HopeUC Secunderabad

One Place, One Heart: The Power of Pentecost

• HopeUC Secunderabad

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The Holy Spirit doesn't move in divided spaces—He fills united hearts. This powerful message explores the essential connection between unity and the outpouring of God's Spirit.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, Scripture tells us the disciples were "all together in one place." But there's more to this phrase than mere physical proximity. They had achieved something extraordinary—oneness of heart, purpose, and expectation. While others celebrated the religious festival outside, these 120 believers had positioned themselves for transformation by setting aside differences and becoming truly unified.

What does this teach us about experiencing God's power today? Through vivid storytelling, including the tale of two elderly sisters who divided their home with a rope—sharing the same roof but never the same love—we see how invisible boundaries create barriers to God's presence in our lives. Whether in families, workplaces, or churches, these divisions quench the Spirit and prevent us from experiencing what the early church knew.

Peter's message at Pentecost reveals that the promise of the Holy Spirit—prophesying, visions, dreams—was never meant for a select few but for "all people." Young and old, men and women alike. Yet how many of us have positioned ourselves to receive? The pathway forward requires courage, humility, and most importantly, forgiveness. As Jesus prayed in John 17, our unity should reflect the perfect harmony within the Trinity itself.

Ready to experience Pentecost power again? It begins with breaking down the invisible ropes in your relationships. Reconcile. Forgive. Become one. When we gather with united hearts, we position ourselves for an outpouring that will transform not just our lives but the world around us.

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Speaker 1:

So I've titled the message One Place, one Heart. The Power of Pentecost. Acts, chapter 2, verses 1 to 4. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house. Where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This is a story we all have studied and understood, and at least some knowledge we have.

Speaker 1:

So if you go to the first verse, the scripture says when the day of Pentecost came, that simply signifies that Pentecost was a designated day. God has ordained that day. And if you go to Leviticus, chapter 23, there are seven feasts of the Lord. Amongst the seven feasts, one of the feasts is the day of Pentecost. And when you read the scripture, it will talk and it will say it's feast of weeks. Alright, so basically, pentecost means 50. Pentecost is 50. Penta means 50. Right, right. So from, uh, the good friday day till the day of pentecost, it is 50 days. That's as simple as that, right? So they were asked to celebrate this day as a feast.

Speaker 1:

So the last time, I think a couple of weeks ago, when I was sharing the word of God, I talked about feast, festival or fire, with the same scenario some people were celebrating the feast or the festival, but 120 people determined I'm bored with my life, I'm tired with this religion. I'm tired with this religion. I'm tired celebrating this Pentecost and all these festivals. Yes, the Lord, god has asked me to do. I'm religiously, mechanically doing it, but I decided to just wait in the presence of the Lord. I don't know what will happen on the day of Pentecost. Everybody else is celebrating, everybody else is celebrating, everybody else is partying, but I choose to withdraw myself and be in this place and I want God to do something in my life. I hope there is somebody here like that. Too many festivals we have celebrated in our lives. But if you are that kind of person, you will not have the fire of God. You have to put everything aside to be in the presence of the Lord, to have the fire of God. One group had the feast, the other one had the fire, and you decide which group you belong to and when you see this text, our key text for the day.

Speaker 1:

The day of Pentecost came. So eventually that day came. Jesus never told them that the Holy Spirit will come on Pentecost Day. He never told them. He simply told them go and wait. Ever told them. He simply told them go and wait. When so happened, on the Pentecost day, the Holy Spirit manifested. That's what it says. So the day came, which was the day the Pentecost day came, and all together we're in one place.

