by Dorette Saunders
Imagine being one of Jesus’ disciples sitting in an upstairs room on the day of Pentecost with several other disciples. Your mission: Waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. You have no idea exactly when or how it is coming, or even what it will be like, but in prayerful obedience you, and the others, wait because you have received a promise…from Jesus.
There is no countdown. The Bible tells us “Suddenly there was a noise from heaven…” (Acts 2:2, CEV). Don’t you just love it when your prayers are answered on the “suddenly” timeline, and you know that you know it is from heaven?
Then came a mighty wind and what seemed like tongues of fire that settled on the head of each person in the room.
“The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak” (Acts 2:4, CEV).
How great is our God! How awe-inspiring are his works! This was a moment of great power… the awesome power of the Holy Spirit and the imbuing of this Pentecostal power on the disciples who were gathered together on one accord.
When you and I gather in accord in God’s name, great things happen even now. God will pour out his Spirit on us. Theirs was a bold encounter with the promised Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. Jesus had prepared them saying,
“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you” (John 16:13, 14, CEV).
Glory! These men and women were fired up! Fueled by the power of God’s Spirit and the Word of Truth, they had been changed. There was glory in the house! They experienced a new birth, a new baptism, a new boldness.
Many of the people who heard the commotion were Jews, living in Jerusalem, who represented every nation on earth. They were hearing the gospel in their own languages! Understandably, they were flabbergasted. How could these Galileans proclaim such a glorious gospel in languages they had never been taught to speak?
That day, the church was born. The prophetic began unfolding. The outpouring of God’s Spirit was in effect. Hundreds of years before, God had the prophet Joel prophesy:
I will give
my Spirit to my servants,
both men and women,
and they will prophesy.
I will work miracles
in the sky above
and wonders
on the earth below.
(Acts 2:18, 19, CEV).
Have there been times in your life when God has given you a holy download of his Spirit? When human understanding does not make sense or explain the things God has revealed to you? Have there been times when others have tried to debunk your witness or make fun of your experience with the Holy Spirit? Stand fast as Peter did (Acts 2:22-24).
Pentecost gives us the opportunity to call out to God, to repent, to seek forgiveness, and ask God for the purifying fire of his Spirit that will change our lives forever.
PRAYER: Lord God, we have grown sluggish in our worship and in our work for your kingdom. Burn off the dross. Ignite our hearts that we may serve you once more as we ought to. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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