Today is Your Day, part 19

Warriors Arise: May 28, 2021

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I still get hung up on reading "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come" Why is Day capitalized? What does it mean "fully come"? Within them did their anticipation build? My youngest, who is 9, still had great anticipation when we are headed on a trip or someone is coming to visit. She is beside herself with excitement. She wants to know weeks in advance how many days until... It can be exhausting.

So when Scripture says "fully come" were there signs or was it just their anticipation building in anticipation? We will have to ask when we get to heaven. Maybe we can watch the play back. Maybe God was waiting for the disciples to be one accord. Keep in mind the Day of Pentecost had not happened before; therefore, who was really waiting on whom?

What if the Holy Spirit was not permitted to fully come until the disciples were in one accord? Maybe times we are waiting on the next move of God. When He is waiting on us to get our heart in line with His and those we are to minister with side-by-side, advancing His kingdom. We position ourselves before the Lord, wanting to hear what we are to do next when He is waiting on us to be ready to receive those instructions. I believe there are several reasons we do not hear what God is saying:

1. We are not unified with other believers. We are too busy doing our own thing, in our own time, and the way we want it done. In this, we can even leave out God.

2. We do not want accountability.

3. We lack the understanding that the greater the strength of unity, the stronger the attack against the enemy and longer the advancement of God's kingdom.

This is key. Being in one accord is what, I believe, released the Holy Spirit to come upon the disciples and the marking of the Day of Pentecost. Jesus was in perfect alignment with the Father. John the Baptist told Him he shouldn't be the one baptizing Jesus but that Jesus should baptize him.

Matthew 3:13-14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

Jesus was being obedient to the Father. His Father wanted Him to be baptized so He obeyed. There was no reason for Jesus to be baptized other than He was being obedient to God, His Father. Baptism is for the remission of sins, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus could have said, "You are right, John. Would you like me to baptize you? You are right, John. Maybe I should go pray about this again. Maybe I didn't hear God correctly." Jesus knew what the Father wanted Him to do. He humbled Himself. He was perfect, without sin and was baptized by someone who had sinned. This would not be the last time Jesus would humble Himself before another man in order to obey the Father and fulfill His destiny.

Matthew 3:15 (NKJV) But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John and do what His Father had told Him. There are times we do not want to do what God has told us to do. If we get to the core of our reasoning it is either beneath us, to humble ourselves to another, or we are not willing to give

of ourselves to the way God is asking. But Jesus is our example in righteousness and being in one accord with the Father. Then the Holy Spirit comes.

Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Dang! What would that have been like to be there?! The heaven's open. The Spirit of God descending and landing on Jesus. And suddenly...you are watching this sweet moment. Very intense action. Then a voice came from heaven. Would you not have jumped out of your skin? Even if God's voice was gentle, it surely would have be totally unexpected and I would have jumped! God loves to be a part of the party and He considers baptism a celebration for sure.

Being in one accord with each other and the Father leads to the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and John the Baptist had to be in one accord. John the Baptist could have refused. The disciples needed to be in one accord because they were going to have to stand together or fall to fear and be controlled by the enemy. The Day of Pentecost had fully come and they were in one accord. Then the Holy Spirit came.

Father, I ask for You to unite us together. I ask we would be of one heart and one mind. I ask we would humble ourselves before You and submit to one another. I pray we would desire to be held accountable and seek Your wisdom. I pray would not be left to ourselves. You will lead us into righteousness and being in one accord we will advance Your kingdom. I position myself to yield to Your wisdom. I look to You to guide me. I look to those You have placed along side of me. I will come to You and submit to Your leading. I will let go of my opinion and listen to You. My heart's desire is to know Your ways and what You would have me to do. I will operate in the gifting and calling You have placed in my life. I look to those You have called for me to join together with in order to advance Your kingdom. I will honor You by submitting to those You have placed in my life and the plans You have for us to advance Your kingdom in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.