Posts Tagged ‘Holy Spirit’
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Pentecost 48~The Holy Spirit by Waiting For The Word is licensed under CC by 2.0
Who is Peter? How is Peter relevant to Pentecost?
Before we discuss Peter’s relevancy to Pentecostals and the Day of Pentecost, it is important to have a clear sense of who Peter is. When Jesus came to Peter he was a fisherman. Jesus also healed Peter’s Mother-In-Law, as depicted in Matthew 8: 14-15, and in the gospels of Mark and Luke.
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
Peter is often depicted in the Gospels as one of Jesus’ closest and most trusted disciples. Peter was present for most of Jesus’ miracles, sermons, and otherwise noteworthy acts. One of the more famous of these miracles involving Peter is the story of Jesus walking on water. The Gospel of Matthew recounts Peter beginning to walk on water to meet Jesus, but sinking as his faith waivers.
Peter was present for the last supper, and initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet, as he felt that his master and leader was too important to be doing such for a lowly fisherman. Peter was one of three disciples with Jesus when He went to pray on the eve of His crucifixion. When Judas arrived with the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders to arrest Jesus, Peter sliced the ear off the servant of the priest in his fervor to protect Jesus. Perhaps one of Peter’s most famous stories occurs throughout that night as he fulfills Jesus’ prediction of denying Him three times before the rooster crows. Upon realizing that He had betrayed Jesus, Peter broke down weeping.
Later, when Jesus is resurrected, Peter is the first disciple to run directly into the tomb to see the evidence of the resurrection. Upon Jesus Christ’s ascension into Heaven, Peter became one of the most influential Church leaders and some of his writings to the early churches make up a portion of the New Testament. This reflects Jesus claim that Peter, also known as Cephas (Rock), would be the rock upon which Christ intended to build His church.
What is Pentecost?
Acts 2: 1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the upper room. This meant that many spoke in languages that they neither personally knew or understood. This speaking in tongues serves as a sign that those present on the day of Pentecost received the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of.
John 14: 15-17
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.
The descending of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) is important for several key reasons. First, it provides key evidence for the resurrection and ascendance of Jesus Christ. To many alive at the time, the sight of many speaking in foreign languages and the nature of which the Holy Spirit descended on them is living proof of the power of Jesus Christ. If the God that these disciples spoke of was powerful enough to impart an entirely unknown language into them, then He must be powerful enough to have raised Himself from the dead.
Second, the day of Pentecost illustrates what the Holy Spirit is and what it is capable of. While, the Holy Spirit is not confined only by what occurred on the day of Pentecost, it is important to understand that it is capable of these kinds of miraculous events. God imparted language and the ability to speak it into His followers through nothing but the sincerity of their faith, obedience, and the power of His being. If he can do this, then what can possibly be a challenge for Him?
Why is Peter Relevant to Pentecostals?
So, the question remains, why is Peter relevant to the day of Pentecost and to Pentecostals?
The answers to the first part of this question come directly from the Bible, and specifically from portions of the scriptures referenced above. After the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost, Peter delivered a sermon to all of those present. In this sermon, he reiterated His belief in the truth about Jesus Christ, and He clarified the nature of the Holy Spirit which many in the crowd had just witnessed.
In this clarification, Peter clearly describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Peter adds that the Holy Spirit is a promise to all and that believers should repent and and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. As Pentecostals we believe that the events that transpired on the day of Pentecost are not a one-time deal. We believe that the power of Jesus Christ is real, and that He acts in us through the Holy Spirit. Though the act of miracles and speaking in tongues, we know that God is capable of anything and that those miraculous events still occur today. We believe these to be evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit and affirmations of the faith that anyone can hold in Jesus Christ.
Peter is relevant to the Pentecostal Church because He is clear about what the Holy Spirit is and who it is from. Peter gives us the knowledge needed to understand and to fully utilize and appreciate the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ via his sermon on the day of Pentecost.
If you are looking for a Pentecostal Church San Antonito Texas area you are invited to Pentecostal Life Church. It is the desire of Pentecostal Life Church to be an Apostolic Church San Antonio and shine the light of Jesus.
