Pentecost has to be the most important date in the New Testament calendar aside from the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord. You have to understand Pentecost in order to understand what it means to all of us. Here is a look at Pentecost:

1- All Bible translations begin chapter 2 of Acts with an expression, ” When the day of Pentecost had fully come,”(NKJ) or ” When the day of Pentecost had come” (NASB).  You get the impression that God had to work the place, numbers, movements and responses for Pentecost. It seems to me that God orchestrated the event to every detail.  He brought in the right people into one place, inspired them to pray, chose the time of the day and much more. In the same way,God is putting a lot of things together in your life. Let Him do it!

2-” Suddenly,” in Acts2:2 means no one knew it would happen. The noise came from the roof top down. The difference here is that the sound filled the place where they were gathered. Usually, when a wind comes into a building it disturbs the place. However, at Pentecost, the wind did not disturb anything. The building was left intact and the people in the building were filled with the presence of God. Another interesting fact is that they were sitting down, relaxed and waiting on God in prayer. Be not afraid of God. He knows how to approach you and bless you!

3-Now, the tongues of fire were real fire. It did not look like fire. It was fire burning over each one’s head. Again it did  not burn anyone, it did not harm anyone. You and I know that fire inside a building is not a safe combination to have. But, God brought fire. In the desert, God showed Moses a fire that burned but did not consume the bush. God brought fire to purge, to clean, prepare those present to receive His presence. More fire, more cleasing. More fire, more holiness. More fire,  more power, more life!

4-One translation says, ” divided tongues of fire”, another says, “tongues of fire distributing themselves.” In each account God is personalizing His presence. The presence of God is personal. I Cor. 12:11 says, ” But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”  Let the Lord distribute to you what you need. Be humble and receive. Things will change when you stop running to achieve your own ambitions and self-centered goals.

5-” And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”  When you are filled with something, you are happy and expressive. The Holy Spirit filled the group at Pentecost with the joy of God. Let that happen to you. He can fill an empty cup to the brim and have it overflow.

This coming August 13-14-15,2009, we  will meet at the Civic Center in Athens. Get out of the house, put the dog in the kennel, close your doors and come to be filled to the brim! If you have been with us on a Brazil Mission Trip, plan to come to the Brazil Alumni dinner at 5 pm on Friday night, the 14th. God will fill your personal economy, your joy pouch, your disposition, your and heart with His presence. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PENTECOST EXPERIENCE WITH GOD, and please, do not call me charismatic;I drive a GMC.

Rick Bonfim

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city”  (Acts 1:12).

My goodness, thank God they returned to Jerusalem. These disciples were without a choice. When you cannot find direction in life, you return to your point of reference. The point of reference was Jerusalem. Jesus told them to return. They had no choice. It was only 1/4 mile from the Mt. of Olives to the city. The account in Acts then names those who returned, around 20 in all.

What they did is very important to us. They went into prayer. Why not? You have just lost your leader, the Roman soldiers are looking  for you and you are in a hostile city. The thing to do is to pray.

Acts 1:14 says, …” they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” By the way, supplication is prayer that knocks, prayer that insists.  Notice here that the women were present. Do not forget the women. Verse 13 names the apostles, but there is no mention of the women until verse 14.

What interested me comes in verse 15. It gives the account of what Peter was doing on the side. He quickly formed a Bible study with about  120 others in the city. Everybody else stayed with the group of 20. But, Peter started a Bible study by himself.  Really, Peter became an apostle when he started this new group. He had no choice either. I believe the reason they had to return to Jerusalem was because the Holy Spirit had work for them to do. People were waiting on them to get out of hiding.

Community was formed. Noticed that everyone came into community and became part of the kingdom of God in the earth. The numbers of the early church were 120 from the city and 20 among the disciples, including Mary and the brothers of Jesus; not more than 150 in all.  This happened because they RETURNED TO JERUSALEM.

Returning to Jerusalem made it possible for community to begin. After Pentecost, God used them to form a group of thousands.  Are you aware that without  community, you are not going to find the kingdom? Some of you are lonely out there, looking for God.  You will FIND GOD IN COMMUNITY!

We are opening several BIBLE STUDIES - COMMUNITY STYLE.  Every Tuesday we meet at 7:00 pm at 1100 Ramser Drive, Bogart, Georgia. Every Thursday we meet in Atlanta at a location (to be announced) beginning August 6th. One Tuesday of every month, we are to meet in Madison, Florida, downtown location to be announced. God is opening COMMUNITY MEETINGS EVERYWHERE.

We want you to be a part of our community. ALSO….. DO NOT FORGET to come to the “REKINDLE THE FLAME” CONFERENCE- Athens, GA – AUGUST  13-14-15, 2009.

Rick Bonfim

At the age of 15, my father put me on a plane to New York City. He prayed over me that God would use me to His glory. The prayer was prophetic, and it took over one hour. I cried much that night as I traveled to New York City. I had a one-way ticket, a change of clothing and a guitar. My father found Jesus through the work of the Salvation Army in Sao Paulo. So he wanted to give to America a gift of one of his sons. I was chosen and he sent me.

After one week lost at JFK, one Cuban man to help, one Greyhound Bus to Jacksonville, Florida, one job as a janitor at Springfield United Methodist Church, 6 months in Hollywood, Florida with friends who loved God and  one scholarship at North Florida Junior College, life began. All of this in less then 2 years. Life took off. I went to Brazil after 7 years and found my wife, Mary Lucy. Then it was Madison, Florida to Tallahassee, Florida at FSU, then to Emory University, and finally to the University of Georgia after seminary. All of this took  11 years. Mary Watson and Alan Lindsey shared their earnings to build a mission in Brazil and it was built. From 1960 to 2009, I have been serving the Lord with all my heart, 49 years, not counting the years I served as the pastor of a Methodist Church as a boy from the age of 14 to 15.

I lived in a church parsonage and sang all the hymns in the hymn  book. I never missed church except one time when I sneaked out to play a soccer game on a Sunday morning. Mary Lucy and I have had three children, two boys and a girl: Rick, Sammy and Sandy.

In my 49 years, I have had one vacation, used up at least 10 guitars, preached 400 times a year some years, traveled from California to Washington State to Michigan and in between, south and north and even went to Cape Cod to preach. At the age of 65, I am worth what it takes for two funerals. All bills are paid, I own a mortgage, and have no retirement plan of any kind. I have many friends all across the United States, people who love us and support us monthly.

God has a purpose for my life.  After seminary, Dr. Charles Boylen prayed for me and the Lord took over my life in a powerful way. I became an evangelist in the Methodist church in the North Georgia Conference. God has been good to me.  Every pastor I pray for received strength to serve. Every youth I laid my hands on is changed. Many have been called to serve the Lord full time. I have fought many battles and still winning in the name of Jesus.

What God did for me brought many enemies and deep rejection from the church.  I never thought I would be called an ethic minority in the church. I always viewed the church as a family, so that was a shock to me. God had to heal me of all of that. Today there is an army of servants around me. Committed, saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, this group of people will bring the kingdom where they serve. There is a joy in doing mission work and sharing food with the hungry. There is great joy in discipling others and bringing healing  to many.

I do have a request:

I would like to meet you.  You might have heard me somewhere in a church or maybe you read my blogs. You might have heard some of my music. Perhaps I came across as wired, moving back and forth and talking 100  miles a hour. I might be too Pentecostal for you. Actually, I am a Methodist by choice.  I have tried to slow down, but it  did not please God. He did this to me, and I am to please Him with the way he wants me to be. I would like to meet you and shake your hand.  Would you give me this honor?

Rick Bonfim