Receive Ye The Holy Ghost
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Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John’s gospel is different than the other gospels. It is not synoptic in nature meaning that it is different in composition than Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
John’s gospel, which according to church historians is the last of the gospels to be written. His gospel contains information that the other gospels do not contain, we need to also consider the fact that John was in Jesus’ inner circle.
John records, according to the text that in the evening of the first day of the week (somebody say Sunday Evening). That the disciples were locked in a room, the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. I know that a law has been passed, but the fact remains that the bible states that it was the Jews that were responsible for having Jesus killed.
Yet, let me stop to clarify an important point because the early church was made up of mostly Jews as well. See, we have to understand that not every Jew rejected Jesus. Even so in today’s time, there are some Jews that have accepted Jesus though there be few.
Therefore, the disciples are locked in the room, they were afraid for their lives. They were fearful, yet had they believed the Lord Jesus when he told them he would die and would be resurrected their fear should have abated.
Which brings me to my first point, in order to receive the Holy Ghost, you must believe God and believe God’s word. You must place total trust and reliance in God’s word and promise. Hold that right there because we will come back to this.
But even in the fear, even in there doubt and unbelief, Jesus shows up to comfort them and let them know that everything is alright. The bible says in verse 19 that Jesus stood in the midst....He’s about to be in the midst yall. I don’t know what your dilemma is today.....but have faith in knowing that the Lord is about to show up. He stood in the midst and comforted them by saying “Peace be unto you”. He says this number one to abate their fear, he says this secondly because when he just shows up out of nowhere they think it is a ghost, but Jesus looks different, because last time when they saw him, he was beaten and bruised, last time they saw him, he was a blood messy, but now because he has risen they barely recognize Him. Can I speak a word of faith over you today? God is going to bring you to a place that although you may suffer now....your not going to look like what you been through.
Jesus through all that he been through, some kind of a way he came out looking better than he did before he went in. Lord have mercy, just testify and speak a word of faith over someone and tell them neighbor.....when God finishes…you’re going to come out better than when you went in it. Matter of fact, they were so confused......that Jesus had to show them his hands and his side.....and then they knew it was the Lord, and the disciples was happy when they saw the Lord.
Brings me to my next point......we need to get to a place where we think....and we declare that when we are in the midst of trouble.....I JUST NEED JESUS TO SHOW UP!!! Don’t look at your neighbor.....but think out loud and say it loud “I just need Jesus to show up”........now look to heaven and say “Jesus I NEED YOU TO SHOW UP!!!”
I’m getting there....I just needed to grab some stuff out of the text that’s going to help everybody.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Jesus says a second time.....okay.....you’re happy to see me.....you feel alright. But you been locked in this room for three days. I need your minds right for what you’re getting ready to do. I don’t need you to lock yourself in a room for days when trouble come. I don’t need you to run away from trouble like you did me when I was arrested, so let me speak a word in your life, because The Lord says.....my word has the power to change, my word has the power to heal, my word has the power to change direction, my word has the power to change destinies! And the word that Jesus delivered unto them is “Peace be unto you!”......this word.....I know it is in Old English and sometimes we may not understand the seriousness or the meaning of what is saying.....but let me break it down to you what Jesus is saying to his disciples “Peace be with you”........is there any disciple in the room that can accept what Jesus is saying even this morning through his word? If the Lord speaks it....whatever it is.....his to come in line with his word!!!
Jesus speaks a word to the spirit.....because even though they are glad to see Jesus.....clearly he can see that there spirit is still troubled. So Jesus says: “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” I’m getting ready to send you out....clearly your not ready yet....but let me do something to help you to get ready to go out.
The next verse says....
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
What is the verb....the verb is “breathed”....Jesus performed an action he breathed on them. Why did he breath on them?
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
So before I send you out, I need to breath on your......
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
In order for you to do what I am sending you to do.....you need to be moved......the wind when it blows, it moves things, it pushes things.....it propels things. And the Lord says if your going to do my will, if your going to what I’m asking you to do, then....it can’t be you.....and IT CAN’T BE DONE BY YOUR WILL....IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE HOLY GHOST TO PUSH YOU, TO MOVE YOU.....TO LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU AND THE PROPHETS OF OLD......THE HOLY GHOST MOVED ON THEM......BUT THE LORD IS SAYING SOMETHING GREATER TO THEM.......HE SAYS “RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST!”
