Subscription Lists

John the Baptist's ministry (Mark 1:4-5 ), resulted a massive conversion and receiving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.

His baptism of repentance (i.e.,as public evidence of a repentant heart), plus all of the traveling, teaching, healing, and training of Jesus prior to the Day of Pentecost filled the ranks of the thousands that received the Holy Spirit on that day (Luke 8:26-39). It is difficult to imagine a more important day in the history of the world than that first Day of Pentecost. Peter's sermon is a masterpiece of evangelical preaching, but it was the Holy Spirit and His stunning manifestation that made thousands children of God.

Consider the massive activity of the Holy Spirit with Jesus' ministry and His travels down the dusty roads of Palestine to the first Pentecost that began the New Covenant era. People came from all over the known world to Jerusalem for that day - this yearly day celebrated by Israel (eventually mostly Jews due to captivity of the other tribes). That day became the pivotal day in the history of the world, before it and after it.

Thousands were to keep their appointment with the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead. Up until that day, the Holy Spirit worked IN select individuals to bring about God's promises to Abraham and his descendents, and to prepare the known world for Jesus coming to embody and fulfill all the law and sacrifices of the Old Testament administration. The Holy Spirit prior to this Pentecost was working only in select individuals.

King David and other kings of Judah and Israel, prophets, and certain ones with special callings who were led by the Holy Spirit to witness, to predict events, and to warn those to whom they were sent in the world. However, with the Day Of Pentecost that began the New Covenant era, the Holy Spirit, as the third member of the Trinity, also came INTO the world to become God's presence after Jesus had conquered the devil and sin, and ascended back to the Father. After this day, the Holy Spirit became to the world in many ways what Jesus was to the world that He ministered to prior to this Pentecost.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you." - John 14:16-17 (AMP)

For the first time, the Holy Spirit began to live in all those who heard the gospel and turn to belief in Christ in repentance. From that point on, God became available to actually dwell in mankind. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ can now live IN US, and becomes our hope of glory, and eternal life. Jesus told the disciples that when He ascended to heaven after His crucifixion, that He would send the Holy Spirit who would reside in them forever.

As we consider the events leading up to that day, and those surrounding that day, and what has occurred in the world since that day, it is evident that day became one of the most important single days in all the history of the world. The Holy Spirit is now performing many of the divine activities secretly and silently on earth that Jesus began while He was on earth. The Holy Spirit is the true invisible monitor of all that occurs in the world - among nations, as well as living in the hearts of Christians. Many believe that the Holy Spirit is involved in holding back evil in the world and gages the timing of world events until Jesus Christ returns.

If you are a Christian, be thankful for what happened on that day of Pentecost long ago.The Holy Spirit lives in you. He will never leave you or forsake you.

He will be with you forever.

"And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time. For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming. The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels—[all of them] lying wonders. - 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9 (AMP)

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Counting the Cost and Bearing the Cross