Find Holy Spirit Filled Pentecostal Apostolic Churches San Antonio Texas with evening services
Let’s talk why extra Holy Spirit Filled Church services help a Church or person to go to the next level in their walk with God or get out of a rut. A lot can happen in seven days. In seven days, God created the Heavens, the Earth, and all that walks upon it. In seven days, Jericho came tumbling down. In seven days, Jesus entered triumphantly, was crucified, and rose from the grave victoriously. However, not everything that can happen in seven days is always something to celebrate. In seven days you can get laid off. In seven days a loved one may become ill or pass. In seven days, there are many ways that life can bog us down. So, if you are only visiting with fellow believers in God once every seven days, then there are six days where you are not directly being filled by the presence and Spirit of Jesus Christ through interaction with fellow believers. But, there are alternatives and solutions to this problem. There is no requirement to only go to church on Sundays, yet that is what many believers do. There are plenty to plug in and continue to be enriched throughout the week.
The first example of one of these ways to plug in is to get involved in a bible study with fellow members of your United Pentecostal Church. This can be done either one on one or in a group setting. While it is great to hear the pastor’s wisdom and teachings through Sunday morning sermons. You may also find yourself with questions that you weren’t able to have answered during the traditional Church service, or perhaps it deals with a personal matter you’d like to discuss and learn more about in a private setting. Whatever the reason, bible studies are a great way to utilize additional services for you and/or your church. Bible studies can provide you with in-depth application of the Bible, often taught by leading members of the Church. When you are feeling downtrodden, ravaged by the temptation of sin, or just plain lost amidst the distractions of this world, a Bible study is a great way to remind yourself midweek who God is and what plans He has for your life.
In addition to Bible study, many Holy Spirit Filled United Pentecostal Churches San Antonio TX offer additional services throughout the week. While Wednesdays are most common, many churches offer services on other days of the week to accommodate your schedule and needs. At Pentecostal Life Church, our doors are open for midweek services each Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The midweek church service is perhaps the better example for engaging in the larger Church body and with the pastor more than once a week. Midweek services at any Church are typically larger than a Bible study group would be, and this allows you to interact with and be held accountable to a larger group of believers than you would at a smaller group. So, what can you expect to hear from a midweek service? How does this apply to your life?
Midweek services are not only a great way to reconnect with the messages heard on Sunday mornings and with the Holy Spirit, but it is also a great way to go further into God’s word and to go deeper into the application of His teachings to your life. While Midweek services typically have more participants than a home group or a Bible study, they are more intimate than the traditional Sunday service. This allows for the topic of discussion to be applied on a more personal level, as midweek services typically offer more interaction between the pastor/speaker and the audience. If you are in a place where you would like to know more about the Lord Jesus Christ and what His sacrifice on the cross means to your life, then an extra service is for you. If you are a new Christian and wish to understand how the writings of the New Testament apply specifically to your life, then an extra service is for you. This increased depth and intimacy offered by extra midweek services fosters new and growing believers in a different way from traditional Sunday services. If you are someone seeking out the next level of your faith or looking to God for how to seek out the next level in your life, then an extra weekday service can give you that extra push.
If you are in a midweek rut, as discussed earlier, and simply need to be fed and to be in His presence, then an extra midweek service is also for you. If you are feeling worn down by the trials of the week, if sin is causing you strife, and if you just need a reminder of the presence, power, and promise of Jesus Christ, then an extra midweek service is for you. Jesus has a plan for each and every one of our lives. Those plans have their fair share of both risk and reward, trial and triumph. There are going to be ruts in your life where the tasks at hand and environments that you are in may seem overwhelming. But, Jesus has also placed you in a larger Apostolic Church body, and an extra midweek service is the perfect way to properly engage with and utilize that placement. It is the place to further engage, to understand, and to let Christ and His body pull you out of the rut that you may find yourself in.
If you are looking for a Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas area where you can find that next level of your faith or exit the rut that you find yourself in, then we encourage you to visit Pentecostal Life Church serving San Antonio, TX and surrounding suburbs. Here you will find a Full Gospel Church San Antonio that not only provides extra services on Thursdays, but provides extra services that are in-depth and personal, services that can reach into your life and impart on you the wisdom and love of Jesus Christ. We look forward to seeing you!
Pentecostal Life Church currently meets at 102 FM-78, Schertz, Texas 78154 (Schertz is a suburb of San Antonio Texas.)
