“Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear!” Acts 2:2 (TPT)
This Sunday is Pentecost, the birthday of the church! Quite a significant day, to say the least! After Jesus’ ascension the disciples gathered together daily to pray, worship and wait for what He had promised. Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer.” Then according to Acts 2:1-4, on the Day of Pentecost they were still “all together in one place” doing what they had been doing. And suddenly everything changed forever. One second life was as usual, then suddenly the heavens were ripped open and touched the earth. Suddenly a loud roar and a powerful wind blew. Suddenly flames of fire lighted on everyone in the room and they all spoke in tongues. Suddenly “everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Suddenly the church was born! Those who had been waiting, praying constantly, had prepared a place for the Holy Spirit to come to. And it was quite an experience, life changing, history making indeed! Suddenly, they received the promised One whom, Jesus said He had to go to heaven to release (John 16:7).
Paul calls the Holy Spirit our guarantee of eternity (Ephesians 1:13-14). Today we need the Holy Spirit as much as they did at the very beginning. Sadly, much of the church has rendered Him as an extra, non-essential. Much of the church now operates in a form of godliness without the power (2 Timothy 3:5). But there is no way for us to do what Jesus did, let alone the greater works He promised we would do (John 14:12) without the Holy Spirit. The church is no threat to the devil without the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to finish the assignment that Jesus gave us (Matthew 28:18-20). But that is about to change… SUDDENLY!
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost those near the room came running, and ultimately 3000 people joined the church that first day (Acts 2:41). Please prepare yourself to be a recipient of the outpouring that is coming. Like the Disciples, pray constantly, waiting, and believing for the Great Awakening that so many are prophesying about. Come together with others crying out for God to prepare the way. We are desperate for the Holy Spirit. Obey Jesus’ instructions to ask fervently for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:9-13). Ask God to prepare your church for this Pentecost Sunday, that He would be welcomed there. Cry out for revival in our city and across our nation! Thank Him that you are alive at such a time as this!!!
