Text: Acts 2:1-4; 42-47
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.43 Everyone was awed at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day, they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the people’s favour. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
If there is one great year in human history that I can point at is the year when our Lord was:
- crucified;
- rose on the 3rd day;
- ascended to heaven;
- the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a tremendously explosive event that jumped started the great year of the Lord, manifested through the establishment of the Christ believers’ church.
Using these events in the life of the Apostles, let me now come up with specific events in the life of Oamaru Baptist Church that will allow us to make 2023 another Great Year of our Lord.
- Devote ourselves to the teaching of Jesus Christ, worship, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
- Give to anyone who has need. I see here a holistic giving, where the church responds to the material and spiritual needs of the people.
One big challenge remains: How can we experience what the apostles experienced: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
You see that the Pentecost event in the life of the apostles led to the start of the Christian church.
In verse 47, we read, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” This was about AD 33
This year, 2023, let us pray that the Lord God will use Oamaru Baptist Church tremendously for His work. Let us pray that this will be each church member’s passion and desire.
I wonder how many of us took the time to watch the fireworks that customarily mark the start of the New Year at midnight (00:00 AM) today?
This means going to the fireworks display spot, finding parking, and walking to the nearest vantage point to view the fireworks.
With most of the town’s people wanting to see the fireworks display, you will find yourself moving through the crowds of people who have been there many hours before you arrived.
Or perhaps you have watched it for decades that you can’t be bothered. Maybe, the most you can do is turn on your TV screen and watch the fireworks from the Auckland Sky Tower.
I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit, the explosion that kindled the start of the Christian mission, is still present today.
The Holy Spirit is the ever-glowing, ever-luminous, ever-attractive fire that gives life to the church. Devoting our time to the ministry of God through His church provides meaning to our being followers of Jesus Christ.
Does the radiance of the Holy Spirit and the tremendous “fireworks” it created on that Pentecostal day still attract us to devote ourselves to His teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer?
2023 will be another excellent year for our Lord Jesus Christ if we remain attracted to the Holy Spirit’s brilliance as the yearly New Year’s fireworks do.
As long as we devote ourselves to making this yet another year of our Lord, we will always overcome as the Lord Jesus has overcome the world for us.
