Pentecost

Today we remember the day of Pentecost when the disciples of Jesus were all gathered together in an upper room.  Jesus had told them to wait until they were dwelt with power from on high.  So, that is what they did, they waited.   While they were all gathered together they prayed and they were all in one accord (what would that be like?)

There they were praying and all of a sudden something happened.  There was a sound of a mighty rushing wind that came from heaven and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then believers saw what appeared to them to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest upon each one that was there.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.  This marks the birth of the Church. 

Acts 2:1-13,

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^b

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome

11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”                            

What a great moment that was when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers of Jesus Christ all gathered there in the upper room praying and crying out to the Lord.  Sometimes the Church seems to pay little attention to the work of the Holy Spirit.  We tend to talk about God the Father and Jesus the Son of God, but when it comes to the Holy Spirit we seem to shy away from Him and that is very unfortunate.

Sometimes we end up quenching the Spirit's fire in our lives and in the life of the Church by clinging to our traditions and doing things that we have always done them instead of being led by God the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is God.  He is the third person of the Holy Trinity.  When we come to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. 

We must walk in the Spirit on a daily basis which means surrendering ourselves to Him each and every moment of everyday.  It is not that we need more of the Holy Spirit in our lives as much as the Holy Spirit needs more of us.  Sometimes we fail to submit to His directions and His promptings.  We think we can handle things and all that is going on around us, but guess what?  We can't.  We are very weak and we are prone to wander away from the Lord.  It is the Holy Spirit who will try to keep us on track if we are taking the time to listen for His promptings and direction.

Let's submit to the lead of the Holy Spirit in our lives in a greater way and trust His direction.  May we be willing to listen to His promptings and may we surrender ourselves completely to Him to honor and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord,

Thank You for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all of those who are trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Forgive us O Lord for quenching the Holy Spirit at times.

Help us to submit and walk in the Spirit.

Lead us and guide us.

In Jesus Name we pray,

Amen.