Day of Pentecost
For the Year of Our LORD,
5.11.2008

And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven
as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house
where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues
like as of fire,
and it rested upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT,
and began to speak with other tongues,
as the SPIRIT gave them utterance.
Acts 2: 1-4



“…And they were all with one accord…” O, May The LORD hear the cry of our hearts and return to us the Oneness of the First Church, born on the Day of Pentecost.

This JESUS hath GOD raised up,
Of which we all are witnesses.

Therefore being by the Right Hand of GOD exalted,
and having received from The FATHER
the promise of the HOLY SPIRIT,
HE+ hath sent forth this,
which you now see and hear.

For David is not ascended into the heavens:
but he saith himself,
The LORD [JEHOVAH] said unto my Lord [ADONAI]
Sit THOU+ on My Right Hand,
Until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that GOD hath made the same JESUS,
whom ye have crucified,
both LORD and CHRIST.
Acts 2:32-38



I saw a picture years ago tucked out of sight behind a card catalogue in a public school library. For some reason, it caught my attention. It was entitled, to the best of my memory, “The Day of Pentecost.” It was a large oil painting of The Twelve. They were ENGULFED… from their feet to above their heads and totally ENCOMPASSED… by the holy flames of The HOLY SPIRIT. The flames were in “tongues of fire” at the top, but transparent-looking over their faces and bodies. Now that is a good picture of the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, I thought.




Now when they heard this,
they were stabbed in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren,
what may we do?

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 SPIRIT.

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.

And with many other words
did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves
from this perverse generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day
there were added unto them
about three thousand souls.
[Greek Interlinear, Jay P. Green, Sr.]
Acts 2:37-41


From the preaching of one Apostle, from the worship of 120 saints, from the listening ears of the hungry, from their obedience through the sanctified waters of Baptism… came the outpouring of the blessed HOLY SPIRIT, forming the church. The souls were “…added unto them…” by the HOLY SPIRIT, not by membership drives or even being baptized into a certain denomination, by humans.


And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their food
with gladness and singleness of heart,

Praising GOD,
and having favor with all the people.
And the LORD was adding to the church from day to day
the ones having been saved*.
[*Greek text] Acts 2:46-47



When the church learns to be in one accord for the purposes of GOD, it may see another such outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT. And through the HOLY SPIRIT’S work … via conviction, repentance, conversion and baptism… The LORD+ will perhaps again be adding out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation to the true, One, Holy, Mystical Body of CHRIST, the ones having been saved. May it be so, LORD+, even in the fire of persecution if necessary. Glory to you LORD+.

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Come, LORD CHRIST,
MARANATHA
COME.



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