You need to let the Lord breath on you.....matter of fact you ought to lift your hands and say “LORD BREATH ON ME!!!”
But notice in the scripture that....nothing in particular happens. Something happens when you receive the Holy Ghost. They had already been baptized....and according to scripture.....no you don’t receive the Holy Ghost at repentance, you don’t receive the Holy Ghost at baptism. What you do feel is the breath of God.....because the breath of God also refreshes!!!
Before the Lord sent them out to do his will....they needed to be refreshed!!! And every once in awhile....those of us that have the Holy Ghost.....we need the Lord to refresh us. Some of you are locked in a metaphoric room of sorts. You haven’t felt a move of God in a long time, you haven’t felt the presence of the Lord in awhile because unbelief, because fear, or any other thing has imprisoned you......BUT IT IS TIME FOR SOMEONE TO BREAK OUT TODAY.....TODAY IS YOUR DAY......ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH......ANY ONE WHO FEELS LIKE THEY ARE CAGED IN......THE LORD IS HERE TO BREATH ON YOU AND BRING YOU OUT.......LIFT YOUR HANDS AND HOLLER OUT “BREATH ON ME JESUS!!!”
Let’s get ready to close.
Jesus breathes on them and tells them receive ye the Holy Ghost....but they don’t receive it right then and there. That is the experience for many that call themselves Christian, they have faith, they repented.....at least some of them.....they were baptized and when they came out the water they felt brand new.....that is the breath that is the Spirit of God breathing on you but something has to happen.
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.
You’ve got to go to Jerusalem and wait......for the promise of the Father. Don’t leave Jerusalem until you receive the gift.
It means first you have to seek it.....and you cannot stop seeking it until you get it!
It means you have to dedicate yourself and lay aside any distractions any hinderances that might prevent you from receiving the Holy Ghost.
Yeah they had families......but the Holy Ghost was more important, they had jobs....but the jobs had to go on the back burner because they needed the holy ghost. They had other things that they could have done.....but the sacrificed their time.....to spend time with God in prayer and seeking God because they needed the Holy Ghost!
And they had the mindset that I’m not leaving here.....until I get what I came for!
Listen.....this is for those that don’t have the Holy Ghost and those who do. When you need something from God......HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT!?!?! If you need healing.....how bad do you want it? If you want change in your life.....how bad do you want it? Saints of God.....sometimes to get what we need from God.....we need to go back to the Old Landmark.....and seek it just as if we were seeking the Lord for the Holy Ghost!!! Ask your neighbor how bad do you want it!?!?
Are you willing to P.U.S.H........pray until something happens? Are you willing to call on the Lord until you are saved? Are you willing to let go and let God? Are you willing to lift your hands and surrender to Him? Are you willing to let go? Are you willing to die to what you need to die to???
How bad do you want it.......
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
CLOSE:
So they did like the LORD said.....they went to Jerusalem with a made up mind that I’m not leaving until I get what I came for.
So the Bible says.....in Acts 1:12-14
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 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.
They continued with one accord. The word “continue” is emphasized in the text because it means “to be persistent”......you gotta be “persistent”. When you really NEED something....you will be PERSISTENT until you get it!
What were they persistent in? PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.
Historically, it is written that Jesus ascended 10 days before Pentecost.
They had a prayer lock-in meeting for 10 days straight. They said....we not coming out....till we get what we came here for. You see, you don’t understand......the Lord work for us to do, he wants us to walk in his will, and we don’t have the power to do it.
But he told us that if we go to Jerusalem and wait there....we’d receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us. THEY WERE DESPERATE!!! AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY SOME PEOPLE HAVEN’T REALLY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST YET.....BECAUSE YOUR NOT DESPERATE ENOUGH. YOU THINK BAPTISM ONLY IS ENOUGH FOR YOU.....BUT YOU NEED THE HOLY GHOST!
They sacrificed......and throughout the scripture.....it is documented that when you sacrifice.....GOD SHOWS UP!!!! What did they sacrifice? Themselves!!!! Their time.....they surrendered to God and they sought God in desperation. You cannot seek God, you cannot sacrifice, and totally surrender and God not show up! If you do it....I promise you God is going to show up.
Right now....I dare somebody to just offer God a sacrifice of praise....forget all about yourself praise the LORD.....I mean lay into it and give God glory and watch what happens. If your heart is in it, if you lay it on the line......God is going to show up!!!
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.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
