The Prophecy Of The Day of Pentecost

The Prophesy of the Day of Pentecost Joel 2.28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens
    and on the earth,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance
    as the LORD has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the LORD calls. Peter quoted from this passage when he preached on the Day of Pentecost. It was the beginning of the outpouring of God's Spirit. But the prophecy of Joel does not completely pertain to the Day of Pentecost, Joel’s prophecy is also about the last of the Last Days, from verse 19 to the end times. The Day of the Lord will be different from this present day of grace. IIThessalonians 2. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,whom the LORD Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming. The entire prophecy will be fulfilled during this age and will be culminated at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. What about the first part, about God’s Spirit being poured out on all flesh? There have been many over the centuries who have testified to these verses in personal experience. One of them was a lawyer in the 1800’s by the name of Charles Finney: There was no fire, and no light, in the room; nevertheless it appeared to me as if it were perfectly light. As I went in and shut the door after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It did not occur to me then, nor did it for some time afterward, that it was wholly a mental state. On the contrary it seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at His feet. I have always since regarded this as a most remarkable state of mind; for it seemed to me a reality, that He stood before me, and I fell down at His feet and poured out my soul to Him. I wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched Him, that I recollect. I must have continued in this state for a good while; but my mind was too much absorbed with the interview to recollect anything that I said. But I know, as soon as my mind became calm enough to break off from the interview, I returned to the front office, and found that the fire that I had made of large wood was nearly burned out. But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love, for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings. No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, "I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me." I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more;" yet I had no fear of death. How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in the evening when a member of my choir--for I was the leader of the choir--came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church. He found me in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, "Mr. Finney, what ails you?" I could make him no answer for some time. He then said, "Are you in pain?" I gathered myself up as best I could, and replied, "No, but so happy that I cannot live." At this time and on from Pentecost… God’s Spirit Being Poured Out On All People Pour= distribute largely In the past it was for certain select Israelites, like Moses and Elijah, Kings like Saul, David and Solomon. Chosen servants for an appointed work. Now it for everyone who believes on Jesus. At Pentecost He was poured out. So the big question is having believed are you living an overflow experience with the Holy Spirit? Have you been clothed with power from on High? Are torrents of Living Water gushing forth from you? John 7. 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival , Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7. 9 The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Gushing Rivers A Spring overflowing the well Is this your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Men and Women Prophesying. v. 28-29 Not to a select few prophets but everyone… even women! This is an answer to Moses’ desire. Numbers 11:29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them all!” Back story: 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” Joel’s prophesy For that moment Speaks to us today, 2,700 years later Speaking words by Divine Inspiration Forth telling Whether in the pulpit or the coal pit Whether at home or at the store. Whether between two people texting or by livestream Prophesy can be just futuristic. Helen Wilk 11 years ago “You have gone through a lot of suffering. God is going to bring people back into your life from years ago. (An example of this is Marcos and Nydia) He is going to open up a worldwide ministry for you.” Romaine in 1992 Habakkuk 1.5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed, for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told. Bangladesh Pastors on Wednesday on Zoom. Two invitations to do Pastor’s Conferences this week, one in Myanmar and the other in Bangladesh, this added to one a while ago in Kenya. You all prophesy when you quote God’s Word. II Peter 1.20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. Dreams and Visions v.28 Old men dreaming dreams, not about what they are going to do when they retire but of the Kingdom of God. Retirement is in Heaven. Young men seeing visions of the Kingdom coming. Visions of possibilities in a world wide field. Most of faith missions began with a young man’s vision God has given vision to you in your youth. Tonya’s vision of the word, “Parsonage” on the house in 1984. Dream on May 26, 1992 Lamamuir set sail from London to China with 24 missionaries on May 26, 1866 The beginnings of the China Inland Mission and faith missions I look at the miracle in the mountains of Haiti. The church being built there, a miracle. I am pitiful with tools. I remember trying to build a doghouse and a builder friend coming over and laughing what I had started. Jacob and Joseph dreamed dreams Old men dream dreams They may not be as active as they once were in the Kingdom but they can tell of their dreams… Psalm 92. 14  They will still bear fruit in old age,     they will stay fresh and green, 15  proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;     he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.” Visions - talk to the young men. Love how God is speaking. Josefina’s son-in-law. Wonders We ought to be in awe and wonder regularly. We will be if we are in a Spirit filled church. Love alone is wonder filled. In awe of His Providence In awe of family reunions In awe of His power In awe of His working In awe of answers to prayer In awe that we are being used in His Worldwide Work. The ability to speak in the dialects of the people who came there for Pentecost from every nation on earth. Walter Crow in Haiti in the early 70’s. The awe of pastors and people around the globe listening to our time in the Word and prayer through livestream. Share our livestream with hungry and thirsty souls. There should be healings from time to time. Miracles happening. Salvation For All Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved. We are in a time of Grace. Fill my cup, LORD.

