BIBLE DOCTRINE NEWS

Grace Oriented Divine Viewpoint of Current Events
Beliefs | Benefits | Welcome | News | Salvation |  Needs | About Us | Policy | Comments | Search | Home

The Church at Pentecost

Ashbury

Asbury University Prayer Meeting - Feb 13, 2023

The Church at Pentecost
Calling Out the Church in History
Spiritual Meaning
Conclusion

The Church at Pentecost

February 19, 2023 (Day 50):  The Church began at Pentecost when the disciples of Christ were gathered in the upper room and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.  The Spirit came with the noise of a mighty, rushing wind, like a tornado, and with strips of fire, like tongues.  The Holy Spirit revealed the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit, even though He was in Heaven in a Resurrection Body.  And the Holy Spirit gave gifts to the disciples, including the 11 true disciples and other men and women followers of Christ.  The gifts included the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit and speaking in foreign languages ("tongues").

The Church began on the day of the  Feast of  Pentecost, the second of three major feasts of Israel - the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  Pentecost is a Greek name, meaning fiftieth, for 50 days after the offering of the first fruits of barley at the beginning of the Passover.  The congregation of believers that Jesus Christ called out during His earthly ministry became the Church, His Royal Family, on the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem after He ascended.  Thus, began the Church Age.

After Pentecost the disciples of Christ went into all the world and preached the Gospel.  The eleven disciples became Apostles of the Church  The Apostles and other disciples evangelized the whole world, and many were martyred.

It all started on the day of the Feast of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-8
1 Day of Pentecost
And when the Day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all together in the same place.
2 And suddenly there came from Heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 Gift of the Holy Spirit
And there appeared to them strips that resembled fire being distributed, and it (the gift) sat upon each one of them.
4 Gift of Tongues
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages, as the Spirit was giving to them the ability to speak out (or to verbalize publicly).
5 Recipients of the Gift of Tongues
Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, religious men from every Gentile nation under heaven.
6 And when this noise occurred, a crowd gathered; and they were amazed because they were each one hearing them speak in his own native language.
7 But they were astonished and marveled, saying, "Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?"
8 "Then how is it that we each are hearing them in our own native language in which we were born?"
On the Day of Pentecost Jews from all over the world were visiting Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.  The Holy Spirit came down with a loud noise like a tornado.  The Holy Spirit was given to the disciples of Christ.  They received the gift of tongues, which enabled them under the power of the Holy Spirit to communicate the Gospel to others in foreign languages.  The Holy Spirit gave the words to the disciples, and the recipients heard those words translated into their own native language.  The disciples spoke the uneducated Aramaic dialect of Galilee; yet, educated Jews heard what was said translated into Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and other languages (Acts 2:9-11).   
Acts 2:12-13
12 But all were astounded and at a loss what to think, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others of a different kind (unbelievers), mocking, were saying, "They are full of sweet wine!"
This was a miracle, and people were amazed.  However, others were negative, finding fault, and mocking. 

Calling Out the Church in History

Since the calling out of the Church at Pentecost, the Lord Jesus Christ has periodically called out the Church.  These events have been described as awakenings, enlightenment, revivals, church foundings, missionary movements, and renaissance.  One such event occurred in 1970.  It was documented at Asbury College in Kentucky, but it also occurred in churches and in colleges all over the world.  

Asbury Chapel
Asbury University Chapel, Feb. 8, 2023

A recent calling out of the Church has been occurring in Asbury University since February 8, 2023.  There are distinct parallels between the calling out of the Church at Pentecost and the calling out of the Church in 1970 and in 2023.  At Asbury University on February 8, 2023 Rev. Zach Meerkreebs gave a sermon in the filling of the Holy Spirit in Chapel on Romans 12:9-21.  The students were sitting attentively in the auditorium not even taking notes, but the sermon was an overview that didn't require many notes, and it was being recorded for future reference anyway.  At the end of the sermon Zach walked away from his notes and communicated very clearly the Doctrine of Reciprocal Love for Christ.  He didn't call it that, but that's what it was. 

When Zach finished explaining reciprocal Love, he challenged the students not to leave without receiving this Love.  Then he gathered his notes and walked out.  Some of the students heeded the message.  They remained in the auditorium, prayed, and waited until they, too, received Reciprocal Love.  Then others came back and joined them, and they, too, received Reciprocal Love.  People made recordings and placed them on social media, and others came.  People heard what was happening all over the world, and they responded and traveled to Asbury University.