Speaker 1:

If you truly want to encounter God and experience God in a way like this, there is something that the Lord is speaking to us, or the Lord desires, or the Lord plans with his children is that we all be in one place, one heart, one soul, one spirit, and be in one place, one heart, one soul, one spirit, and be in one place. I believe that is the significance of how, when we read the scripture, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit you know was there and only reason. They're all one. It's very difficult to understand in our natural terms, like when you see god created adam. Right, he created adam. Then the bible says god saw that man was alone and he went and saw something in Adam Everything was there for him, there was no lack in his life. God made all the provision, yet God saw something in him and he said he needs a friend, he needs a suitable helper. And God designs and creates a beautiful wife for him and gives it to him. And you know what the Bible says the two shall become Anybody here. The two will become ten. No, how one. Two, one two will become Ten. No, how one, two, one, two will become one. That is what we don't understand the mathematics of God. We need to understand Adam.

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If you really want to experience my presence, if you really want to experience my blessing, learn to become one. We are all individuals, yet we have to come to the place of becoming one. But that's the challenge, that's the difficulty. So all these people, they all came together, together, together and they were in one place. I believe the outpouring of the holy spirit was given on that day, even though the promise was there.

Speaker 1:

I don't know if it is a designated day that the lord has said no, it will happen on the pentecost day. It never. It's never recorded the Bible, but something happened, since the 40th day when Jesus ascended, to the 10th day. They're all waiting. And it so happened the Pentecost Day, the Holy Spirit was poured out. The significance here is oneness, unity, coming together, being one. In a family, probably there are four or five mom, dad and kids. How can we become one? We are all different individuals. We have our own mind, we have our own thoughts. Yet the Bible says we must learn to become one. That is when we see God coming through in our lives. Maybe the first day the Holy Spirit would have been poured out. Why did they have to wait 10 days? I don't know. Maybe God was dealing with them or people were dealing themselves. They were checking their hearts and their lives. So they waited in the presence of the Lord and suddenly the Holy Spirit poured out.

Speaker 1:

I want you to go to Acts, chapter 2. I hope you are carrying your Bibles. The scripture won't come up there except for the reference. Please open your Bibles and let's follow Acts, chapter 2, verses 14. Then Peter stood up with the leaven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem. Let me explain this to you. Listen carefully what I say these people are not drunk as you suppose, it's nine in the morning. What I say these people are not drunk as you suppose, it's nine in the morning. No, this is what was spoken by Prophet Joel. So he goes back and he is quoting Prophet Joel and what he prophesied In the last days. Anybody in the last days? Anyone of you are in the last days here. I guess all of us are in the last days, in the last days. Any one of you are in the last days here. I guess all of us are in the last days.

Speaker 1:

In the last days, god says I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Old men will dream dreams. When was the last time you prophesied? Ask your neighbor when was the last time you prophesied? When was the last time you saw visions? When was the last time you dreamt a dream?

Speaker 1:

It's not for us pastors. You know that holy man is there, that holy woman is there, that holy woman is there, that so and so, that you know there is a big name. They prophesy, they. You know that person. Go to, they will see dreams and they will tell you. What about you? The bible is saying all all this benefit blessing belongs to all of us. The Bible is saying all all this benefit. Blessing belongs to all of us, but sometimes we put all these things away. And that is what Peter is saying.

Speaker 1:

In the last days, god will pour his spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions and old men will see visions. And old men will dream dreams. Did God leave anybody out Church? Everybody is covered, from the kids to the old. Everybody is covered, even on my servants, both men and women. I'll pour my spirit and they will prophesy too. I will show wonders in heaven about the signs on the earth below blood and fire. Amen, the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great day of the Lord, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Speaker 1:

So, basically, peter is saying brothers, you know, this is the experience that the Lord is giving to us because of a prophecy and the significance there is coming together and becoming one. The two must become one, five people must become one, one family, all of them should become one. That is the challenge, what Peter was talking about. And let's continue. What did they do? Verse 42 onwards they devoted themselves to apostles' teachings and fellowship, breaking of bread and to pray. Everyone was filled with awe at many wonders, signs performed by the apostles. All believers verse 44, were together and everything in common.

