Now let's go to the action book of Acts...chapter 1:5, For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost...versus 8, But ye shall receive power (Mark 16:16-18) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Now remember, we have seen in the Word of God that believing is truth and Liveable (acting).

Acts chapter 2:1-4, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all of one accord in one place.....and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave utterance. Acts 2:5-11 (Read)....So you see what they, the devout men, out of every nation under heaven are saying is that the Greeks heard men that were not Greeks speaking in the Greek (tongue) language...and they knew that they had not been taught to speak the new language. Now this applied to all nationalities ...they all heard them in the various languages of that day. Versus 12 says...and they were all amazed and were in doubt (un-believing) saying one to another, what meaneth this? (sound familiar?). Versus 13 ...Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine. (they'll try to explain it away some how). Now,...is this the same Peter? the same Peter that just a few days earlier that had denied Jesus three times (Mat.25:74) or the same Peter that couldn't stay awake one hour and pray with Jesus (Mark 14:37), the same Peter that Jesus prayed for his faith to fail not....and when thou art converted (a believer) strengthen thy brethren (Luke 22:32), ....it is the same Peter!...he has the power, as Jesus promised, (Acts 1:8)...and the Holy Ghost anointed (power) the Word of God as it was spoken by Peter to 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 2:38). Now remember, Peter is speaking to the same crowd that included the doubters and mockers in verses 12 and 13... and now look closely at verse 39 (Acts 2:39)... For the promise (What promise?) The same promise in verse 38.....The Gift of The Holy Ghost....... what promise?... the same promise of Acts 1:4-5 ...ye shall be baptized with The Holy Ghost... Now look at Acts 2:39 again real close...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.

Look at what He is saying...The Promise (The Power of Acts 1:8, The Holy Ghost)...is to all, even afar off as many as the Lord shall call...even today 1994 or 'till Jesus returns. Yes, even today, ...heaven and earth shall pass away but, My Words shall not pass away Mat. 24:35. Yes, even today,...I Am The Lord I change not (Mal. 3:6). Yes, even today,...the Gifts and Callings of God are without repentance ...the same Gift as spoken of by Peter in Acts 2:38...and just what was this Gift from God?.....and they were all filled with The Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as The Spirit gave them utterance. (now read again Acts 2:5-11).

Now remember, you have to receive the Gift (possess it)...you can ask me for a drink of water and I can hold out to you a glass of water but, until you receive it and drink it, it is still a glass of water. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? (Luke 11:11:13). Now, lets look at some more of this Gift (Act 2:38)...this promise (Acts 1:4-5)...this power (Acts 1:8)...But ye shall receive power after that The Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses.... He said power...and again He said: Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you (Luke 10:19). Now, let's look again at Acts 1:4-5.....wait for the promise (of what?, look at Luke 24:49, and behold I send the promise of My Father upon you: but you tarry in Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high,...........what power?, look at Isaiah 44:3, For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed.

Can you see now that the promise is the coming of the power ...and that it, the promise, the power is The Gift of The Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). We saw that in Isa.44:3, ...I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed,...and now look at Acts 2:14, But, Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them. Ye men of Judea, and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you and hearken unto my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams and on my servants and my handmaidens in those days I will pour out My Spirit;

.........now look at verse 21, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved...(Joel 2:32 says, and whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered). If you will notice, it says nothing about having to be water baptized. (water baptizim is a sign of your good intention to serve and follow the Lord Jesus).

Now lets look again at Peter, the same Peter, that days earlier, had denied Jesus three times...the same Peter that fell asleep while he was suppose to be praying... the same Peter that made the declaration, by The Spirit, of who Jesus was...and a few minutes later Jesus had to rebuke him for his lack of knowledge of the Word of God that was written and his un-belief...the same Peter that Jesus prayed that when he was converted he would strengthen his brethren. Well, this same Peter, strengthen his brethren all right after he had tarried in Jerusalem ...he had been endued with power from on high (sure must have been a spiritual power not a physical enduement...it came out of the mouth, spirit spoken words)...the power was as tongues of fire......speaking unlearned languages of another nation...........But, look....out of the multitudes of doubters and mockers there were 3000 that were filled with the Spirit of God and spoke in other language as the Spirit gave utterance... they were the believers ...they acted on the word and spoke and the Spirit gave utterance.