Service times are Sundays 10:30 am & Thursdays 7pm.
Do You Need a Bible Believing Holy Spirit Filled Pentecostal Church Pastor San Antonio Texas Area?
Do you need a Spirit Filled pastor in your life? With resources abundant in the age of technology, it may feel like the need for a Holy Spirit Filled pastor is dwindling. There are online resources, videos, discussion pages, and social media communities galore to be found on the internet. The pastor’s role as a teacher and shepherd may seem less important and more time consuming when the Bible can be studied either through the Book itself or online. However, the role of the pastor is much more than just someone to be listened to on Sunday mornings or mid week service and Bible study.
The Pastor’s role is primarily to teach and to instruct, but the depth of their role does not end there. The Pastor acts as the figurehead of the Church, leading it and choosing what directions and walks of faith the Church should take. By actively participating in Church and unifying with a body of Holy Spirit filled believers, you are also releasing some control to the pastor and his direction. In this regard, it is more a question of whether or not you should align with a physical Apostolic Church San Antonio TX instead of trying to lone wolf it and learn only through your own resources. However, once the decision is made to align with a Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas area, it is important to foster the relationship you have with the Church and the pastor.
For example, let’s look at the role Jesus had with the disciples as their pastor and spiritual leader. Think of where the disciples came from before they met Jesus. Peter, James, and John were all fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector and left to their own devices they would have continued with these roles in relative spiritual ignorance. Without Jesus forging a relationship with each of these individuals and them taking the time to let that relationship grow and move them, many great strides in the Christian faith would not have been taken. If Peter hadn’t first accepted and been enriched by the pastoral relationship he had with Christ, then he never would have moved on to start the first Apostolic Churches. The same applies for each of Jesus’ disciples, past and present. Jesus desires not only a relationship between Himself and us, but between us and the leaders He has selected to lead us.
Jeremiah 3:15
15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Jesus has called individuals to lead, to teach, and to help grow others in their faith. His work did not end when He rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. In fact, that event marks more a beginning of His work than it does the end. This is evidenced in the great commission that Jesus delivered to His disciples in between resurrection and ascendance.
Matthew 28: 16-19a
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, …
Jesus called the disciples of His day to be pastors to the masses that they encountered. That role has not changed with the changes in society and culture that have occurred in the 2000 years since Jesus’ ministry. That commission is still lived out by the pastors of today. The Pastor is an individual called and instructed by God to lead and to love His Church body. The Pastors have a special call on their life, and they are also there to assist with the calling that God has on your life.
Not only do they posses a generally deeper and more profound knowledge of Christ, but they are also there to assist others along their walks in the Christian faith. When you have questions on what to do with the direction and decisions of your life, who do you turn to? Is it your parents, perhaps a spouse, or even a mentor? What about your Pastor? They are called by God to be someone that can be turned to with these dilemmas. A Bible believing Spirit Filled Church pastor can instruct and to guide people through these difficult decisions.
If you are attempting to walk the Christian faith and to live your life in a manner pleasing to Jesus, then odds are that God has placed a pastor somewhere in your life. Maybe it’s someone you see on a weekly basis but seek no deeper relationship with. Perhaps its someone you’ve met in passing while visiting a United Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas. Perhaps you don’t yet know who this person is, but regardless, there is a pastor out there for you. There is someone whom God has called to be knowledgeable and wise in the scriptures, someone to advise and instruct whenever necessary. There is someone who has walked the path long enough to know many of the obstacles that lay along the path. There is someone who is seeking people to help and to assist in growth. There is someone who God has called to speak into your life.
As you go about your business in the coming days, I hope that you already have a relationship like the one I’ve described. If you do not have a relationship like this already, I hope you will seek out the person that God has called you to build this relationship with. I hope that you will take the time to be enriched by the people that God has called to enrich. I hope that you will listen to the words that they speak from the pulpit and to the words that they speak into your life personally.
