Samuel Chadwick wrote, “Destitute of the Fire of God, nothing else counts; possessing Fire, nothing else matters. Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.” In the birth of the church, the Holy Spirit came like tongues of fire to prepare people to share the gospel with power and love.
When Pentecost came, they were all together in one place with tongues of fire distributing and resting on each one. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit wants to be at home and work powerfully in your life.
Jews living in Jerusalem from every nation heard people speak in their language of the mighty deeds of God. They were saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Others were mocking saying, “They are full of sweet wine” (Acts 2:5-13). Seeing God’s mighty deeds should cause anticipation of what He wants to do through your life.
Peter said these men were not drunk, but in the last days, God will pour out His Spirit upon all mankind, sons and daughters will prophesy, young men see visions , old men will dream dreams, and bondslaves will prophesy. He will grants wonders in the sky and signs on the earth. The sun will be turned into darkness and moon into blood before the Lord comes. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:14-21). God pours out His Spirit upon all humankind so people can call upon the Lord’s name to be saved.
Jesus’ authenticity was proved through miracles God performed in your midst. God delivered Jesus who you nailed to a cross, put to death and was raised up again by God’s predetermined plan. David said of Jesus that He beheld the Lord at his right hand. Therefore, His heart was glad, His flesh abided in hope and God made known to Him the ways of life. David died and was buried, but he spoke of Christ’s resurrection of which they were witnesses. Jesus sat at the right hand of God until He made His enemies a footstool for His feet having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. Let Israel know that God made Christ Lord, this Jesus who was crucified (Acts 2:22-36). Preach the gospel as the power of God to transform peoples’ lives in overcoming the evil one.
They were pierced to the heart and asked Peter and the apostles what to do. He said to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He kept exhorting them to be saved from this perverse generation. Those who received his word were baptized and 3,000 souls were added that day. They continually devoted themselves to apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:37-42). People who turn from sin and trust Christ grow spiritually as they are devoted to teaching, fellowship, worship and prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Those who believed were together and had all things in common. They sold their property and possessions and were sharing them all as anyone had need. With one mind daily in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they took meals together in sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with everyone. The Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:43-47). Sharing possessions with others creates a hunger for people to place their faith in Christ.
Here is a checklist in preparing people to share the gospel in power and love:
1. Is the Holy Spirit at home in your life?
2. Are you growing in anticipation as you see God’s mighty deeds?
3. Are you calling upon God to pour out the Holy Spirit in yours and other peoples’ lives?
4. Are you preaching the Gospel as the power of God unto salvation?
5. Are you committed to people turning from their sin and trusting Christ as they grow spiritually in teaching, fellowship, worship and prayer?
6. Are you sharing your possessions with others to create a hunger in people to place their faith in Christ?
