The Power of Pentecost
A few years ago, in a staff meeting, Pastor Tim gave a devotion on Acts 1: 4, “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’” Sometimes we have to wait and during this time we can be available to God. Pastor Tim used the phrase, “waiting with expectation.” Waiting prayerfully together. Acts 1: 14, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” We can use this time to pause and reflect, break chains, tear down our walls and ask the Spirit to fall on us. This devotion remains with me. Waiting is hard but I do know that whatever is coming will be worth the wait! I am expecting great things!
This Sunday is Pentecost, which is the Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter or 40 days after Easter. Before Jesus was crucified, he told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after him. John 14: 16-18, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Forty days after Jesus was resurrected (10 days after he ascended into heaven), that promise was fulfilled. Peter and the early Church were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Acts 2: 1-4, “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.”
It is traditional to wear red on Pentecost Sunday as a symbol of the joy and fire of the Holy Spirit. It is a tangible reminder of an invisible reality, and that is powerful to our imaginations. If you worship tonight or Sunday, wear red expecting great things! Come Holy Spirit!