If you would like to be a member of a Holy Spirit Filled United Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas area, we invite you to Pentecostal Life Church. Pentecostal Life Church is a United Pentecostal Church ( UPCI Church ) located in a suburb of San Antonio Texas, called Schertz Texas. Schertz is connected to San Antonio Texas, Universal City Texas, Cibolo Texas, Selma Texas, Garden Ridge Texas, and Converse Texas. The city of Schertz is also claimed by three Texas counties, which are Comal County, Bexar County, and Guadalupe County Texas. It is the desire of Pentecostal Life Church to provide a Full Gospel Apostolic Church in San Antonio TX area. Pentecostal Life Church is located at 102 FM-78, Schertz, TX 78154. Service times Sundays 10:30 am & Thursdays 7 pm.
Take Your Family To a Full Gospel Holy Spirit Filled United Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas
If you answered yes to the question; then congratulations, you have been actively helping your family to grow and learn in Christ. If you answered no, then we at Pentecostal Life Church are here to help. Whether we’ve already met your family or not, we would be delighted to have you and to join together with your family in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The book of Hebrews lays out some of the foundational aspects of the importance of attending Church. By bringing your family to a Full Gospel Holy Spirit filled United Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas, whether it happens to be a Sunday or a Thursday service, you are helping to spur them towards love and good deeds. The importance of living a Christian lifestyle in accordance with going to Full Gospel Apostolic Churches San Antonio area is a point that is heavily emphasized at Pentecostal Life Church. As a Christian body, we are both reliable for and accountable to one another. If a member of the Church body stumbles in their walk with the Lord, it is the duty of a Spirit Filled Church to be there to assist and guide them. This concept works the same within a family that attends Pentecostal Churches San Antonio Texas.
When a family attends a Holy Spirit Filled United Pentecostal Church San Antonio TX together, they are walking in unison in commitment to the Lord. And, while it is possible that not all members of the family may decide to live for Christ by regular Church attendance, that commitment remains the goal none the less. The chances are a lot higher that the Children will view Christianity favorable when they reach adulthood if they had a positive Church experience when they were young. Let’s look at a few examples of how a family can live out that commitment both as individuals and as a singular unit.
Example A: A family of believers attends Church together every week. The parents are fulfilling their duties of training and instructing their children in the Lord. While they are not directly teaching the children in this example, they are giving them the tools and opportunity to learn in an environment filled with other believers, and from pastors and teachers that have greater training and knowledge than the parents may have on their own. By bringing their family to a Pentecostal Church on a regular and meaningful basis, the parents are helping to instill Christian values and Christly wisdom into their children. This combination of wisdom and values will continue to guide them as they eventually get older and then leave the security of their parents. Hopefully, what the children were able to learn in an Apostolic Church will stick with them and help them to live Christlike lives for the entirety of their life.
Ephesians 6:4
4 Fathers,[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Example B: A Married Individual brings their spouse and children to church with them every week. The individual is a Christian, the spouse and children are not, though the children haven’t yet made a decision either way. This individual may not be bringing their family to be fed and to grow in the same way that the family in Example A was able to, but the decision impacts them in a familiar and compelling way. Whole the entire family may not be firm believers, or even believers at all, they are still receiving regular exposure to a sound Christian environment. When a believer brings their friends and family into a Spirit filled Pentecostal Church for the first time, it can be a life changing experience. As a non-believer walks through the doors and listens to the teachings and wisdom of the Pastor, they are exposed to the message of Jesus in ways that they may have never been before. Many non-believers have a false pretense of what the message of Jesus is, many believe the lies they see on social media or the false doctrines they hear both on TV and in natural conversations. When they are given the opportunity to listen to the True Message of Christ from a trained and knowledgeable source, it can dissolve the barriers they’ve set up against the influence of His message. Regular Church attendance also exposes non-believers to the Christian lifestyle and lets them get to know people that are following in Christ’s footsteps with their own lives.
Regular Church attendance with your family may fit into one of these two examples, or it may be something unique. The great thing about the Church is that it doesn’t matter what your situation is, Jesus welcomes all who seek Him. Whether you are searching for a Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church San Antonio Texas to introduce your family to, or if you are seeking a place to help your family further grow and learn in Christ, Pentecostal Life Church is an excellent place to achieve that goal. At Pentecostal Life Church, we believe in the power of families regularly attending Church together. We believe that families who believe and attend together can help keep each other’s foundations solid and to help one another stand firm in their faith.
