spent
enough time with Him His desire for you to walk in these gifts will flow,
sometimes effortlessly!!
What stops our
Pentecostal flow? Condemnation, fear, fear of man, personal love of self,
selfishness, sin, pride, priorities out of biblical order, wrong doctrine or
teaching, lack of confidence and so on. How do you break those off. Say,
"No more in Jesus Name!!" Thank Jesus for victory in every area
that has held you back and ask for a fresh anointing of boldness and
power in 2006 and then step out in obedience to His Word. (Acts 4:31)
Your church family is here to encourage you every step of the way. It's better
to try and step out than to not step out at all!! Silence can be just as
much in the flesh as a ill-timed prophetic word or utterance. It may
look more spiritual but it is not, because God knows our hearts. Our
leadership team longs for the day when we have so many gifts and unction's flowing
we have to hold some of them back week after week!!! So once your
"flow" is released be ready to be steered and directed by your
loving leaders!!
Peter and John were
uneducated and untrained men but they had been with Jesus and desired to
please His heart. Then they just walked in His power. Read the Book
of Acts to read about other ordinary Christians just like you who walked in
the miraculous. Will you hear Gods heart cry for Pentecostal power? Will you
find out what is stopping your flow and unplug it at any cost, out of
love for Him, the church and the world? Can we return to a biblical view of
all this? Let's start with repentance and then accept His love to move
forward. Sunday is coming with fresh tongues of fire... coach nels
*** Homegroup is this Friday!!
Don't miss a night out for food and fellowship @ The Jacobsen's home in
Lakeland.
*** SFY Movie Night is this
Friday @ church
***Sunday night service is March 12th @
6:00pm
*** Our first Round Table Council
will be April 9th after church at Vicki's home!!! We will meet the second
Sunday of each month at someone's house for potluck and meeting. Please
bring a dish to pass. Everyone is welcome who has the desire to hear and
pray Gods heart forth as a watchman, as He speaks to us in the body
thru Bible verses, dreams, visions, prophetic unction's and so forth.
***Ordination for Vicki and Merritt's
will be Sunday March 26th. Please bring something Mexican to share for
pot-luck after church.
Leadership flow for HOP
Nels/Lisa---Pastors/Directors
Dan/Yvette--- Pastors
Vicki--- Pastor/Elder
