“When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘Friends what shall we do?’ Peter said [repent] turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given [receive] the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and your children’s children. And is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live. Peter told them many other things as well, he did testify and exhort, saying, save yourself from this corrupt generation, save yourself from what will happen to all evil people. Then they gladly received his [Peter’s] words and were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine [learning from the apostles], fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer. They were family to each other,” Acts 2:37-42.
Peter quoted from the Psalm that David wrote speaking of the Messiah who would be resurrected and “is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. My body will not decay, but is resurrected and glorified. And the same resurrected spirit that is upon me will be on you, and I will give you authority from the Holy Spirit with results, power with results; that you are seeing and hearing today,” Psalm 16:8.
Peter is saying to them, ‘you are here just for the thanksgiving [the first fruits]. You are not here because of the abundance of the wheat harvest, the grain harvest, and the barley harvest. Nor are you here just to remember the law that was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. You are here, children of Israel, to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God.
‘That in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and all shall receive the out pouring in those days and they shall prophesy. I will work miracles in the sky above, and wonders in the earth below. And there will be signs before the great and wonderful day the Lord appears. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Receive this releasing, and move into new life now. This is the message that God has for your life. Don’t let this season move without you. This is the timing of God for your life. Get in the right posture and receive. Don’t lose it! What shall we do to receive? Repent and be baptized! It’s not enough to be sorry for your sins. We must let God forgive them, by asking God to forgive and to remove them out of our lives. Repent with a Godly sorrow, with the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Atonement is the reconciliation [restoring] of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This is the exemplifying of mankind with God.
Live a life like forgiven sons and daughters. If you are going to live for God, you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Change the direction of your life and live for God. Depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance, mercy, and power.
Why baptism? Can’t I just repent and start living for God? Baptism shows identification with Christ that your old man is buried with Christ and your new man is resurrected with Him to live and to do the work of God by the saving of souls. This is a condition of discipleship, a sign of faith, and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is made unto you, your children, and your children’s children—even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Don’t lose it! There are too many lives connected to you. Save yourself from this corrupt generation. Don’t lose your power; don’t lose your anointing; don’t lose your purpose; don’t lose your destiny; don’t lose your favor; and don’t lose your calling.
They that gladly received, were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. They continued steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine. They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were one family—breaking of bread and praying together. Don’t lose it, but let’s keep adding to the kingdom of God!