Clothed With Power From On High

Joel 2.28-32 Hymn #67 Blessed Assurance Pastor Johnson praying Hymn #150 Come, Holy Spirit Hymn #155 Spirit of the Living God Clothed With Power From On High Luke 24.36-49 We have been talking about the 40 days from the Resurrection to the Ascension. Jesus had spoken to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit. John 14-16 on the way to the Garden, where He would be arrested. After His Resurrection He gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive. Towards the end of this time He went back to the imminent coming of the Holy Spirit, after He went back to Heaven Whenever Jesus spoke about the coming of the Spirit He used to terms like we read before, “clothed”, “baptized, “ filled”. The relationship of His followers, believers, with the Holy Spirit is total and running over. The Spirit is given without measure John 3.34 Is He in your life? Are you filled to overflowing? Are people being drawn to Jesus as their Savior through you? The greatest need in the church today is for this Promise, the Gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the breath of the church. He gives power to love, live, be a witness. He gives good gifts, spiritual gifts. He produces good fruit, the Fruit of the Spirit. Gifts and fruit, the two wings of the Dove. From now until the Day of Pentecost we will be looking into this. On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th we will be looking into this Promise for you. On the 8th of June we will have a special service with a number of the elders sharing the Word together, team preaching. It will be grand! Let’s talk about this little paragraph in Luke this morning. 45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” This prophecy of Jesus continues to this day. We need Scriptural understanding concerning the Holy Spirit. Three times Paul writes about wanting us not to be ignorant. * Israel Romans 11.25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, * Death of Believers I Thessalonians 4.13 we do not want you to be ignorant about those who sleep in death,so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope * Spiritual Gifts I Corinthians 12.1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant We need Scriptural understanding concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We all need it. It is a gift! We need it to be His * Witnesses vs.45-48 More about that in Acts 1.8 and the whole book of Acts and on to this day! We pray for the nations here. We are seeing God work among the nations. Thank you for all who prayed this week for Pastor Liton in Bangladesh, feeding the orphans, for Pastor Felix, in a remote area of Papua New Guinea and for the food distribution in Haiti. A whole pallet full of rice was delivered throughout the mountains where malnourishment and suffering abound. This is a House of Prayer for All Nations. I love how Jimmy Williams in Haiti is praying for Liton in Bangladesh E.M. Bounds wrote men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods, better men. What the church needs today is not more machinery or organizations or more and novel methods but men whom the Holy Ghost can use men of prayer. He does not anoint plans but men, men of prayer. Notice when He spoke about us being His witnesses it began in Jerusalem, where we are, and spread to adjoining areas, even ones we had previously avoided, and went throughout the whole world. The power of the Holy Spirit in mission work, in being a House of Prayer for all Nations. But first here, now on May 18, 2025. One of the many hindrances to being clothed with power from on High is promoting our own local fellowship. This can be and usually carries with it the thought that we are a tad bit better than the others. God help us! When the Spirit it is the LORD Jesus Christ that is exalted and He adds daily to the church those who are being saved. When He is present we acknowledge Him and leave talking about Him, His