Power for Living: Volume 2 Number 2

Power for Living: Volume 2, Number 2:

Pentecost: The Birthing of the Lord's Church 

Focus Text: Acts 2: 1 - 4

 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Let us consider, for just a while, Pentecost: the birthing of the Church.

The following points should be noted about this great event:

1.  It was promised by God, and His people were specifically instructed to wait for the fulfillment and performance.

2.  The people believed the word, and they were eagerly expectant of it.

3.  The people gathered together and prayed for the performance of the word of God.

4.  The people were in one accord, no bitterness, hatred, malice, unbelief, but they were hoping and expectant together.

5.  The Holy Spirit came upon all of them, and no one was left out.

6.  They were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak in new tongues and operate in the supernatural.

7.  They commenced the preaching of the Gospel and the working of miracles by the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

 The One who dwells at the center of this great event is the Holy Spirit. Despite arriving with a roaring of wind and tongues of fire, the Spirit is very much Someone who likes to stay in the background. He works behind the scenes.

To many of us, the Holy Spirit seems to be the quietest member of the Trinity. After all, in the Scripture, the Father speaks often, and so does Jesus. But it is not too common  to find famous quotes from the Holy Spirit. It sometimes seems as if the Holy Spirit is the Trinity’s silent partner.

In fact, the  Holy Spirit does speak: Eloquently, Passionately and Fearlessly. 

On the day of Pentecost: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim” (Acts 2:4).

Moments after His descent, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples a voice, one that could not be contained in that upper room. Despite the wide range of cultures and languages gathered in Jerusalem that day, everyone present heard and understood. Someone even exclaimed, incredulously, “We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God” (Acts 2:11).

Those “mighty acts” transcend time, place, language, culture. God’s work is infinite. It is limitless. And it is timeless. Look around you and know this: Pentecost never stopped. It is still going on, here and now, wherever you may be. And every one of us is a part of it.

Pentecost is all those who are expressing faith, hope, and love in the face of persecution, martyrdom, and war and doing it today just as they did  over 2,000 years ago.

Pentecost is more than just courage or defiance. It is hope. Resounding,  hope.

It is the tens of thousands around the world who enter the Church at Easter, seeing beyond the scandals and betrayals of our own age to glimpse instead something miraculous and beautiful, the grace of God.

It goes on every time we leave church carrying within ourselves the Body of Christ, becoming the body of Christ, to transmit the Gospel in the world, “glorifying the Lord with our lives.”

We Christians have been around for 2,000 years. But know this: the Holy Spirit is just getting started.

Despite our problems, our weaknesses, our broken parts, and our sinful history, the Holy Spirit countlessly witnesses to God’s goodness in the world, a great cloud of witnesses that includes, incredibly, each of us.

When we are speechless, He helps us find the words. When we are frightened, He helps us find the boldness and courage.

Make no mistake: the Holy Spirit is one of the gifts of God that just keeps on giving.

Once we realize that and accept that, what can we do with that?

The first thing to do is: Give credit where credit is due. More often than not, we owe our deepest stirrings of faith, the most eloquent ideas, the most impulsive and creative missionary endeavours to the quiet but persistent work of the Holy Spirit.

The second thing: listen. Is something pawing at your conscience? Stirring your emotions? Planting wild and ambitious ideas in your head? It just might be the Holy  Spirit. Pray over it. Pray about it. And pray to the Holy Spirit for advice, counsel, direction. The Spirit often digs holes and plants seeds in the middle of the night so that they blossom unexpectedly in the light of day. Know that. Embrace that. Love that. It is a sign of God’s love for us.

Finally: pray. Pray to be vulnerable. Pray to be open to the promptings of the Spirit, and carve out time every day to actually pray to this member of the Trinity. Pray to shut up and listen when God is trying to tell you something, because, very often, He won’t send a message by text. He will use the Holy Spirit.

God sent the Spirit at Pentecost to keep an eye on us, to keep us busy, and to help make our ordinary lives something extraordinary. How could we refuse a gift like that?

When was the last time you gave more than a passing thought to the Holy Spirit? If it’s been a while, now is a good time to change that.

We bring the Holy Spirit into our spiritual lives every time we pray to the Spirit. This can cement our connection to this member of the Trinity and can help keep us aware and alert to His presence in our lives. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep you always mindful of His gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. Pray for His accompaniment and support. Call on Him in times of anxiety or worry. Beseech Him to “rekindle in you the fire of His love.”

The blazes of the first Pentecost are still burning, and the Holy Spirit is happy to fan the flames.

Prayers:

1.  Lord fill me more and more with the Holy Spirit everyday and empower me for greater exploits in your Kingdom.

2.  Lord, help me to recognize the voice and promptings of the Holy Spirit in my life and to walk in obedience to them.

Thanks so much for going through this article: Power for Living.

It is a weekly publication of Ultimate Power Gospel Assembly, Nigeria.

For Prayers and Counseling Contact:

Bishop Prof. Julius O. Soyinka

+2348035822785

juliussoyinka@outlook.com