Pentecost: A Spiritual Significance
https://johnhouk.substack.com/p/pentecost-a-spiritual-significance

SUMMARY: I was preparing a Pentecost Sunday (6/8/25) post when I heard my wife weeping in pain…. 50-pounds slipped from her hands landing on the big toes of both her feet… SO…I did not post on Pentecost Sunday. … For Christians Pentecost signifies fifty days after the Resurrection (Easter) of the Lord Jesus Christ. … The insight I gleaned from reading Tertin has to do with the Presence of God that is symbolized in “Wind” and “Fire”. …KNOW THE PENTECOST PRESENCE OF GOD!
#WindFirePRESENCE #Pentecost

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
In the sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he warns folks to repent and follow Jesus to be saved. I urge the same to all those who read this, especially those who don’t know God.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Mt. 7:15
I am going to say something here that will upset a lot of people who read this page, but it needs to be said. However, before I do, let me state as I have done so in times past, that my church and I and are not charismatic, nor are we Pentecostal, though we have fellowship with some in that group. We are opposed to the Roman Catholic Church, liberal Protestantism, Mormonism, false cults and false religions.
This is what I want to say: Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are going to need to do what our Lord and His apostles did: focus more on being against false prophets, false teachers, heretics, and charlatans posing as preachers, denouncing their unbiblical positions, heretical doctrines,false prophecies, and ungodly lifestyles, than on pagans and heathen. I see so much fervor from Christ followers against the positions and actions of unsaved politicians, homosexuals, abortionists, and the far left, than the false Christians professors I mentioned earlier. The left, transgenders, feminists, abortionists, and gay rights folks, don't profess to speak for the body of Christ, but the heretics, charlatans, false prophets, the Pope, and liberal theologians do. Therefore, it is imperative that Godly pastors, evangelists, and true believers in Christ, speak out against the false churches, heresies, and false ministers,not allowing them and their teachings into their churches and homes. In doing so, it will built up the true churches, enhance their witness for Christ, and hurt the pocketbooks of the false church leaders and charlatans. Since I am the one posting, this starts with me, but I hope others will be coming alongside

”But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.1.8.NKJV
Should point out that Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, and those who believe that one must observe Saturday as the Sabbath in order to be saved, are preaching another gospel. If you are in such groups, repent, trust Jesus for salvation if you haven’t already, get out of those groups, and get into sound Bible believing churches.

Meditation for April 14, 2024 _ After Holy Week _ D. Franklin

Communion Meditation for 14-APRIL-2024: After Holy Week.

Good morning, Church Family! I hope each of you is well on this beautiful Sunday morning! Two weeks ago, we celebrated Resurrection Sunday; and Holy week has now passed for another year. The Robins Egg Easter candies are all gone; and Christ has risen! Amen? So, what happens next?

Our communion meditation today addresses Jesus’ activities here on Earth following His Resurrection and through His Ascension to the Father, a period of approximately 30 days. In this one-part meditation series, we will review just a few of Jesus’ activities and sightings of Him. These witness accounts further support the argument that Jesus was undoubtedly resurrected from death and was seen publicly many times among the people following his resurrection.

There are specific dates associated with some of these accounts. Note that these dates are from the Roman calendar which starts each new day at midnight; not the Hebrew calendar which starts each new day at sunset.

1. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Sunday, April 9, 30 AD. Mark 16:9 - 11, John 20:11 – 18: Mary is the first person to whom Jesus chose to reveal himself alive after his resurrection. This occurred at his tomb early Sunday morning after God brought him back from the dead. Mary at first did not recognize Him, mistaking him for the gardener. Then she recognized Jesus, and He instructed her to go tell the other followers.

2. The Road to Emmaus. Sunday, April 9, 30 AD. Luke 24:13 – 33:Jesus unexpectedly appeared to two followers while they are walking to Emmaus (Luke 24:13 - 33). They discussed the events of the week, and He then explained to them all the Biblical verses and prophesy pertaining to the Messiah. He mildly criticized them for not believing what the prophets foretold regarding His coming. They did not recognize Him until after he departed from them. One of the two is Cleopas, the other was likely his wife, Mary, though some accounts identify the second as the Apostle Simon.

3. Appearance with His followers. Sunday, April 9 after sunset. John 20:19. This is the first time Jesus showed himself alive to his followers. Most of the disciples had been hiding behind closed doors since Jesus was arrested in fear of persecution by the Jews. The Apostle, Thomas, was not with the group at this meeting.

4. Doubting Thomas
Sunday, April 16 after sunset. John 20:26 – 29. This was the fourth time Jesus showed himself to humans to prove he has risen from the dead and the first time all those (except Judas) who ate Passover with him saw him as a group. In this passage of scripture, The Lord allowed Thomas to observe the wounds he received on the cross, for Thomas to overcome his doubt.

5. Sea of Galilee, Jesus appears to 7 disciples that were fishing
Between April 17 and May 17. John Chapter 21: 1 - 14. This is the account of the disciples fishing all night and catching nothing. From the shore, Jesus instructed them to cast the net on the other side of the boat, which yielded a net full of 153 fish.

6. Jesus appears to a multitude Between April 17 and May 17
In 1 Corinthians 15:6. The apostle Paul describes Jesus appearing to a crowd of more than 500 people at one time, then again meeting with his brother James.

There are other additional events documented in scripture, including Christ’s Ascension to Heaven on May 18, witnessed by his disciples as described in Matthew 28:18 - 20. Shortly after this, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and begin preaching, healing and establishing Christian churches throughout the region.

Jesus, in spiritual form, converts the Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted Christians even to death, to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul became man of great faith, as we know, establishing churches and writing half of the books of the New Testament.

Holy week has passed for another year, but the work of our Risen Lord continues every day, every week of the year.

Let us pray:
Father God, master and creator of the universe, we thank you for the sacrifice of your son and the gift of your grace. We know we can never repay you for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus, or earn the forgiveness and salvation you have given to us. As we prepare to take communion in His honor, let us always bear in mind that the cup and bread represent His sacrifice that bore our sins away. We praise you and worship You, Father, on this Sunday and every day. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians
Chapter 16
1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

5Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

6And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

7For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

8But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

10Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

11Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

12As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

14Let all your things be done with charity.

15I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

16That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

17I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

19The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

22If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

24My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.)

Acts
Chapter 20
1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

4And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

13And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

15And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.