Acts 2 - Outpouring (notes)

Acts 2 - Outpouring

The Holy Spirit

• Is the foundation of the church and the spreading of the Good News in the first century.
• Is the key in salvation and the empowerment and transformation of the believer.
• Is poured out on the Day of Pentecost and was the power behind all the signs and wonders, great harvest and transformation of the early believers.

People

• Were set free from demons and communities turned upside down as a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
• Were amazed at the power of God in the lives of those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
• Were constantly being saved as a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost was one of the seven feasts of the nation of Israel. Pentecost means 50. Pentecost after Passover. Pentecost was celebrated to remember when Moses was given the law on Mount Sinai while Israel was in the wilderness.

Pentecost

• Is the most important day in the history of the church.
• Is the day the church is born.
• Is the day we remember the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all 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. 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.

Man has always tried to find the secret to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What I believe about outpourings is that they are always on God’s terms and in God’s time. Unity is important, prayer is critical, repentance is highly valued in Heaven but the bottom line is that it is always a God thing. The person of the Holy Spirit is always the key to every outpouring. Heaven came down and scattered the forces of evil and filled men and women with a power that was beyond this world.

The Response

• People from all over the empire were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.
• There was confusion in the people who were there because people were speaking in their own language though the speakers were Galileans (the hicks of the land).
• The people marveled and were amazed because of this.
• They were perplexed, saying what could this mean?

This Was An Amazing Manifestation:

1. It was a miracle to hear people speak their dialect.
2. Peter and the eleven stand up explains the meaning of the events. They aren’t drunk it’s only 9 AM.
3. Peter proceeds to give the prophetic explanation.

The Prophetic Revelation:

• He mentions the Old Testament prophet Joel’s prophecy about a world wide outpouring of the Holy Spirit before the end of the age. What happened at Pentecost was only the beginning.
• The last days is the church age and a period of time before the tribulation.

The Prophecy:

• God will pour out His Spirit upon all mankind right before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
• Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Young men see visions and old men dream. This talks about a worldwide prophetic movement right before Jesus returns.
• Through visions and dreams the people at this time will speak with an authoritative voice to that generation.
• Verses 19-21 talk about the outpouring of God’s wrath for those who rejected Jesus Christ.

There Are Two Outpourings

• The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of God’s wrath on those who reject the person and work of the Spirit of God.
• Jesus said that the only sin that was unforgivable was blaspheming the Holy Spirit or attributing the work of the Spirit to the devil.

Peter Explains The Gospel

1. Jesus was proved He was the Messiah by His miracles and signs and wonders.
2. Jesus is crucified and put to death but God raised Him from the dead because death could not hold Him once He fulfilled all the requirements to redeem us.
3. Jesus had to suffer, die and rise before He could outpour His Spirit.

Acts 2 - Outpouring

Acts 2 - Outpouring this message was given on 5-27-12

Acts 1 - Blazing Fires of Revival (notes)

Blazing Fires of Revival - A Study in the Book of Acts

History of Revival

• Some use Old Testament examples of revival such as in the reign of Josiah.
• The real history of Revival is on the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.
• Throughout church history we have heard of Revivals in various parts of the World.

Acts

• Is the best case study in revival.
• Records how the Holy Spirit was poured out and how it changed the world.
• Shows how the Spirit moved in the life of the early believers.

In Every Revival

• There are different manifestations and characteristics that distinguish that move of God.
• There are also similar characteristics in every move of God.

Characteristics of Revival

1. Prayer.
2. Repentance.
3. Outpouring of the Spirit.
4. God’s people get on fire.
5. A great harvest comes into the Kingdom of God.
6. Transformed lives & transformed communities.
7. Signs & wonders & deliverance from demons.

Jesus Promised

• That power would come from Heaven.
• That it would give His followers a new ability to be witnesses all over the world.
• To return like He left, taken up into Heaven on the mount of Olives.

The Disciples

• Obey and go to Jerusalem to the upper room where they had been staying. Some believe that this is John Mark’s family home. It must have had a large upstairs room that could accommodate at least 120 people.
• They devoted themselves to prayer. Here is the first principle to revival. Prayer is the foundation to revival. If we don’t pray for God to move in our church, our city and our nation we should not expect anything to happen. How hungry are we for a move of God?

What Jesus Said About The Holy Spirit:

1. You will receive power when the Spirit comes to you. The power comes before we can be used of God.
2. You will be witnesses to me, not only in Jerusalem, not only throughout Judea, not only in Samaria, but to the very ends of the earth.

Peter

• Starts to be used as a spokesman and leader of the early church in Acts 1:15-17.
• About 120 people were present. Peter mentions a prophecy by David about Judas. (Ps. 109:8)
• The early church placed a high priority on prophecy and even in Judas’ replacement. (Num. 35:33, Deut. 21:23)

The Leaders of the church picked Matthias to take the place of Judas Iscariot who betrayed the Lord.

What Can We Learn From Acts 1:

• First it starts with the words of Jesus Christ. He promised power from the Holy Spirit.
• The angels promised Jesus would return just like He left on the mount of Olives.
• Revival is for us today, let’s embrace it.

The Results of Revival:

1. Passion for God and His presence in our lives.
2. Holiness, a desire to be pure in all aspects of our lives.
3. Compassion for the hurting and the lost.
4. Mercy to those we love when they fall.
5. Unity in the church.
6. A deeper hunger for His Word.
7. A greater intensity and desire for prayer.