Speaker 1:

So if you really want to look at the context of Acts, chapter 2, we know Holy Spirit was poured out. We know they did great things 3,000 people got saved and all these manifestations, we see the real essence of all of this activity was people coming together. Different mindset people, different background people. They all came together and became one. That is the key in receiving the Holy Spirit, god, in any way. In a time like where we are right now and the season we are in and the time zone we are in right now, we must understand it is not easy to become one, but the word of God is very clear the day we become one is the day when we see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a new dimension. Amen, let's continue.

Speaker 1:

They sold their property possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet to gather. You see the scripture again In the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes, ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising the lord, enjoying the favor of the people. And the lord added to their number daily those who are saved.

Speaker 1:

So time and again, we see that people wear one heart in one place. The day when we come to that place in the eyes of God, then nobody can stop the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Today we have to come to that place. Today we all must put our differences aside. Today we must put all our ideologies and our thinking aside and ask God Lord, can you make us one, can we be together, can we have a heart for one another? Amen, we all must be able to come to that place. So the question is are we together in the spirit as one? What will your answer be? Think about it.

Speaker 1:

I read this story long time ago, more than two decades ago, and it really, you know, echoes in my heart and it just comes back to my remembrance and I would like to read this story to you, all of you. It's very something which is relevant for each of us and what we experience and when we experience certain things in our lives, we make a lot of decisions, we make some rules, we are very strong in some of those things, and then, definitely, we are away from God. We may be in church, we may be doing the right things, but yet we are not experiencing the true peace and joy that the Lord gives. So this is called a house divided by a rope. Listen to this.

Speaker 1:

Two elderly sisters lived together in a small house for many years. Though they had shared the same roof, memories and even laughter in the past, a disagreement one day escalated into a full-blown argument. Hateful words were exchanged, neither apologized. Pride took root. Eventually, their hearts grew cold towards each other. Is anybody here in that kind of condition? Maybe here in church, your heart grew cold towards that person. Maybe in your family? Maybe at your workplace?

Speaker 1:

They came to a shocking decision. They tied a rope down the center of the house, dividing into two halves One side for one sister, the other one for other sister. They split everything the kitchen, the living room, even access to the bathroom. They made a rule Do not cross this line. Do you know? Many times we don't vocalize this, but our attitude says it, our behavior says it. Don't cross my line. I think you're crossing my line. We are too in a similar way.

Speaker 1:

Like these two sisters, what once was a warm house became a war zone. When you were a child, you saw your house like a warm, nice, beautiful home, but today, probably, it is like a warm, nice, beautiful home. But today, probably, it is like a war zone. You don't stand your sibling Probably you don't respect your parents, maybe there's something like that or your cousins or your neighbors. A warm house has turned into a war zone, full of silence, no talking, bitterness and pittiness. They live like enemies, not as a family anymore. Years passed, though. They shared the same air and same roof. They never shared the love again. The tragedy. Neither could even remember what was the first. What was the fight about? After a few years, the rope stayed, so the division.

Speaker 1:

What is the moral of this story? A divided house quenches peace, robs peace. A divided house, A divided heart, resists the spirit. We need to check our hearts. Do we have a divided heart? Is there one feet in the world, another feet in God? It's a divided heart, it's not a dedicated heart, amen. Do we prioritize oneness or hold on to offenses, division or pride?

Speaker 1:

This is a sermon to reflect, to ponder, to think about. Just like those sisters, can we share the space? We can share the space but be miles apart. Spiritually, we can share the same space, but we can be miles apart. When you see somebody you may laugh and smile at them and say hi, but when you walk away you know that was just a fake thing. When you see somebody, you may laugh and smile at them and say hi, but when you walk away you know that was just a fake thing. We are not real. The church is supposed to be real. Church is supposed to be a loving place. Church is supposed to be a place where we are supposed to, you know, be like Christ and not only church, at our homes and wherever we are.

