Walking On Pentecostal Pathways

WFA is a part of the Assemblies of God. And the Assemblies of God is a Pentecostal fellowship of believers in Christ. But, all too often, Pentecostals are known for only one thing – speaking in tongues. But, there is more to being Pentecostal than speaking in tongues!

The first Christians were unmistakably Pentecostal. In the only book of history in the New Testament, we find the dynamic accounts of these first-generation Pentecostal believers, and the detailed activities that made their ministry and walk in the Lord so dynamic.

What characterized these Spirit-filled believers, enabling them to reach their world for Christ – and more importantly, how can we walk on those same pathways? Beginning on March 30th, the Sunday following Easter, I will begin a new preaching series based upon select passages from the book of Acts, called “Walking on Pentecostal Pathways.” Here is a look at where we will be going:

March 30 - The Pathway of Prayer – Acts 3:1-16
April 6 - The Pathway of Persecution – Acts 4:1-22
April 13 - The Pathway of Participation – Acts 4:23-37
April 27 - The Pathway of Proclamation – Acts 8:1-24
May 4 - The Pathway of Personal Readiness – Acts 8:26-40

May 11 - The Pathway of Power (Pentecost Sunday) – Acts 9:32-43

Does the Bible tell us that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will speak in tongues? When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will fall over? How about, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will laugh, run around, or swing from chandeliers? Of course, this isn’t what the Bible says. Acts 1:8 says ”...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you!” The greatest characteristic of being a Pentecostal Christian should be power! But, unfortunately, many people have identified being Pentecostal with any number of other things, including those we previously mentioned!

As we continue our preaching series “Walking on Pentecostal Pathways,” we will focus this week on what must be the identifying characteristic of anyone that claims to be Pentecostal – power!

As a Pentecostal believer, I do want to go on record as believing in speaking in other tongues. And, I believe that this is the initial physical sign that one has indeed received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. But, tongues is NOT any indicator that one continues to live a life full of the Spirit of the living God! Acts 1:8 not only says that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, but also that we will be His witnesses to the very ends of the earth!

This week, we will look at the next part of the Pentecostal pathway – “The Pathway of Power.” Be sure to join us as we learn from Peter’s experiences in Acts 9:32-43.

May 25 - The Pathway of Principle – Acts 11:19-30

My prayer is that as we learn to walk down these “Pentecostal Pathways” that we will impact Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, our nation, and this world, for the cause of Christ!