goodness and grace, not how tremendous the worship was or how wonderful the sermon was or how good we look. Witness= martyr Share the Word Tell of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Eyewitnesses Heart witnesses Testify This can happen out of hunger for God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. My Nana, Rose Biggs, nearly 100 years ago now, came to Christ in a little mission in Brooklyn. I have told you the story of the little girl in the apartment there in Bensonhurst, who invited her to some evangelistic meetings. After walking with the LORD for a while, she was hungry for more of Him. One morning she prayed, “LORD, if You have something more for me, would You please give it?” He did. Later she heard a message from God’s Word on the wonderful Baptism With the Holy Spirit and she said, “That is what I received but I didn’t know what to call it!” * The Promise of the Father v.4 of Acts 1 Why wouldn’t you want what God has promised? Whatever He has promised for me, I want! Tis the enduement for life and for service. Acts 2. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the LORD our God will call.” Far off= on the Earth at that time of the First Century, far off in time, the past 2,000 years Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far G3112 from the kingdom of God. And no man after that ask him any question. Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off G3112 are made nigh by the blood of Christ. After His Resurrection Jesus spoke Peace be with you. In the 40 days He spoke about being clothed with Power from on High. He told them not to leave Jerusalem until that happened. * Sent by Jesus v. 49 I am going to send you what My Father has promised; Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirt This is why the Nazarene Church was founded. They were “thrown out” of the Methodist Church. The Methodists in Southern California in the 1890’s were fighting against this preaching a second work of God in the life of the believer. The Christian Missionary Alliance The Assembly of God all proclaimed this and came into being within a few years of each other. Bible Institutes led by local pastors were helping young men studying for the ministry were all around. These fledgling groups and churches and associations had little property, little assets, little influence. All they had was the LORD. Leaving the more affluent and established churches these Spirit filled believers followed the leading of the LORD, even to training their pastors. THIS PROMISE IS for you! Acts 2.39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” We rejoice over the past, we look forward to Heaven but we live in the moment. And the need of the hour, of this moment is for the fullness of the Spirit. We all need to be filled with Him * Clothed With Power to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self This is God’s Will for us. This is the gift for all believers. It is not just for Pastors or Evangelists. It began with the Apostles but did not stop there. To every believer the Promise of God! Acts 2. 17  “‘In the last days, God says,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your young men will see visions,     your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women,     I will pour out my Spirit in those days,     and they will prophesy. The Holy Spirit coming upon us in power from above! We need this to witness in our lives and with our lips! We need it for living to please God and for our lives for people to see. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. Acts 19.2 Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Child of the Kingdom be filled with the Spirit Nothing but fullness Thy longing can meet Tis the endument for life and for service Yours is the promise so gentle, so sweet I will pour water on him who is thirsty, I pour floods up on the dry ground Open your heart for the gift I am bringing While you are seeking Me I will be found.