For weeks people struggled to define and explain what was happening at Asbury University.  They didn't understand.  When Zach Meerkreebs communicated the Doctrine of Reciprocal Love, he wasn't doing it.  That was the Lord Jesus Christ speaking in the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit communicated the words of Christ through Zach, and the students heard Christ speak to them through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit controlled both the communicator and the hearers to communicate the calling of Christ to the Church.  As others gathered together, they also heard the message of the Love of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Those involved in the calling out of the Church like the Asbury calling are usually oblivious to the voice of Christ, which is Spiritual and inaudible.  It's like Billy Graham, who wanted to ask the Lord, "Why me?"  People under the power of the Holy Spirit do not realize that Christ is speaking through them through the Holy Spirit.  And they don't realize that the Holy Spirit gives others the hearing.  The Holy Spirit controls both the communicator and the hearer.  Angels can do the same thing, and so can Satan.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who is in Heaven in Resurrection Body, commandeered Zach to give His calling out of the Church in Asbury University.  The Lord Jesus Christ spoke through Zach under the power of the Holy Spirit, and the people heard under the power of the Holy Spirit.  Then a chain reaction started as the Holy Spirit opened the hearts of others to the Love of Christ.  Angels were dispatched to bring people from far and wide to experience the Love of Christ in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Like the Jews who heard the Gospel in their own languages, the people involved in the calling out of the Church are often dumbfounded.  They know they are motivated by the Love for Christ, but they don't know what to say or do.  They resort to their old ways, which are based on their ability and level of maturity.  They may sing, pray, shout, or scurry about.  They may not have the background or ability to preach, teach, or make the appropriate doctrinal application.  Baby Christians may act like babies and make a mess.  Such is the nature of the calling out process, and the Lord Jesus Christ can tolerate what most of us cannot.  He can reach out to sinners of all sorts and love them under the most extreme circumstances.  He dined with prostitutes and tax collectors. 

Spiritual Meaning

The Lord Jesus Christ is calling out the Church again in 2023 as He has done periodically in history to accomplish His purpose.  He is in Heaven in a Resurrection Body, but He is communicating through the Holy Spirit.  Those who are being called out are touched and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Having known the Love of Christ, they will never be the same.  Their lives will be changed.

Satan will counterattack and some will fall away from Grace and die on the vine.  Others will press on to maturity and Spiritual Rapport.  Some will have hardship and others prosperity, but those who persevere will be blessed and rewarded for being faithful to their Divine calling.

The calling out of the Church will follow the pattern of the calling out of the Church at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) as the Lord presides as High Priest over the Church in the first three chapters of Revelation.      

Conclusion

The Church began on the day of Pentecost when the Lord Jesus Christ visited the disciples in the upper room in the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit baptized them.  The Holy Spirit indwelled and filled them and gave them gifts.  They spoke in foreign languages ("tongues") to evangelize Jews from all over the world.  The pattern at Pentecost continued periodically throughout the Church Age as the Lord called out new elements of the Church to fulfill His Divine purpose.

One such calling out of the Church occurred in 1970 and was documented at Asbury College in Kentucky, although it occurred in many other parts of the world.  The most recent calling out is occurring at Asbury University again as well as other locations.  People are experiencing the Reciprocal Love for Christ under the ministry of the Holy Spirit who pours out the Love  in their heart (ref. Rom 5:5).  Elect angels have gathered Christians from all over the world to come into the new part of the Church.  These people are overwhelmed and only able to express themselves at their level of Spiritual maturity.  Whatever the Lord has for them they will be touched for life and members of a new part of the Church.

References

1.  Larry Wood, "The Meaning of the Year 2023 - Cursing Turned to Blessing" Jan. 1, 2023.
2.  "The Chapel Service that Launched the Asbury Revival 2023," Explore Around Us, YouTube, Feb. 12, 2023.
3.  "'Asbury Revival! Daily Updates,," Intercessors for America, Feb. 19,, 2023.

Released Feb. 19, 2023 - Revised Feb. 26, 2023

Author:  Larry Wood

+