Apostolic/Pentecostal (was:Apostolic or Pentecostal)

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In a message dated 97-11-06 18:54:51 EST, grimel@icx.net  writes:

<< Well, the Feast of Pentecost(or first fruits) may have been chosen for a
 reason.  It was the start.  Get past it.  The disciples were being
 static.  Then after the HG came they acted(hence the name of the book -
 ACTS).  I submitt for your thought to be Pentecostal is to wait(which
 gives time for the bad things mentioned), but to be Apostolic is to be
 active(no time for the bad stuff).>>  

Me:

But, they were apostles (apostolic) *before* the day of Pentecost. The
*apostles* are referred to ten times in the New Testament *before* the gift
of the Holy Ghost was poured out (8 times in the Gospels, and twice in the
first chapter of the book of Acts).  

In fact, the *apostles* were instructed by Jesus to *wait* for the "promise".
So, according to the Bible, to be Apostolic was to *wait*, until the day of
Pentecost, and *after* this point they became *active*.


Acts 1:2-4
2	Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy
Ghost had given commandments unto the *apostles* whom he had chosen:
3	To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible
proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining
to the kingdom of God:
4	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.

Acts: 1: 2-4 (comments)
The *apostles* were *waiting*



Acts 1:8
8	But ye shall receive power, *after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you*:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


Acts: 1:8 (comments)

According to Jesus Christ, the *waiting apostles* would become witnesses unto
him throughout all the earth *after* the Holy Ghost was poured out (the Day
of Pentecost), or they would become *active* after they became *Pentecostal*.


So, they were actually *waiting* in the book of the Act(ion)s of the
apostles.

I believe that the problem here is caused by a misunderstanding of "waiting".
According to the Bible, the apostles were not *idly* waiting, but rather,
*actively* waiting:

Acts 1:13-2:4
13	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.
14	These all *continued with one accord in prayer and supplication*, with the
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15	And in those days Peter *stood up* in the midst of the disciples, and *said
*, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16	Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the
Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was
guide to them that took Jesus.
17	For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18	Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling
headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19	And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that
field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field
of blood.
20	For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate,
and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21	Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the
Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22	Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken
up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23	And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias.
24	And they *prayed*, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all
men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25	That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas
by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26	And they *gave forth their lots*; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he
was numbered with the eleven apostles.

After they had finished these things:

CHAPTER 2

1	And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
3	And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them.
4	And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.



So, as my final (I can hope) input on this subject,  it appears that they
became Apostles who had experienced Pentecost, or as we like to say,
Apostolic Pentecostals. They were not Apostolic *OR* Pentecostal; they were
Apostolic *AND* Pentecostal. At least, according to the Word of God.

Obviously, the two terms (Apostolic and Pentecostal) are *not* mutually
exclusive, but in fact, are *complementary*.

complement: something that *completes* or makes up the whole.
(Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright
(c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.)

You:
> > Pentecostals
> > teach tarying for HG
> > wait for the Lord to move
> > waiting for gifts of the spirit
> > time to gossip and bicker
> > being part of the worlds problem
> 

Me:
If your definition of Pentecostal is based on obvservation, perhaps these
people should take a lesson in *waiting* from the *apostles*.

Apostles (while waiting)                             
 following the command of Jesus (Acts 1:4)
 waiting for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4)
 continued with one accord  (Acts 1:14)
 continued in prayer  (Acts 1:14)
 continued in supplication (Acts 1:14)
 dealing with church business (Acts 1:15-23)
 prayer (again)  (Acts 1:24,25)
 finished church business (Acts 1:26)
 continued with one accord  (Acts 2:1)
****PENTECOST (Acts 2:2-4)****** 

Somehow, I'm convinced that a little *active* waiting would result in feeling
a lot more like the day of *Pentecost*.



Pastor ( still can't figure out where you got those "definitions") Joe
(But I'm glad we're an Apostolic/Pentecostal Church)