The Two Fishing Trips

John 21.1-14 Luke 5.1-11 The beginning and the end Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, James and John in a fishing boat at the beginning. This was not a leisurely trip. I heard Pastor David and Steve Evans talking about going fishing last week. I told them, “When you go, I want to join you.” Fishing with my Dad in New Hampshire… for fun. He taught me to fish. That little tug when a fish nibbled at your bait… This was their livelihood. They were net fisherman. The Sea of Galilee teams with fish. I have swam in it. Jesus comes and bids people to follow Him. He upsets careers and lives with a Heavenly call. 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, LORD; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him. From Nothing to Everything Paul Rees Jesus always gives us an overwhelming experience… overflowing. Abundance whether it is the water being turned into wine over 100 gallons… equaling conservatively 400 bottles of wine! Or feeding thousands, 25,000 with a boy’s lunch, and having 12 basket fulls leftovers, Jesus does more, much more than we can imagine. John 21 was a career change then back to the call. It was answering a call by Jesus. They were called to be His Disciples and would later, in His ministry, be designated apostles. Christ, then His eyewitnesses, the Apostles The Call of Jesus. We believe in a God called ministry. We all have a ministry. Some are called away from a career (for me it was first it was being a vet because my love of animals, and working in a grocery store) Ephesians 4. 11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself upin love, as each part does its work. He didn’t give these office gifts for those in them to amass great wealth, fleece the flock and sit in places of honor. Get advanced degrees. He gave them for spiritual reasons: Equip for works of service Build up the Body Unity in the faith Maturity Measuring up to Christ That should be the goal of everyone of these gifts to His Church Notice there are no numerical goals or financial goals mentioned. Not many of you should presume to be teachers. Those who teach will be judged more strictly James 3.1 John 21 * Jesus Brought Them Back Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. This was a career change. Jesus is going to turn them around with Grace, Power and a Charge (which we will look at next week). God works miracles in the midst of our failures! He directed them to return to Galilee. He knew the temptation would be there. He would call them a second time. No lakes in Jerusalem. The Fish Gate went into the Road to Joppa, on the Mediterranean Sea. Matthew 28.8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them.“Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” We know they stayed another week in Jerusalem… for fear of the Jews. We are looking into the 40 day period between the Resurrection and the Ascension. This is the third time Jesus appeared to the Eleven. Two in Jerusalem and now here in Galilee. We are not sure where this fits into the 40 days, from the Resurrection to the Ascension. In the midst of epic events the disciples were struggling! They were back for the Ascension, for 10 days until Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He had great purposes in bringing them back to Galilee. Fisherman are drawn to the water. That is where they work. When Olin Bechtel, whose mother was part of that original group in the mid 1940’s that started this church, took me out on his clamming boat, we arrived to a spot in the Great South Bay where he would clam as I fished and crabbed. He turned off the motor. All was quiet. He looked at me and went, “Ah.” Jesus brought them back to where the whole thing started. He was bring them back to His call to them to become fishers of men. He was recharging them. A Charge Have I To Keep 1 A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky. 2 To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill, O may it all my pow'rs engage to do my Master's will! 3 Arm me with watchful care as in Thy sight to live, and now Thy servant, LORD, prepare a strict account to give! 4 Help me to watch and pray, and still on Thee rely, O let me not my trust betray But press to realms on high * Jesus Speaks in the Moment They were tired and hungry and defeated. They failed Jesus. Now they are failing at their previous occupation. They are in a perfect storm. Jesus fed them and encouraged them. He didn’t say, “You are some followers! You are back where I found you! Didn’t you learn anything from the 3 1/2 years I was with you?!” He did say: Come and have some breakfast. Bring some of the fish you have just caught. Taste and see that the LORD is good Psalm 34.8 What is He saying to you right now Come, follow Me Where? Where He leads me I will follow. We have the Logos, the Word of God/ Jesus Christ We need a rhema Scripture that addresses a believer's current need.  Example, “Your brother will rise again.” They got it several times Galilee, meet you there Jerusalem, don’t leave You may have had a rough week. Maybe you are going through a tough time right. You may be saying to the LORD, “I blew it. I feel terrible. I do not know what to do. I cannot seem to do anything right.” That is where men were in the moment they said, “We have fished all night and caught nothing.” Maybe today your efforts have come up empty. Perhaps you are facing financial reverses, you are wondering how you will make it. God will not fail you. I have been young, and now I’m old I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37.25 * Jesus Redeems Our Worst Failures It wasn’t just the failure at fishing, Peter had the denial three times of Jesus nail knowing it. Jesus, his questions to Peter was the reinstatement of him as a disciple and apostle. He had failed miserably, and perhaps you feel like there’s no place for you to serve, Jesus says come. Look at what He did to Peter. He gave him his place in the kingdom again. We will talk about this, LORD willing, next week. Reinstatement and Redemption The Reinstatement of Jesus. Charcoal Fire like the night of betrayals Great catch of fish like when they first started The call and the reinstatement The LORD’s Supper