Acts 2-33; Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear....The Promise, The Power, is the Holy Ghost which you now see and HEAR (The Speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance). Remember this is the same Peter that walked in the flesh with Jesus three years, the same Peter that knew Jesus with the carnal mind, the same Peter that touched Him in the flesh, the same Peter that knew His Words...the sermon on the mount...the same Peter that wanted to build the three tabernacles, the same Peter that saw the lame walk, the blind see, the dead raised, the same Peter that heard Jesus say "ye are witnesses of these things....and, behold I send the promise of My Father (Luke 24:48-49) upon you... But, you tarry in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high"...the same power He's talking about in Act 1:8, Mark 16-16-18, and the very same promise He's talking about in Act's 2:39. The same Peter that had to die to self and say that I now know Jesus, not only know about Him in head knowledge but, in the heart, the Spirit of man. And, if you will notice they were not water baptized...no not even sprinkled....but they were baptized with fire according to the words spoken by Jesus in Acts 1:5; For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (and yes it's still happening today, two thousand years later, just as He said it would in Acts 2:39).

Some more reasons why you'll need to get your ticket in advance....Heb. 11-6; But without faith it is impossible to please Him: For he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Rom. 3:3. Not all the multitude (Acts 2:12-13) believed...their unbelief did not affect the truth of Jesus' Words. Peter and the three thousand believed and (lived, acted on the Word) received the Word as truth and did all according to the Word of God. What if some today believe not? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid...yea, let God be true but, every man a liar, as it is written; Romans 3:3-4. Now look again at Romans 10:8-11; The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, The Word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.....now this believing is the same believing in Mark 16:16-18, the same believing in Acts 1:8, Act 2:38, John 3:16, and look the good part is...it's even for today! For the promise is unto to you, and unto your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as our God shall call. Acts 2:39. Remember who he was talking to: Peter was preaching to those standing there on the day of Pentecost...what promise was he talking about; Acts 2:38...and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Luke 24:49...and behold I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high (with the evidence thereof, of your believing, according to Mark 16:16-18) and again in Acts 1:4-5, wait for the promise of the Father, For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the holy Ghost. Remember: Believing is believing, believing is liveable (acted on) and is truth....and what is this believing and receiving power....an example in Acts 3:6; and Peter said, but such as I have I give thee: in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk,...and immediately thru Peter the power of the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost healed the lame man...and yes, because of Acts 2:39, the same power of healing is happening today when the Word of God is believed in the heart and spoken with the mouth (Rom chapter 10). It's still true and liveable. Now, look what happens...(men's carnal minds get in the way, the natural man can't discern the things of God because they are spiritual).

Acts 4:13; Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, (had not been to Bible college, seminary (cemetery), they marveled and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Now Peter and John had walked with Jesus three and one half years, been with Him in the garden of Gethsemane, had seen Him transfigured with Moses and Elijah on the mountain top, had Him wash their feet at the last supper ...But, nobody had ever noticed any differences in them till now. Now they had more than mind knowledge, flesh relationship, they had the power (The promise of the Father) dwelling on the insides of them....the same power that raised Jesus from the dead...and once you've got Him indwelling you every demon in hell knows....Amen!

Romans 8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually discerning is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ (indwelling), he is none of His. For as many that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. (a good description of being led by the Spirit, would be doing the things Jesus did, as outlined in Mark 16:16-18.

And now look back at the day of Pentecost, look at the multitudes, the carnal minded, the church of then, without the Spirit they tried to threaten them to speak no more, sound familiar, Acts 4:17-20, But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the thing which we have seen and heard. And again, after they had been locked in prison an angel of The Lord came at night and opened the prison doors and said "go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." and again, Peter said to the council and the high priest "We ought to obey God rather than men......" and the Holy Ghost is given by God to those that obey Him" and then the unbelievers tried to slay them but, Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, said "let them alone; for if this be of man it will come to nought but, if it be of God you cannot overthrow it and you will be fighting with God." Now, two thousand years later and Acts 2-38-39 is still Believed as truth and liveable.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16. Bearing good fruit Gal. 5:22-23..........thereby obtaining a ticket in advance...Amen.

"He that hath an ear let Him hear"

Published by permission of the Great Commission December 1994

Christian Outreach

Bill Eaton, Director

mailto:eaton100@comcast.net

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