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The Power
The Day of Pentecost was fully come. The Jews had been celebrating Pentecost for centuries. It was a time of great celebration. It marked the time the grain harvests were completed. God had promised their ancestor Abraham He would bring his descendants into a Land that was rich and prosperous. It was a Land that flowed with milk and honey. Of course failure of the Jews to fully obey God resulted in lots of failures. The land was rich and when Israel was obedient, the harvest was plentiful. There was much reason to celebrate. But I believe that the words “fully come” have a deeper meaning. God’s intention was for not only physical blessings: They were plentiful, flocks and herds increased, fields and gardens productive, fruits and vegetables in abundance, goodly houses and established towns, peace and prosperity, are and were indeed wonderful. But God wanted more for His loved people. He wanted them to have an abundance of spiritual blessings as well. It is not only people but God Himself who longs for the return to an Eden-like relationship. In the beginning, Adam and later Eve, walked with God in the coolness of the day. We have a hymn, titled “In The Garden,”that I really enjoy. The words: “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, ant the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses, And, He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has even known.” The Day of Pentecost was fully come. God was about to reap a harvest of His own. It is not barley and wheat, but people who are ready and willing to allow God to reestablish His rightful place as Sovereign in their lives. They want God to have full control of them and to enjoy the blessings of an unbroken relationship. He is ready to endow them with The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is fully prepared to indwell them and enable them to be people who have the righteous relationship with God He fully intended. Suddenly, there was a powerful sound of a rushing, mighty wind, the Spirit wind came to rest on them and in them, to occupy their lives and souls, to equip and empower them. There was the appearance of cloven tongues like fire resting on their heads symbolizing a cleansing and refining work God was prepared to do in their lives. Some 120 of these folks had been together for ten days, praying and working toward becoming one in mind and heart. Certainly God intends to have His people live in such a loving relationship they can be seen in such love as to be considered a unified body with every individual member looking out for and encouraging one another toward perfection. God’s people are often portrayed as One body, One Building, His Church. This Day of Pentecost saw the 120 turn into a body of 3,000. This was a great harvest but not the end, for the number continued to grow to 5,000 and additional people were added on a daily basis. It is difficult to imagine God walking with 5,000+ people and finding a peaceful serene relationship. But this can be accomplished if we walk step in step with The Holy Spirit. He can provide that One on one relationship that gives peace and contentment to the human heart even in the midst of all sorts of turmoil.
Scriptures to Read
St. John 1:22-28
St. John 1:29-34
St. Matthew 4:12-22
Acts 1:4-8
Acts 1:12-14
Acts 2:1-12
Acts 2:36-47
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