RUSSELL SANDERS

3-7-2024

THE SECOND OUTPOURING

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The first outpouring of the Holy Ghost occurred at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:4. The apostles, led by Peter and John, then began to perform miracles of healing by the power of the Holy Ghost [Spirit] in the name of Jesus. Two powerful sermons by the Apostle Peter brought 8,000 people to salvation.

This greatly disturbed the Jewish nonbelieving leaders. They laid hands on Peter and John, taking them captive, and brought them before the ruling council to be questioned. They then threatened them with harm and commanded them in Acts chapter 4 to speak no more in the name of Jesus. 

Upon their release, Peter and John returned to their company of believers and reported the threats to them. When the group heard this, all of them lifted up their voices in a cry of earnest prayer to God. He answered that prayer with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Ghost [Spirit] upon all those who were assembled together.

In Acts 4:31 it says, “And when they prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” This was a second fresh and new outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon each, and everyone gathered in that place. The place itself was shaken like an earthquake had happened. It was a sign of God’s mighty power. The refilling of the Holy Ghost power gave them all a great boldness to speak God’s word in Jesus’ name. [Acts 4:31, 33.] 

Fear was destroyed. Bold faith arose. The body of believers came together in one heart, one mind, and one accord. They continued to declare Jesus even as further persecutions ensued.

Likewise, when we face challenges, we should take it to the Lord in prayer, and He will empower us to press through faithfully. 

We often tend to “leak” spiritually a bit. Being refilled with the Holy Ghost and power enables us to stand strong for Jesus at all times. This “refilling” is actually a continuous progress of “being” daily filled with the Holy Ghost and power. It is not meant to be an occasional filling, but rather an ongoing daily infilling.

Start each new morning with the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving, and He will fill you afresh and anew for that day.

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RUSSELL

HELEN

HELEN SANDERS

3-7-2024

DON’T CONSIDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES

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We read the story of Abram and Sarai who became Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis and in the book of Romans. God had made a covenant with Abram, who was childless, that his seed through Sarai would become a great nation. Sarai believed that God had restrained her from bearing a child. She did not have the faith that Abram had.

In Romans chapter 4 we learn more about their situation. Abraham believed that God would bring the promise to pass that he had given him. The Book of Romans tells us in Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”

Then, in Romans 4:17-21 it says, “(As it is written, ‘I HAVE MADE THEE A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS’,), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, ‘SO SHALL THY SEED BE’ (Genesis 15:5) 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God: 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Abraham’s body was not able to reproduce, and neither was Sarah’s. Yet, Abraham did not look at those circumstances. He believed God could not lie and trusted that God would make things change.

Each of us will be put into positions where things look “dead” in our lives, even when we have received a promise from God that there would be “fruit.” We must not look at the circumstances as being the final authority. We must look to God and his promises just like Abraham did, and “consider not” what we see with the natural eye. We must see with our spiritual eyes. Then, we receive the promise by faith.

It took 14 years for Abraham’s promise to unfold with Sarah as the mother of Abraham’s seed. Much happened in those 14 years that looked like it would never happen, but it did happen because God cannot lie. Do not let Satan rob your faith with words of doubt. Speak the promises God has given you over your life and expect them to come forth!