ACTS 2 (NLT)
The Holy Spirit Comes
2 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Everybody loves the spectacular celebration of a new birth. The new life, the fulfillment of expectations, the excitement of a brand new life and the unlimited potential it represents. The 2nd chapter of Acts records the birth of today’s Church age with the gift of the Holy Spirit and the unlimited potential that comes with it n our lives. Often we are drawn spectacular events and happenings that take place around us. We go to ballgames, car races, or concerts to name just a few and we are looking for the spectacular and exciting to happen at any moment. It is odd why we don’t have the same expectations when we go to a worship service or Church gathering. There we expect “normal” and most often that is exactly what we get so we continue each meeting with the same expectations. Nothing to big or too small just where it always is and our expectation is met with success. We often then begin to think of Normal as a purpose for us in the Church. It does not look like from the scriptures that God planned for our gathering and meeting time to have “normal” expectations?
Michaelangelo said – “ The Greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it BUT that it is too low and we reach it.”
It is clear in the writing of Luke on the day of Pentecost that God’s fulfillment of Jesus promise of a helper and encourager was met in only a way God could provide and that was SPECTACULAR ! Can you imagine the feeling in a room of people where “everybody present” was filled with the Holy Spirit? Pastors go into pulpits every week with a thought out and God guided message in hopes of just reaching one person. If the message today opens a persons heart or plants a seed that yields the Holy Spirit then it is a spectacular success. That is because most weeks go by with no movement and just a normal week to week process of what we call Church. Gods ability and willingness to provide the spectacular to “everyone” under the presence of His Holy Spirit are with us every week. May we open our ears and heart to God’s word and His Spirit that it may accomplish something spectacular in us. That it may fill us in a way that we would serve our purpose with the unlimited potential the spirit provides us.