Speaker 1:

I want you to go to Colossians, chapter 3, verses 12 to 15. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other, bear or tear. Hello, I said church. Some of our Bibles tear each other. Huh, the Bible says bear each other. You know you won't like it, but what will you do what brother? Bear each other and forgive one another.

Speaker 1:

If any of you has any grievance against someone, forgive, as the Lord forgave you. So if we really want to experience the Pentecost like them, we need to be one. Then if we really want to be one Pentecost like them, we need to be one. Then if you really want to be one. What is the solution? Forgiveness, reconciliation. If there is any grievance amongst any one of us, then what you do? You go to the person and ask forgiveness, or are you carrying offenses In, or are you carrying offenses In church? Are you carrying offenses In your home? Are you carrying offenses? This will not take us anywhere. We will continue to struggle. My friend, forgive, as the Lord forgave you.

Speaker 1:

And then it goes on to say verse 14 over all these virtues, put on love. Put on love which binds them all together. If you truly want to be together, then love is the key, love is the essence. Amen. Love binds them together in perfect unity. The peace of Christ rule in your heart, since, as members of one body, you were called to be called to peace. United we stand, divided we fall. It's time to reconcile church. It's time to forgive amen.

Speaker 1:

Pentecost did not happen because people just gathered in one place. It happened because they were gathered in one heart. Their all heart became one. Their cry was God, we want you more than anything. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will come. We just want that. While we do that, yes, we have different opinions. Yes, we all come from different backgrounds. Yes, we are different in many kind. You know things that we do in our lives. Yet we all need to come to that place of oneness, one heart, and God will start to manifest himself in a better way.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 133, verses 1 to 3. It says how good and pleasant for brethren to dwell in unity. And you read these first three verses, it's truly amazing. The Bible says, and God will command a blessing the key is unity, the key is oneness, if you want to see the manifestation of God. Amen In John, chapter 17,.

Speaker 1:

You know this is the prayer of Lord Jesus, if you can turn your Bibles to John, chapter 17. Verses 21 to 23. If you have your Bibles, let's see. This is the prayer of Jesus that all of them may be ten. You know this is a prayer of Jesus.

Speaker 1:

Jesus is praying for his disciples, lord, that all of them be one. How can all of them be one? It's not possible, but we all must come to that place, like disciples did, to see that manifestation. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be what I sing, the Bible. They may be one as we are one. Father, son, holy Spirit. Three distinct characters, yet they are one. Father, son, holy Spirit, three distinct characters, yet they are one. In all that they do. You see, love and unity. What about you and me? What about our lives? What about our families? Amen, we all must come to the place of one. It's my heart as Secunderabad campus, hope, you see, Secunderabad campus. We all should become one.

Speaker 1:

If there are any differences, if there is anything that is Grieving you, we must deal with it. We must not fight with it. We must deal with it by going and apologizing or submitting ourselves to the Lord and saying, lord, I made a mess of it, I've crossed the line, I put boundaries, I did things, I said things that I feel ashamed of. Because it doesn't display the character of you, jesus, if you truly wanted to be his disciples, because it doesn't display the character of you, jesus, if you truly wanted to be his disciples. His prayer was Lord, make them one, just as we are one. May all of them become one. Can you and I become one, my friends, in our thoughts, in our actions?

Speaker 1:

The solution is forgiveness, reconciliation. There's no other way. Those who humble themselves in the sight of the Lord, they will be lifted up. They are the only people who will be lifted up. We need to humble ourselves. Amen. Go to the Lord. God, I made a mess of my life. I truly, you know. Now the Pentecost is gone a lot today, but truly I want you to touch me Truly. I want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, what disciples experienced of God. I want to have it, amen. The Holy Spirit does not move in divided spaces. He fills united hearts, and that's exactly what happened to the 120. God still wants to move, like he did at Pentecost, but he's looking for people who are together in one place in love, in humility, in worship and in expectation. When we gather with one heart, we position ourselves for the outpouring, and that happened the day of Pentecost. Amen.