So, I conclude with a question. Have you taken your family to Pentecostal Church lately? If yes, then great, we encourage you to continue doing so. If you answered no, then we encourage you to find a Church body that fits your needs. Somewhere that you and your spouse can learn and grow together, somewhere that your children can learn and be excited about faith. The doors of Pentecostal Life Church are open for any and all who’d like to take this commitment to attend Church with their families. We’d love to have you if even for just a visit.
Pentecostal Life Church currently meets in the San Antonio suburb called Schertz.
Location: 102 FM-78, Schertz, TX, 78154
Service times are Sunday 10:30 am & Thursday 7 pm
We look forward to seeing you at Pentecostal Life Church soon!! ;D
Full Gospel Churches San Antonio Texas
Are you looking for a Full Gospel Church in San Antonio Texas area?
The teaching of Christ is a well-recognized story covered primarily among the first four books of the new testament. While the story of Jesus’ life may have been relegated to a period of just over thirty years, and a few books of the Bible, the power of that Gospel is much greater than any other story in existence. People today still need the Full Gospel. Not just to hear it but to obey it as well. There are benefits to being apart of other believers that adhere to the full gospel. Being a Full Gospel Church is much more than simply putting Full Gospel Church as part of the Church’s title.
The story of the life and death of Jesus Christ is where many people stop, but the power of the Gospel is more than a story of past events. The message of the coming Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament, with over three-hundred individual prophecies recorded about the coming and life of the Messiah. Christ was born of a virgin. Jesus Christ gave His life willingly upon the cross, becoming a sacrifice for all who follow Him. In layman’s terms, He racked up no charges against his life while he lived on Earth, therefore his payment in the form of sacrificial death was enough to cover the charges against all of mankind if they so chose to believe and obey Him.
All people have sinned in their life and under the Law deserve death because of it. However, we also have a God that loves each and every one of us. Because of that love, He robed Himself in flesh to live a sinless life and to sacrifice Himself to pay for the sins of all others. Regardless of who we are, where we come from, or what flavor of sin the full Gospel Message is available to all who will receive it.
What power lies in the Gospel?
In short, the power to change and to save the world. It has changed the world, from the very moment of creation, to the days of Christ’s death and resurrection, to the very day that you are now reading this blog. Perhaps you have seen the power of the Gospel change the lives of those around you, perhaps you are hoping to see what the gospel can do. For illustration, we have selected two stories about the transformative power of the Gospel; they are both from the Bible. In order to see a clear message of full gospel preaching let’s look to a couple of examples of the apostles preaching from the book of Acts.
Peter’s full Gospel Message
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Paul’s full Gospel Message
First, we look at Saul, a Roman Jew and a leader among the Jewish people following the days of Christ’s ministry on Earth. Saul spent much of this time persecuting members of the newly founded Christian faith. To accept that Christ was the Messiah was seen as heresy in those days, with many different viewpoints and accusations being leveled at Christ and those who followed him. While on the road to Damascus in an attempt to further persecute and arrest any Christians in the city, Saul was apprehended of the Lord. A light blinded him, and the voice of Christ called out, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul was left blind as the light disappeared, and was directed into the city where he did not eat or drink for three days. At this time, the Lord also commanded a follower of his by the name of Ananias to visit Saul and to pray for Him. Upon being prayed for by Ananias, scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he was baptized. Upon this healing, Saul began to pray, preach, and serve the Lord around the city of Damascus, so much so that he faced persecution from the very people he had once belonged to. This began Saul’s journey as he became Paul, and as he spoke the Gospel to all who would hear it, writing a substantial amount of what would later become the New Testament along the way. Now let’s look at the gospel message that Paul preached to some followers of John the Baptist.
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
The Gospel Power
The Power of the Gospel doesn’t just transform the lives of those running from God, or those trying to stamp out the message itself. The Gospel message is hope for all who believe and obey. It is a promise that sin no longer has a hold on the sinner. It is a message that God loves and wants to be loved by each of his children. It is a reminder that not even death can stand triumphant over anyone who follows Christ. It is hope in the bleakest of situations, a light in the darkest corners of the globe, and a lifeline in our weakest of moments. It is, and it has always been, and it will always be. The Gospel is the ultimate power and authority, because it is the message and extension of the One True God.
