February 3, 2002
Comes the Power
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Acts 2:1-4, 14-21 (NIV)
The day the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost was a day to behold. Many there thought the followers of Christ had been drinking and were drunk. I can only imagine what it must have been like. As one who has been to clubs where people were drunk, I can say that for those around to believe the believers were drunk says something to me. It says this house was not a quiet place that day. Drunks are NOT quiet. The day of the Holy Spirit came like a mighty wind. Have you heard the roar of a mighty wind? It is not quiet. Now, not all worship is to be in this manner, but look at what was there. I have sat under the preachings of one who says the gift of prophecy is dead. I have sat under one who says that visions and dreams, tongues, and being “drunk” in the spirit are a thing of the past. I challenge this teaching today. I tell you, the Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yes, the office of the prophet is no more. However, we serve one who says that we are all priests. (Revelation 1:6) We claim to live in the last days, yet we say there are no gifts of the Spirit. Or wait, some claim that only certain gifts are dead. I say to you, the Lord does not change! If we live in the last days and have not missed the return of the Lord Jesus, and I know we have not missed his return, then these gifts are alive. We need to seek the heart of God. We must become ready to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Since we do live in the last days, we need the gifting of the Spirit now more than ever. We say we believe the Word of God, then let’s believe all his word and not pick and choose that which we believe and that which we think does not count for this time. Become willing to experience all the Lord has for you. Become willing to let him fill you, as he did those on the day of Pentecost. Seek his face, worship him, and ask him to fill you in that same manner!
Father, in Jesus name, I believe. I believe that we serve a risen Lord. I believe I serve a Lord of power and might. I believe I serve the Messiah. In Jesus name, I long for all that you have promised. I long that our young men see visions and our old men dream dreams. I long that our sons and daughters step up and prophecy. Lord, for the sake of your name, let us be held captive no longer. In Jesus name, restore us to the faith in the one who has risen. In Jesus name, pour out your spirit on your people, amen!
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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