What is a Pentecostal Church?
“Pentecostal” might be a new word to you. However, it has become more common in recent years. The term has its roots in an ancient Jewish feast. The second great festival of the Jewish year. A celebration of harvest when the first fruits were presented to God.
In Acts chapter 2, the Lord gave His Spirit to those first Christian believers on Pentecost. Those events were a dividing line between the past and the present.
In the past, in the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord would, on occasion, temporarily empower specific individuals. After Pentecost, the Lord’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is available to all people who believe. This experience is open to every person who believes in Jesus Christ.
Those who experience a similar infilling of the Spirit are known as Pentecostals. They look to the Book of Acts as a guide to living out their Christian faith. Many of the key players in Acts were eyewitnesses of the life and teachings of Jesus, and it follows that they would have the most precise insight into how to worship Jesus.
What is the Pentecostal experience?
The Pentecostal experience is the same as in the Bible. Consider how the first church operated.
They were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 10:44-45, 19:2).
They baptized believers in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 22:16).
They were devoted to the Apostle’s teaching (Acts 2:42).
They continued in fellowship and prayer (Acts 2:42).
As a Pentecostal Church, Branches Church practices, teaches and leads people to these same Biblical experiences.
Branches Church is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). You can learn more about the UPCI in this video or by following the link below.