“Lord Jesus, we as Your church should be of one heart and one mind. This oneness is the concern that nations must be reconciled with You. It is when we are one with You in Your concern for the lost, then we can expect the powerful filling of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen”
Acts 2:2-4 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. There were a substantial number of disciples that were present, and they were all there with the oneness of mind and purpose. Acts 1:14-15 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (15) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said”. They knew their purpose and what they were expecting to take place.
Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The task was to be His witnesses to bring people to faith in Jesus. The church must be together in one accord to fulfil the purpose of being His church. The message of repentance and remission of sins must be preached to all nations. This is how people would be reconciled with God. As we pray and seek the Lord to fulfil our task, then we are one with God, in His concern, and He endures us with the fullness of His Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 37:9-10 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” (10) So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. The Lord is mobilising His church, to be a great army. We are filled with His Holy Spirit, to plunder the enemy. We are to go out into the battlefield to deliver people, who are in the captivity of the evil one.We bring people into fellowship with our Lord Jesus, where they can experience the fullness of life.
Peter explains the significance of the filling of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, to the audience that was witnessing the happening. Acts 2:16-21 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. (18) And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. (19) I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. (21) And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ The mighty outworking of the Holy Spirit was for one purpose. The purpose was that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The signs, wonders and miracles were not an end in themselves but they were to draw people to faith in Jesus. Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.The Lord longs for people to have His deliverance. He longs for people to come into His shelter and there experience His Shalom.
This was the message of the angels to the shepherds. The glory of the Lord was manifested at that time and the Lord made known His concern. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Luke 2:9-14 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. (10) Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. (11) For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: (14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
“The church must be one with the concern of God’s heart, to be filled with His Holy Spirit.”