04/28/2024
Pentecost Sunday falls on May 19th this year, but in my devotional reading this morning E.M. Bounds wrote in affirmation of it and the gift of the Holy Spirit. As a reminder of this event I have included 4 verses of scripture beginning with the promise Jesus conveyed to us of the Comforter's coming....
“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Acts 1:4-5 KJV
And this passage of scripture concludes with the realization of that promise...
“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.”
Acts 2:3-4 KJV
I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit wasn't breathed onto the apostles until several days after the Ascension of Christ, and I also agree with Pastor Bounds’ belief that one can receive this same gift today.
Regarding the period of waiting for God's promise, Bounds states that "the answer is found in the fact that His disciples, with the women, spent several days in the Upper Room, in continued prayer."
Bounds also believed that prayer can bring Pentecost today. He says as much as he writes "Prayer can bring a Pentecost today if there is the same kind of praying, for the promise has not lost its power and vitality." This statement was from a Methodist preacher... not a Pentecostal pastor.
Today we seem to practice a form of "Church Lite" and a watered down "Low Calorie" faith when it comes to spiritual miracles and wonders. We have conformed our worship and faith to the world and not the world to our faith. People talk about healing, angels, and roaring winds but they don't expect to see, hear, or feel them. Sadly, many modern day churches feel this way about Pentecost and the filling of the Holy Spirit too.
There are men and women in every church and denomination who have experienced this miracle. Many are hushed or remain quiet out of pressure from their churches... But the promise can't be denied and their experience bears fruit. If you go to such a church that is alright; you probably hear these people referred to in phrases such as "_______ can really pray”... “You can feel the power in his words" or "Sister Mary visited and prayed for that little sick boy and it really comforted his family”... or perhaps, “I sure am glad that the Chemo worked."
Prayer can indeed bring Pentecost today... And not just as a day of celebrating the past occurrence, but in receiving God's promise into ourselves NOW. Just as communion and foot washing weren't onetime events, neither was Pentecost, and the promise of God is awaiting your fervent prayers.
In a couple of weeks we will celebrate this historical event called Pentecost, but as we approach that day let’s try putting some meat on our Low Calorie faith. Let’s pray during the coming days for God's promise will be realized in our own lives. God's Word is the same today as it was then, and the promises of Jesus are just as valid in our modern world. Are we brave enough to pray for the comforter to come? Are we able to believe what Jesus said to His apostles, just as the apostles did? Are we firm enough in our faith, even that tiny mustard seed we might possess, that we will not only wait, but pray expectedly in the coming of this promised Spirit?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the promise that Jesus made regarding the coming Comforter, and for His telling us to wait for the arrival of that wonderful mystery. Thank you for the faith of a disciple that we too have been given, and the prayers we too can pray as we anticipate the Holy Spirit’s arrival. If we find ourselves being of little faith Lord then open our eyes to all of your true promises in which we believe, and show us that this is yet one more of them. Thrill us with a rushing wind Father, and let us be caught up in our faith just as the apostles were when you poured your Spirit over them. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy and true is your Word today, just as it was before the birth of Jesus, on the day of His arrival to the Virgin Mary, and as it remains in holiness for us today. Wash us in the cleansing blood of your Son Jesus, and open our eyes as we seek out our own salvations in fear and trembling… a salvation that you promised each of us in Him by grace. On Judgement Day Father, see only the face of Jesus, the perfect one, and in the moment that our judgement is being passed, see not a single remnant of our old sin filled selves. In this incredible moment give us an understanding and remembrance of your Word as we are tended to by your Holy Spirit, and begin to praise and sing prayers unto you for all eternity. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry out to the heavens, as we praise you Father… Amen!
Rich Forbes