Connect and Elevate

Connect and Elevate

Bro. King

Pastor Appreciation

I’m thankful to everyone who helped to put this together.

It’s a time we come together to honor our Pastor and First Lady, and our Assistant Pastor and his wife, Sis. Fogarty.

Its a time of fellowship for our Church family

I promise I’m not going to be long, just want to share what the Lord has given me for this service.

(KJV 1900) Acts1:2-8 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

(KJV 1900) Acts2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I want to talk about this scripture in two parts. First I want to talk about the connection of the first church and how that has been carried down to the church today.

They were gathered in the upper room with one accord in one place***

Talk about Men's connect group. I have enjoyed the Fellowship. The connection I am making

Jesus hand picked 12 men to start his spiritual family and it began to grow from there.

Acts 1:2 “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:”

I talked to men’s connect group about the 12 disciples. Jesus hand pick these men. They had different personalities and occupations.

We see through the scriptures that Jesus was building his church and wanted them to be witnesses unto him, both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Jesus wanted them to spread the Gospel and have revival

It always been Gods will for there to be a church, he knew that we would need a spiritual brother or Sister that we could rub shoulders with, that We could fellowship with , that would pray for you, someone you could lean on in a time of need.

I am closer to my church family than I am my on family. I spend more time and fellowship with you

hebrews10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The Upper room was the first assembly of a church body.

(KJV 1900 Acts 1:13-15

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

We see in the upper room the first assembly of the church were some of his disciples, his family, and women and brethren that had followed him. The first Church started with 120 in the upper room. That was Jerusalem's first home missions church.

Bro. Huntleys church-Home mission

Acts 2:41-42“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

It is important for us church to have a consistent walk with Jesus, we see they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Can you imagine church if we had a revival like they did on the day of Pentecost.

What a great Revival the early church had on the day of Pentecost: 3,000 souls

Jesus has called us to be his family. We take on his name through water baptism and receiving the gift the holy ghost. Salvation is our spiritual birth right. We become his Sons and daughters through water baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, just like they did in the early Church.

Following Jesus and being part of His family does not always make sense to others watching our lives.

To join Him in His house is to go “outside,” to leave behind the safety and normality of our social matrix and follow Him. But that is often the call of God to us. He does not call us to understand it or even agree with it, just to follow.

My Connection with the church: Bro. Haye ask the other Wednesday night to raise your hand if you had the holy ghost for at least 40 years. I received holy ghost at 7. I’ve had the Holy Ghost for 41 Years.

I've grown in relationship and knowledge of who Jesus is through Bible Study, Sunday School, memorizing the word, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, trying to sing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and having various positions in the church.

I love being connected with the church and being a part of this beautiful church family. Jesus has never let me down.

God has called a Man to be a leader of his church and his spiritual family.

Obedience to the will of God is a lifelong occupation, and our kinship to Jesus is often revealed in the way we face adversity and even death. One man in particular emulated (followed) Jesus so closely that he died like Jesus died. We know him. He is Simon Peter. Jesus told Peter that following Him would mean Peter would be carried where he did not want to go, and there he would stretch forth his hands when he was old. Peter instinctively knew this meant he would be crucified for following his Lord. Peter objected. But one day later in life, he did indeed come to that promised “cross” road.

Like the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, Peter, who was asked to feed Jesus’ sheep, laid down his life in an act of ultimate obedience. He was carried where he did not want to go—to a cross—and his persecutors stretched forth his hands. By his crucifixion, Peter glorified the Lord. He then possessed the most unmistakable trait of the family of Jesus. Peter joined the one who was “beside Himself,” outside the camp, pushed off the edge of the world and onto the cross. In the end, Peter did look quite a bit like his Father, Jesus.

We know that Peter was the one who preached on the day of Pentecost, and there were many others that followed, such as Paul, who was considered the Pastor of the Gentiles. Paul took the Gospel to a new level. He was a great evangelist and writer of the Epistles.

(KJV 1900 Jeremiah 3:15

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

(KJV 1900)Acts 20:28

Take 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.

Church I thank We have great Leadership in our church, since covid so many churches are shutting down.

We have wonderful pastor and first lady who are great leaders for our Church. Jesus has chosen them for this day.

Church, we must lift up our pastor and his family in our prayers. They need our support to make things work.

The second part of the Scriptures that I want to talk about is “and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Church, when we are connected and in one accord and one place, God can elevate us to a higher place in him.

When we are a praying, reading His word, and teaching the word, we are having faith. God can move . Chains can be broken. The Strongman has to flee. God can begin to elevate us to a new dimension in Him.

We begin to see revival, people are being healed, people are receiving the Holy Ghost and being baptized in Jesus Name. Greater is He that is me than He that is in the world.

Church, God gave us a Mission when we become his sons and daughters. Just like Jesus said he must be about his father’s business, so must we the church be about our Father’s business.

Church, we are on the move and we are having revival! Do we want take part in family affairs? As a family, let’s be in one accord, so we can be a vessel that God moves through. Let the gifts of the spirit work in our lives.

Do you want to have that upper room experience that the first church had ? I do. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs: Send It On Down.

Send It On Down

Send it on down, send it on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down. Send it on down, send it on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down.

Lord, we're Your children, And we are asking For You to send down the fire. Our hearts are hungry, our spirits are thirsty. We need to feel You power.

Just like the prophet, he said it would be In the last days an outpouring we'd see. Yes, we are waiting; We're anticipating. Lord, won't You send Your Holy Ghost down?

Heavenly Father, hear our call: Let Your Holy Spirit fall. Send down the power, let it fall like rain, As we lift our praises to your name!

Send it on down, send it on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down. Send it on down, send it on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down. Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on, come on down.