Today we celebrate Pentecost! If there has ever been a time that the world has needed to see the Church full of the Spirit, it’s now. Anyone whose life has been changed by the power of the gospel knows that it didn’t happen because of some doctrine or creed. The change came through the promised Holy Spirit. We need Him now more than ever.
The Backdrop
In John 14, Jesus said that He wouldn’t leave us as orphans. Preparing His followers for His departure, He promised, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth…” John 14:16-17 NKJV. Later on, at the time of His ascension, Jesus said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 NKJV)
Wow, what a promise! God coming to live inside of man! And the only prerequisite to His followers at that time…tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power. Sounds easy enough, right? It happened just as Jesus promised, and in Acts 2 the church was born, as the Holy Spirit came to dwell in those who listened to Christ’s instruction and tarried in Jerusalem. Sadly, many of them lost their way.
See, if you go back just one chapter to Acts 1, you will discover that Peter stood up among those who had gathered in the upper room, and the scripture records that there were only about a hundred and twenty (see Acts 1:15). Yet, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, over 500 saw Jesus after His resurrection. Let me ask you a question – If only 120 gathered together in Jerusalem, what happened to the other 380 people who had been invited to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit? Doctrinally, this point has been debated for many years and there is a myriad of valid viewpoints. I simply want to propose a thought – maybe some were detoured on their journey from the Mt. of Christ’s ascension to the upper room.
Imagine if you had been one of the ones that received a personal invitation to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. What would you have felt like the day after Pentecost when you caught wind of all that had happened? Well friend, the truth is we have all been invited to the upper room. Sadly, we have also been guilty of being detoured. How many times have we allowed the busyness of life to keep us from receiving more of God? Our hands have been so full with the cares of this life that we haven’t been able to lay hold of God’s promises. It’s time we tarry until we are filled once again!
The Invitation Stands
The good news is, even if you missed Him yesterday, the invitation to receive the Holy Spirit is still available today. We must seek Him. We must pursue Him. We must allow Him to search every part of our lives. Church, we can’t go another step without the promised Helper. As the great Reinhard Bonnke once said, “The less Holy Spirit we have, the more cake and coffee we need to keep the church going.” Friend, it’s time we pursue the Holy Spirit with fresh tenacity!
The Less Holy Spirit we have, the more cake and coffee we need to keep the church going. Share on X
Caleb and Ali live in East Tennessee where they serve at The Lift Church. With boldness and conviction, their deepest desire is to see the church revived and the world awakened. Learn more about The Lift by visiting theliftchurch.tv.
