Lately, I have been longing to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in
my life in a stronger way. How about you? Have you ever been in a worship
service, prayer group or even during your quiet time and sensed the Spirit
moving in a powerful way? It's addicting, amen? How can we cultivate a
greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? How can we be more open to seeing,
hearing and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in our
churches?
Turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 2 and lets look at verses 1-4:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of
a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
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....."
Imagine sensing and even hearing the Holy Spirit arrive in this way each
and every time we gathered together in the house of the Lord! A sound
from Heaven itself! You know, the early church had none of the things
that we think are so essential for spiritual success today - big buildings,
money, political influence, social status, a huge choir that can sing
your socks off, a host of musical instruments arranged around the pulpit
promising you emotion... Yet the power of the Holy Spirit was present
with those believers! How would you have felt if you had been one of Jesus
followers and had witnessed this particular event? What would you have
attributed such moving of the Spirit of God to? Was it only available
to them, or is it available to us today?
Ladies, the better we understand the working of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
the better we will be able to relate to Him and experience His power today.
Pentecost was a once for all event that will not be repeated. It was the
arrival of the Holy Spirit on the scene for the first time to indwell
believers permanently. No longer would He come and go. He came when He
did because Jesus was getting ready to die, to be raised from the dead
and would return to heaven. The Spirit would now remain...
Many people think of the Spirit of God as 'energy', as simply an 'it'
and do not stop to realize that He is a person, the very person of God
living within us! He was given to us that we might know Him on a deeply
intimate level. The fact that the Spirit IS God opens up all kinds of
wonderful possibilities for us as God's children! As we come to develop
a personal sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, we are developing a relationship
with God himself, not an 'energy' or a 'power' to assist us in performing
some sort of crazy behavior! The Spirit of God already knows us completely
- but how well do you know Him today?? How sensitive are you to His leading,
to His speaking to you? What can you do each day to invite the Holy Spirit
to reign in you and use you?
1 Thes. 5:19, "Quench not the Spirit."
Now, one thing is clear here in our text today, the believers gathered
together in Acts 2 did not know that the Holy Spirit was about to arrive
on the scene, for the Bible says He came suddenly. However, the atmosphere
in which these believers were gathered together was the perfect climate
for such an arrival, for the hearts were right within all those in attendance,
making way for the Holy Spirit's arrival to be a natural occurrence in
each one. The Bible says they were "all with one accord in one place."
Hmmm, does that describe the atmosphere of your church when believers
are gathered together there?? Of one accord? Can the Holy Spirit naturally
invade your service because the climate is right in the hearts of each
and every member in preparation for Him to come on the scene? Or is there
division due to envy, strife, gossip and every evil work... How do you
personally prepare your heart before attending a church service? Have
you even thought about doing so?? Why not strive to create within yourself
a climate in which the Holy Spirit can rush in like a mighty wind and
move in a powerful way...
Rev. 1:10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me
a great voice, as of a trumpet.."
Often times our lives are so rushed that we don't take the time to prepare
our hearts to be in the house of God. Prior to most services, we bark
at the kids to get cleaned up, holler at them to put their church clothes
on and come to dinner, say a brief prayer thanking God for the food, and
then speedily shove hot dogs down our throats without even tasting them.
We then frantically clean up the kitchen while chewing our last bite,
bellow for everyone to get in the car and peel out to service leaving
our neighbors wondering if we are on our way to the emergency room or
something! On the drive there, we husbands and wives might dispute all
the way to church over some detail of the day, then arrive with smiles
pasted on as we enter the church doors happily shaking hands with folks
we pass by. The mad dash begins as we pass out the bags of clothes we
brought to give away, gather what items we have loaned to others, make
the kids go potty, avoid Sally so-and-so who we are upset with, and then
collapse into a pew ready to hear from the Spirit of God?? I don't think
so! Our hearts are anywhere but in the service, amen? In fact, they're
probably back home finishing the rest of the hot dog! Our hearts are hardly
in one accord with those within our own home, let alone our church family!
Sadly enough, we wouldn't recognize the rushing mighty wind of the Holy
Spirit if it blew us off the pew!
2 Cor. 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God."
Ephes. 4:3, "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace."
The Spirit came because the time had been set aside for believers to gather
together and they respected that time, they honored it - they prepared
for it! They gathered together in one place, not you in your living room
at home and me in mine, but TOGETHER in the house of the Lord because
it was important and because God said to!
Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more,
as ye see the day approaching."
Ladies, did you ever consider the fact that you can hinder the service
in your church of which you are a member by staying home for no good reason?
Your presence exhorts others, encourages their spirits, lifts them, adds
to the unity necessary for the Holy Spirit to show up! Shame on you for
not caring about others if you are selfishly staying home and ignoring
God's command to be there! The Bible says we should be sober about our
faithfulness toward church attendance in these last days! What about Wednesday
night service? Are you found in your church then when the doors are open,
or are you out galavanting somewhere else?? Are you conveniently squeezing
God in and around your personal affairs or the affairs of your children?
Your lazy attitude toward the house of God can be a hindrance to the Spirit
of God whenever you are not in attendance! Is that really the only contribution
you want to make to your local church, to be a hindrance??
2 Cor. 2:13, "I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my
brother..."
The Holy Spirit came because the believers were also gathered together
in one accord. With the same heart, the same root, same harmony of minds,
in agreement, same consent of opinions. Do you have that kind of smooth
flowing relationship with the family members within your own home? How
about with your church family? What do you need to take care of on your
part to see that this takes place? If not, when your family comes through
the doors of the church bringing with it all it's tension, you hinder
the moving of the Holy Spirit within the church! Ladies, we need to take
care of these things BEFORE we get to the house of the Lord! The Holy
Spirit is waiting to rush in and we have set up a wall of discord instead
of working at being in one accord! Don't go home blaming the pastor for
a dead service when it's probably your own fault...
Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your
God, and your sins have hid his face from you..."
How about taking some time today and begin preparing your heart for the
next church service, each and every time before you enter the house of
the Lord? Purpose in your heart that you will make way for the Holy Spirit
to move so that you can get to know the person of God in a more intimate
way and hear from Him for a change! Don't settle for living powerless,
empty lives when you have it within yourselves to make a difference in
the way church service affects you! And then take it a step further, prepare
your heart prior to your own quiet time and prayer time too. Ever try
reading your Bible while you are mad at your husband? Can't do it, can
you? Get it right with him first, and then open the Word! Start cultivating
a greater sensitivity to the person of God who indwells you. You'll be
pleasantly surprised how you will have paved the way for Him to rush in
and move in your life. I guarantee you'll come away filled and full!
Romans 8:5, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
