The Disciples Were United In Power

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.(Acts 2:3-4)

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The unity of the early church came about because they were all right with God and filled with the Spirit of God.

This unity produced amazing results: They preached the same message (2:11); they believed the same things (2:41-44a); they carried the same burdens (2:44b-45; 4:34-35); they loved the same things (2:46-47).

One of the problems in the modern church is that the members are in all different stages of spiritual development. Some are saved but immature. Some are saved and growing. Some are saved and Spirit-filled. Some are not even saved. This diversity makes for difficulty in the family.

There is no way around diversity. But God’s will for us every single saint is to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). We are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit control us, we will walk together in His power for His glory!

The Disciples Were United In Prayer

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)

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The disciples prayed together.

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They prayed with one another.

They prayed for one another.

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Nothing builds unity in a church any more than carrying one another’s burdens to the Lord in prayer.

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There is a bond that develops between people who pray together!

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When we pray for others, we are less focused on ourselves and our own problems.

We begin to care for one another!

The Disciples Were United In Purpose

Acts 2:4-5

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They waited on the Lord together.

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This same trait should mark our church.

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"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27).

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We are a team!

We are to work together for the glory of God, carrying out His will in the world.

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We each have different functions.

But we should all have the same goal!

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We may have different ideas.

But once a consensus is reached, we should break out of our huddle and stand together!

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The disciples waited on the Lord together!

They were a team!

We Need Another Pentecost

Acts 2:1-8

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The day of Pentecost refers to a Jewish feast held 50 days after the second day of Passover.

It was called Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10), and Feast of the Harvest (Ex. 23:16).

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Pentecost is a day of thanksgiving to mark the end of the grain harvest. It is a holy Sabbath day.

2 loaves of bread made from the new wheat, and 2 yearling lambs were waved before the Lord as a thank offering, praising God for His grace in giving them a good harvest.

People were expected to attend this feast.

They were required to offer a free will offering to the Lord.

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The Lord Jesus was with His disciples for 40 days. Then He ascended back to Heaven. 10 days after ascension, and 50 days after resurrection, the words of Joel (Joel 3:18) and John the Baptist (Matt. 3:11) were fulfilled during the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:3).

On this day, the Lord began to harvest the lost souls of the world through His church.

Amazing things took place that day. Many miracles happened!

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We cannot duplicate the events of the day of Pentecost.

We cannot go to Jerusalem, enter the upper room, and wait to be filled with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has already come, and baptized every person who is saved (1 Cor. 12:13).

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We cannot duplicate the miracles of that day.

The miracles are God’s doing.

We are foolish if we spend our time seeking the spectacular.

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But we can duplicate the conditions that existed among the people of God on that day.

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We want to see the Lord move in our midst in power and glory in our days, just as He moved in those days.

We need another Pentecost!

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We need to create an atmosphere like the one that existed in the church on that day, and see God move in power among us in our days.

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One of the striking characteristics of the early church in the day of Pentecost was that they were together with one accord.

They had one mind!

These early disciples, all 120 (Acts 1:15), were united in their desire to seek the face of the Lord (Acts 1:14)!

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If we want the Lord’s presence and power in our days, then we must walk together in unity.

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We need another Pentecost!

We need a move of God in our days like the early church enjoyed in those days.

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But, if that is to happen, there must be unity among God’s people.

Let’s try to see and understand how the early church was so united.

Let us follow their example.

Let us have another Pentecost!

The Reasons For His Ascension

They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)

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As the disciples watched Jesus depart into Heaven, they were confronted by angelic messengers.

They were told that Jesus would return in like manner.

The disciples came off that mountain and got busy doing what the Lord had called them to do!

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The world is going to Hell.

We too must be busy sharing the gospel.

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When Jesus returned to Heaven, He returned to accomplish several specific ministries for the people of God:

He Ascended As The Crucified One. He returned bearing in His body the marks of the cross. He went back as the crucified Lamb of God. He had accomplished redemption on the cross for all who will believe in Him by faith. He returned with His Own blood to present in Heaven as the perfect, eternal, once for all atonement for sin.

He Ascended As The Conquering One. Three days after He died, He arose from the grave in absolute victory! He had invaded the territory of the enemy, ransacked his position, spoiled him, and returned in victory to His Own City!

He Ascended As The Consoling One. When He returned to Heaven, He sent His Spirit into the world to indwell, fill, guide and comfort His people. He sent the Holy Spirit to bring gifts to them. And His gifts make their service to Him possible!

He Ascended As The Confessing One. He confesses His people before the throne of God. He is our Mediator. He is our Advocate. He expresses our heart and our needs before the throne of grace.

He Ascended As The Confirming One. His presence in Heaven is the guarantee of our presence in Heaven some day! He ascended into Heaven as our forerunner!

He Ascended As The Coming One. He would return in the same manner. When He comes the next time, it will be to receive His people unto Himself and take them to Heaven.

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We will see the Lord Jesus in His glory in Heaven.

Some of us may even see Him when He returns in the clouds above to take us home with Him!

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Praise God for His ascension and His work in Heaven for us!