In Acts 2:16, Peter quotes Joel, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel . . .” referring to what was suddenly happening in and through the disciples on the day of Pentecost. So, what exactly is “this”?

“This is that . . .”

• Spirit-controlled meeting, not religious programming.
• Fire and passion, not passivity and inaction.
• Boldness, not coldness.
• Utter amazement and bewilderment, not boredom.
• Christ’s ongoing presence and power, not just a religious hour.
• Spirit-given, heart-felt utterance, not one man’s mentally prepared speech based on study.
• Actual demonstrations of Jesus reality, not just presentations about Him.
• Gifts of the Spirit freely operating, not collecting gifts from those present.
• An outpouring of God’s Spirit, not a sit-silently-and-hear-it lecture.
• Sons and daughters prophesying, not being silenced by a program.
• Dreams and visions being released from God, not dry methodology.
• Tongue-talking, not miracle-balking.
• People “cut to the heart” by what they’ve seen and heard, not people eager to get away and get on with their day.
• Perplexed people asking, “What does this mean?” not impatient people asking, “When will this be over?”
• Christians looking like they’re drunk, not looking like they’re sitting through a formal service.
• People speaking up while Peter was talking about Jesus and asking, “What shall we do to be saved? not, adhering to a religious protocol of silence.
• Warning and pleading with people to repent, not helping them to live their “best life now.”
• Calling people out of the “corrupt” contemporary culture, not making them comfortable within it.
• Supernatural impact (thousands set on fire for Jesus and baptized), not church (or synagogue) as usual.
• Being actively Spirit-led, not just being casually preacher fed.

I want “that” with all my heart. I’ve searched for and sought “that” all my life and will continue to do so as long as God gives me breath. Lord, send Your fire!

The focus of true Christianity is on the living Jesus, not on a preacher. Christian ministry should be done in the name of Jesus, not in any other name. The body of Christ is supposed to submit to Christ as its living Head, not to human hierarchy that tries to run it like an institution. See Ephesians 5:23-24.