Community Transformation

1. Crime goes down.
2. Economy gets better, the community prospers under revival.
3. People are healthier.
4. Government works better to help the community become a better place to live.
5. Education system improves.
6. Transportation system improves.
7. Alcoholism and drug addiction rates go down.
8. Smut industry suffers.

Acts 1 - Blazing Fires of Revival

Acts 1 - Blazing Fires of Revival this message was given on 5-20-12

Mother's Day - Two Moms (notes)

Mother’s Day - Two Moms

History of Mother’s Day

• The modern holiday was first celebrated in 1908 when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in the US.
• She then began a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the US.
• She was successful in 1914.
• In 1912 Jarvis stated it be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

President Woodrow Wilson

Made Mother’s Day a national holiday as the US Congress passed a bill to declare it a holiday.

Two Examples: Mary and Elizabeth

Luke 1:39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth

Heard Mary’s greeting and John the Baptist (in the womb) leaps for joy. Then she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Just hearing Mary greeting caused this to happen in John and Elizabeth’s life. Now look at her response.

Luke 1:42-45

She blesses Mary. This is a scripture that shows us that it is ok to bless people, to honor them or to give them a word of praise for what God has done for them or to them.

Elizabeth’s Song

1. Blessed are you among women.
2. Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
3. I am blessed that you would come to me, the mother of my Lord-Jesus.
4. When I heard your greeting the baby leaped for joy.
5. You are blessed because you believed every word God has spoken over you will happen.

Mary’s Song

Now Mary sings a song of the ages. This is the mother of Jesus giving one of the great psalms in the Word of God. This is given by a young mother who knew the Lord and the power He has.

Luke 1:46-53

46 And Mary said: My soul exalts the Lord, Mary knew the power of exalting the Lord.

She sounds like David. I get the impression she had read the psalms of David.

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. She also understood the power of the joy of the Lord in the Spirit.

48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

Humility is something that God highly values. Now she goes into a prophetic revelation. From this time on all generations will count her blessed.

49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

The holiness of the name of the Lord is powerful!

50 And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.

The mercy of the Lord is a great revelation and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

God does mighty deeds with His arm of power and God deals with the proud, He scatters them.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

When rulers do not give God glory God brings them down and He exalts the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

God loves it when we are hungry for Him. I have been asking God now for about a year to send people who are hungry for Him, hungry for His presence and hungry for revival.

The Twelve Gates

• Were made of twelve pearls, each gate was of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
• The Lord God and the Lamb-Jesus Christ are the temple. There is no need of sun or moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminates it. Its gates shall not be shut, there is no night there.
• The nations bring their glory and honor into it.

Luke 1:54-56

54 He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy.

God is a present help in time of trouble.

55 As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

God communicate with His servants constantly. He did with Abraham and He does today.

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

Mother's Day - Two Moms

Mother's Day - Two Moms this message was given on 5-13-12

Revelation 22 - The River of Life (notes)

The River of Life - Revelation 22

Last Week

• We talked about the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven after the earth is renovated by fire. There will be no oceans, only rivers and maybe lakes.
• All who don’t follow the last rebellion, the church, the Jewish people who received Jesus as their Messiah and tribulation saints and those who survived the tribulation will be in the New Earth.

Events

• John sees the River of Life coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the main street of Heaven.
• The water in the River is clear as crystal.
• John also sees the Tree of Life. There are 12 type of fruit on the tree one for each month.
• The leaves on the tree are for healing. (This is a promise for those nations who survived the tribulation, the last rebellion and need healing.)

Great Revelations of Heaven

1. There will be no more curse.
2. The throne of God and of Jesus will be there.
3. His bond servants will serve Him and they will see His face & His name will be on their foreheads.
4. There will be no more night because the glory of God will be the source of energy & light.
5. His servants will reign forever and ever.

The River of Life

• Is an amazing part of Heaven.
• We know that life without water is not possible. Jesus talked about rivers of living water flowing out of our lives.
• The river of life will flow into the new earth and finish the job of renovation.
• In every revival there are visions and teachings about the River of Life.

My Personal

• Vision and dream about the throne of God and the River of Life flowing out of the throne of God.
• The river was hitting the earth and everywhere it hit revival broke out with great power and signs and wonders. A great harvest of people coming into the Kingdom resulted world wide.

Jesus Promised His Coming is Soon or Quickly

• I believe that compared to eternity it is soon but it will also be quick. He has a reward to give to everyone deserving it.
• John wants to worship this powerful angel but is told not to because he is a fellow servant.
• The angel tells John not to seal the prophecy because the time is near.

Jesus

• Now talks to those who survive the tribulation and the last rebellion at the end of the Millennium.
• Blessed are those who wash their robes so they may have the right to the tree of life. In order to enter the city (New Jerusalem) they must be pure. Look at whose outside of the city. Dogs, sorcerers, and immoral persons and the murderers, idolaters and liars.
• Jesus sent His angel to testify to John the revelation. Revelation is not for the world but for the church.

The Holy Spirit

• And the church have a message for anyone who is thirsty, empty and unfulfilled. Come and drink from the living water that only Jesus offers.
• The world offers nothing compared what Jesus offers.
• Jesus offers everything and if we drink from His living water we get everything.

Jesus Sent His Angel

• To testify to John about the revelation.
• The angel tells John that Jesus is the root (The beginning or before David) and the bright and morning Star.
• Says not to add or take away from the Words of this prophecy.

Jesus Says He Is Coming Quickly

• John responds, Come, Lord Jesus.
• John concludes by asking for the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with all.
• Amen.

Revelation 22 - The River of Life

Revelation 22 - The River of Life this message was given on 5-6-12