Although, after His Resurrection, Jesus breathed His life into the disciples saying “Receive Ye the Holy Ghost” (Matt 20:28), He later commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power to be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the (then known) world.(Acts 1:8)

As they waited in obedience in that Upper Room, praying and praising God, on the day of Pentecost there was a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power and love. Even as we read about it, our hearts swell at thought of the coming of the Holy Spirit when we invite Him on the wings of worship and praise and prayer, abandoned to Christ and obedience. That day in that upper room, they were incredibly transformed from a small fearful group of 120 disciples into a dynamic community who openly began to spread the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus, soon becoming known for their love and care freely given as freely as they received it from the Holy Spirit. (Matt 10:8).
As the Apostles dedicated their lives “continually to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4), the word of God spread and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and beyond. Think about the average meeting size in your church. Can an outpouring of God in your Church service result in 3000 saved in your city, like that first day. Is your Church, available and willing for your Pastor to, like Peter, preach Holy Spirit inspired message. Are you willing, that believers be added to your number. They were added daily to the Church (Acts 2:47) after that first Pentecost. What will you do with the 3000 who may be headed to your Church?
Throughout the book of Acts we see the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of the believers, empowering them and using them in the expansion of the Church as they moved out in obedience to His leading. It was as they lived in complete surrender to the will of God that they boldly spoke the gospel with signs and wonders following, although it meant risking imprisonment, persecution and even death.

The Holy Spirit is still active as He was in the days of the early church. When His ability and our availability combine we can also move out in faith and power and turn our world upside down for Jesus. Are you ready to topple the existing mundane and see a new vibrant on fire Church rise from the ashes of complacency?

Prayer

Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope

By Corinne Nathaniel | May 31st, 2017