“One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”– C.S. Lewis
Come Be apart of Pentecostal Life Church. Pentecostal Life Church Is a Holy Spirit filled full Gospel Church. Proclaiming the Gospel to San Antonio Texas and surrounding Suburbs of San Antonio TX.
The Positive Impact of Holy Spirit Filled Churches in San Antonio Texas
Joel 2:28-29
28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.
The power of a Spirit filled church is one that has been discussed since before Jesus came to Earth and before the idea of the modern church was born. The verse used above, prophesied the day when His Holy Spirit would fill anyone regardless of age, race, or social standing and was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost. On that day, the Spirit of God descended unto the believers in the upper and the believers began speaking in tongues. After quoting from the prophet Joel, Peter delivers the following message to those that had gathered that day.
Acts 2: 38-47
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
In Acts we see how the Holy Spirit filled, influenced, and empowered the church. Peter states clearly that the Holy Spirit is is available to all and that everyone should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We see further on from his sermon some of the blessings that the Church body received because of their reception of the Holy Spirit as well. After receiving the Holy Spirit, many signs and wonders were performed. Many sold their worldly possessions and provided for others while being provided for themselves. The Lord added to the church daily because of this. That is how the Holy Spirit blessed the early Church in a matter of days and weeks, but how does a Holy Spirit filled church bless modern day Christians?
The Spirit can bless the modern church in many ways, including the ways which it blessed the early Church mentioned in Acts and the lives of the original disciples and apostles. This doesn’t mean that spiritual blessing is limited to the ways it was described in Acts, but that those means are an aspect of what is possible under the influence and impact of the Holy Spirit. It is also important to remember that one of the keys to receiving the Holy Spirit is believing in Jesus Christ and that the Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all mankind. So going forward we will move under the assumption that Holy Spirit filled Churches can be any Church which is full of members who have accepted, obeyed Christ and committed their lives to Him.
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind of an outsider looking for a Church body blessed by the Holy Spirit. If someone was truly looking for a place where they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, they probably wouldn’t be looking for a Church body that lacked passion or commitment to the full gospel message found in the book of Acts. One would expect to find a Church service full of sincerity, love, and an obedience to the Word of God and the members celebrating their Lord and Savior and basking in the opportunity to gather with those that shared the same values and beliefs. When a church is Holy Spirit filled, their worship takes on an entirely new meaning. This is the same for musical tastes and styles of any believer, whether they worship from a hymnal or with a full-fledged church band. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings a new sense of meaning to worship, when one can sing and praise their God, and do so knowing and feeling the influence and presence He has in their lives.
Another aspect of blessing on a Church filled with the Holy Spirit is similar to what was seen in Acts on the day of Pentecost. When the Spirit descended on the people, they not only had the ability to understand one another across differing language barriers, but it also gave Peter the wisdom and words that he was to preach in front of them. From the life of Solomon, we know that God is not only able to impart great wisdom on his subjects, but that he is willing to do so as well. A Holy Spirit filled Church often finds that it is blessed with sermons that give deeper meaning than can be found elsewhere. A Holy Spirit filled Church may often also find that there is clarity given on tough decisions, or that difficult questions are answered to them somewhat miraculously. The applications of Spiritual wisdom are nearly endless, and they can be felt greatly in the Holy Spirit filled church.
A third aspect that was discussed in Acts was the strength in relationships felt by those present when the Holy Spirit came down. Many sold their worldly possessions to help their fellow brothers and sisters, and many more experienced an increase in gladness and singleness of heart. There was a unity among the believers because of the Holy Spirit which they shared. This same unity can be felt among the members of a Holy Spirit filled Church body. Whether it is in services, in the friendships they’ve built, or in the works that they undertake together, the blessing of the Holy Spirit flows into their ability to converse, to collaborate, and to touch one another’s lives.
A Holy Spirit filled church will find many blessings that come to it, and those in search of a Holy Spirit filled church can often tell by the means which the Spirit has poured out and influenced the prospective Church. It is truly wonderful to be able to take part in a body united by the Spirit of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you are looking to be apart of a Holy Spirit filled Church San Antonio Texas area, then prayerfully consider Pentecostal Life Church. Pentecostal Life Church is a Holy Spirit filled Church servicing San Antonio TX and surrounding suburbs.