The Claim to Pentecostal Fame

Acts 2: 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:

18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33Therefore 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.

34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38Then 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.

39For 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.

40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

This was the birth of the Church! The purpose of The Cross!The Church is the vessel whererby men can be redeemed from the "flood of JUDGMENT"... coming upon a fallen and wicked world.

Like the birth of Christ, the news of the birth of his Bride was "noised abroad ( vs 6) and "the multitude was brought together."

"FAME"transitive verb
1
archaic : report, repute
2
: to make famous

We know that ' FAME' can be good or bad. It is said in marketing college, that bad PR is better than no PR.

The "noise" of this pentecostal event spread throughout Jersalem at the feast of 7 weeks, Pentecost being the 50th day of the celebration.

50 days from the day the firstfruits of the barley harvest was waved before the Lord, (50 days from the morrow after the sabbath after Passover), is Shavuot or the Day of Pentecost. Rabbinic scholars believe that it was on this day that God visited His people after their exodus from Egypt and through Moses, brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. This earthshaking day of visitation, trembling, and betrothal is the birthday of the nation of Israel. Moses brings down the Torah or Law for the nation. Because of sin 3,000 die under the Law that day.

Ecclesiastes 1
The Vanity of Life
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “ Vanity[a] of vanities,” says the Preacher;

“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose.
6 The wind goes toward the south,
And turns around to the north;
The wind whirls about continually,
And comes again on its circuit.
7 All the rivers run into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full;
To the place from which the rivers come,
There they return again.
8 All things are full of labor;
Man cannot express it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said,

“ See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that
are to come with those that shall come after,

ACTS 2: 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. "THREE THOUSAND SOULS DIED AND WERE BURRIED WITH CHRIST! We see that this is the repettitive "type" of the 3,000 that died at Mt. Sinai.



We who share the Gift of the Holy Ghost should never be prideful but only thankfull that we can have the power over the flesh,satan, and the world.



Sinai foreshadows Zion

At this point in this study, I would like to concentrate on the significance of Mount Sinai as it foreshadowed spiritual Mount Zion. This is a spiritual progressive and repetitive concept concerning the O.T. pattern of the coming of the church.

Law given on Mount Sinai

First lets look at some of the events surrounding the giving of the law of Moses on Mount Sinai. God called Moses to the top of the mountain in order to give him instructions concerning preparation for the receiving of the Ten Commandments. Moses was told to go back down to the people and have them prepare for God coming down unto the mountain in three days. They were to wash their clothes and set a boundary around the mountain so that no one would go up into the mountain nor even touch it. The children of Israel were to gather around the mountain, but were forbidden to touch it under the penalty of death. On the third day, God descended upon the mountain and called Moses to come up to receive the Ten Commandments. I'm sure we are all familiar with the story of what happened while Moses was in the mountain. The people abandoned God and made a golden calf to worship. Because of this, God was very angry with the people and about three thousand were slain on that day.

Gospel given on Day of Pentecost... The children of Israel gathered around Mount Sinai in order to receive the law from God which was the law of Moses. In Heb. 12:18, Christian are told that they are not gathered around Mount Sinai, instead, according to Heb. 12:22, they are come unto Mount Zion. Mount Zion is a figurative description of the church. In fact, in Heb. 12:22-23, Mount Zion is called: (1) the city of the living God; (2) the Heavenly Jerusalem; (3) the general assembly; and, (4) the church of the firstborn. All of these names apply to the church of our Lord. A recieving of this salvation gives the position of being placed in the body of Christ, who is our HEAD, and in him dwelleth the fulness of the God head bodily. The children of Israel only recieved LAW, no Spirit because they rejected it in "Manna" which they hated it's taste, and desired to eat flesh. When we desire to follow after the flesh, and not the Spirit, this places us with them...on the wrong side of the Cross!

Micah 4:2b states, "for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Moses was a likeness of Christ and he gave the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Christ came to this earth, died for our sins and was resurrected, and gave his law on spiritual Mount Zion.

Micah 4:7 goes on to say that "the LORD shall reign over them in Mount Zion (Church) from henceforth, even for ever." Christ gave his law on spiritual Mount Zion and is reigning over his people in that mountain, the church, today.

3000 Died - 3000 Saved

It is also interesting to note that on the day Moses came down from the mountain 3000 were slain, but on the day the church was established in Mount Zion, 3000 were saved. The law of Moses was a law of spiritual death because nobody could keep it perfectly, but the law of Christ is a law of life because it provides for the forgiveness of sins, and we are ressurected with him after death ( repentance) and burial being baptized in his name.

