Pentecost

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….
Jesus promised power at Pentecost. Miracle working power. Ordinary people empowered by extraordinary might from Almighty God. When Pentecost came, there were 120 folks that answered the call to be present. Many more were invited but as we see at our churches every Sunday, not everyone that gets asked to come actually shows up.
Those 120 were about to find themselves in the middle of a supernatural event that still shapes lives today. A sound, a sighting, a sensation, a spiritual manifestation...it was all part of the incredible Holy Spirit experience. I have often been amazed at the things that seem to freak church folks out about this story. As the pastor of a non-denominational church I have always been open to whatever the Lord wanted to do with me and the church that I was engaging. So I am not too frightened by any of the happenings in our text. Yet so many that I have spoken to over the years have been somewhat bewildered about these "tongues" that were being spoken. The language of the Spirit. Churches have divided, ministers have argued all over something that was orchestrated by God to launch the church. Crazy isn't it? I wonder why doesn't anyone have trouble with the "tongues of fire" that were resting on each head! That seems strange to me!
Pentecost happened so that the church could be filled to capacity with enough power to do whatever was necessary to share the Gospel and introduce more and more people to Jesus. So that each of us could have with healed bodies, a life-changing prayer life and a wonderfully abundant way to walk this journey on earth. Don't let "extraordinary" happenings distract you from the BIG picture that God is trying to show us. Share your testimony. Pray for the sick. Sing spiritual songs. You can affect this earth with His power because it is already in you.