Do It Again Lord!

I'm writing this on Pentecost Sunday. We read the story of Pentecost in Acts 2. Strange things happened that day. Jesus's disciples were all gathered in one place, praying. That's what he'd told them to do before his ascension to the Father. He's promised them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  They didn't fully understand what that meant, but they'd seen Jesus crucified, buried, and raised from the dead – just as he'd told them he would be. They could trust him.

"The morning of Pentecost, the Spirit came on them. They heard what sounded like a mighty wind.  They saw what looked like tongues of fire above their heads. They started speaking languages they'd never studied – languages, it turned out, visitors to Jerusalem that week did know. Hearing a declaration of God's works in their own native languages, the crowds were perplexed and amazed. Unable to figure it out, they asked for an explanation. Their question gave Peter an excuse to get up and preach Jesus to them.

What would happen if the Holy Spirit did that among us? What if the Holy Spirit did a work in our lives, in our church, that made people ask questions? That's what I'm praying for.

I'm praying the Spirit will do such a radical work in my life and in your lives that people notice the change. I'm praying that the Fruit of the Spirit – love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control – will fill our lives and ooze out of our pores.

I'm praying that each of us will walk in confidence, knowing that we belong to the God who bought us with the blood of his Son. Because of that confidence we'll be able to be humble and gentle with people around us, unafraid of anything.

I'm praying that as happened with those first Christians, the Spirit fills us with boldness to share Jesus with the people around us, as we respond to their questions about the work of God in our lives.

I invite you to do two things. First, seek this filling of the Spirit for yourself and for your fellow church members. Pray for it! Second, practice saying Yes to the Spirit. Because of your prayer, the Spirit will be working in your life. Don't quench the Spirit. Say Yes. When we say Yes to the Spirit, we'll experience blessing beyond what we can imagine.

Do it again Lord, pour out your Spirit on your people again!

1 Corinthians 15:58
Rev. Richard Heyduck