Lamb Stands on Mount Zion

This parallel symbolism can be used to help interpret several passages in the book of Revelation. We will take a look at one passage at this time with more to come on it later. Rev. 14:1 says, "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." This picture is taken precisely from the comparison of Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Christ(Lamb)is standing on Mount Zion and 144,000 are standing with him. All we have to do to understand this symbolism is ask the question; "Who stands with Christ on Mount Zion." The obvious answer to that is: Christians. We are the ones who have come unto Mount Zion (Heb. 12:22), and Christ is reigning over us today in that mountain, the church, (Micah 4:7). We have the name of the God written in our foreheads which means we pledge our allegiance and thoughts to him. This in direct contrast to those who are not following Christ and have the mark of the Beast in their foreheads (Rev. 13:16). As I have stated in other posts, will will be 'marked' one way or another. What is the mark of your pentecostal fame? A has-been a wanna-be or not?



So if our claim to having the born again experience, is a fact of history rather than it being a daily walking testimony where we can have the "FAME" noised abroad that we "cast out devils, speak in new tongues, take up serpents, with signs folowing the Word that we are (present time...not past tense) preaching, then we are a new testament saint, and not of the dead at Sinai.



So is your claim to fame in "name" only or do you have the "reputation" of one who does more than attend a pentecostal church, but never does "mighty exploits" in pentecostal power? Ok so you speak in tongues...it is better to prophesy..(preach the gospel) then to exhibit gifts that are without repentance. "Fame" is a noun ( in name) or a verb...if you are a doer of the WORD, that is what we want to be known for, Pentecostal in name only is being a "lukewarm" "unfaithful servant"..





The Unfaithful Servant

Mt. 24.45-51
41
¶ Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43
Blessed isthat servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him,and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself,neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Jesus the Cause of Division Mt. 10.34-36
49
¶ I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; Mk. 10.38 and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52
for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Mic. 7.6

Discerning the Times



Mt. 16.1-4 · Mk. 8.11-13
54
¶ And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55
And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?



Eating and drinking and beating your servants is not to be taking literal, this is what your unfaithfulness will in effect cause, so do not think unfaithfulness is doing these things literaly, it is that you are not preaching and ministering to a lost and dying world that places you in this condition.



You know it is the end times but are you stepping up your calling and being a "faithful servant"? Are you praying and fasting on a regular basis?



Jesus is asking this generation the same question as above in vs 46...how is it that you do not discern this time?

The parable of the Great Supper


15
¶ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed ishe that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17
and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18
And they all with one consentbegan to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21
So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel themto come in, that my house may be filled.
24
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

We are all bidden to this end time supper...what is said about your calling? If you say that you answered it (past tense) youn will not taste of the banquet. If it can be said by others (not you) "out of the mouth of two or three witnesses" that you are still fulfilling the Great commission, enjoy the feast!
If not.....



The Cost of Discipleship

25



Your salvation experience is the foundation 5hat you must continue to build on. You can not go back to that foundation if the Lord comes today.
It is not God's will that you do what all the saints are doing...it is his will that we perform his word! The majority will notn be taking this path.


The Rich Young Ruler
Mt. 19.16-30 · Mk. 10.17-31
18
¶ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none isgood, save one, that is,God.
20
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Ex. 20.14 · Deut. 5.18 Do not kill, Ex. 20.13 · Deut. 5.17 Do not steal, Ex. 20.15 · Deut. 5.19 Do not bear false witness, Ex. 20.16 · Deut. 5.20 Honor thy father and thy mother. Ex. 20.12 · Deut. 5.16
21
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26
And they that heard itsaid, Who then can be saved?
27
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30
who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.


The Message to Laodicea 14
¶ And unto the angel of the church of the La-odice'ans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Prov. 8.22
15
¶ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and thatthe shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: Prov. 3.12 be zealous therefore, and repent.
20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To those who believe that they have done enough in the past and have some sort ofn "trust fund" of good works to get them through...so they can enjoy their material blessings instead ...hear the word of the Lord..
The Message to Laodicea
14
¶ And unto the angel of the church of the La-odice'ans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Prov. 8.22
15
¶ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and thatthe shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: Prov. 3.12 be zealous therefore, and repent.
20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What is your claim to Pentecostal Fame?