SOUNDING OUT:
Celebrating Pentecost (Part III of III)
After the initial outpouring of the
spirit, the introduction into a new sphere of life was
spoken of as "baptism in the name of Jesus Christ."
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter concludes his teaching
with an invitation. He said.
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.
Again this sets the proper order for
our administration. Peter indicated that two things would
happen to these people that day if they accepted his invitation.
They would be "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins." That's the new-birth.
They would be born again with the gift of holy spirit.
The second thing that would happen would be that they
would lambanô, the gift. They would manifest the
spirit and would speak in tongues as the rest of the apostles
did. Peter did not say they would be "baptized with
the holy spirit." That already happened. He said
they would be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and
lambanô the gift by speaking in tongues just like
the apostles did. That's how God wants it to happen. He
wants His people born-again and speaking in tongues
Acts 2:3:
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as
of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
"Cloven" means "split,
separated, or divided." It was one tongue from heaven
which split into twelve parts. It was a tongue that looked
like a flame splitting and resting upon each of them.
One part sitting upon each of the apostles. "Sat"
indicates that the work was done. On the seventh day God
rested, because His creative work was finished. Here the
fire sat or rested because God's creative work was once
again finished. They had received the Promise of the Father.
They were born again of God's spirit. The gift from the
Giver had arrived.
Notice that it records that it "appeared
unto them." This vision of cloven tongues like as
of fire, which sat upon the twelve was not seen by the
rest of the people there. This revelation to the twelve
was their cue to speak in tongues. Now they were born
again of God's spirit, and Jesus commanded them to immediately
manifest it. That's exactly what they did.
Acts 2:4:
And they were all filled [plêthô ] with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The word filled here is the Greek word
plêthô. When referring to the gift of holy
spirit, plêthô indicates filling and overflowing.
There is another word plêroô that indicates
filled to capacity. Plêroô, filled to capacity,
indicates the new birth which is the measure that God
gives to everyone, and plêthô, filled and
overflowing indicates the operation of the manifestations.
One never gets any more spirit, it just runs over into
manifestation. When we exercise our God given ability
God energizes the manifestations. He energizes the manifestations
as we operate them
The manifestation indicated here by
plêthô is specifically mentioned. They spoke
in tongues. It says they spoke in other tongues as the
spirit gave them utterance.
On this magnificent first occurrence
of the operation of this manifestation of speaking it
tongues it details the way it worked and will work at
every instance afterward. We speak - God gives the utterance.
We move our mouths, our throats, our vocal cords, and
God gives us the utterance, i.e. the words to say. If
God would give no utterance, we would have no words to
speak. Every time we operate manifestations and speak
in tongues God actively supplies the words to say.
Well those four verses record the initial
outpouring of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost.
The great celebration on Pentecost June
20th, 28 A.D. was not due to the offering of the firstfruits
of the wheat harvest, but rather the firstfruits of holy
spirit, His unspeakable gift. They gave their loaves,
and God gave them the bread of life.
This initial demonstration at the beginning
of our administration is what is referred to as the baptism
of the holy spirit. After this time, it is never again
spoken of in these terms. Once we are born again, which
is to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ we have
all that we are going to get. There is no more. However,
we operate the manifestations and this overflowing is
evidence in the senses realm of the internal presence
and power of the holy spirit.
God set forth His desire for all people
on that day to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins and receive into manifestation
the gift of the Holy Ghost. That's God's order for our
day and time. The gift and its immediate manifestation.
Let's get back to this Pentecost power, and speak in tongues
as the Spirit gives us utterance.
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