It’s Pentecost Sunday and I’ve Got the Power!

With two of my grandchildren, we recently watched the movie “Bruce Almighty”, a spoof about a guy (Jim Carrey) who was complaining that God was treating him poorly. Soon after, God (Morgan Freeman) actually contacts Bruce and offers him all of His powers if he thinks he can do a better job. Bruce accepts and goes on a spree, using his new-found abilities for selfish use and sings “I’ve got the POW-ER!” Hilarious movie but when I say "I’ve got the power” it’s because of Pentecost Sunday and the power that was given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost Sunday commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and those in the Upper Room. It occurs 50 days after Easter (10 days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven), recorded in Acts 1:12-2-13. Pentecost fulfills Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15) and it launches the large-scale spreading of the Gospel. It was after Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit that Peter (the same one who denied Jesus, the coward, fearful, the impulsive activist) could speak with boldness and courage. Acts 2:41 records that he spoke to the crowd and some 3,000 people were baptized. Now that's what I call POWER!

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said these words to His disciples ”When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you shall receive POWER." (Acts 1:8) How awesome is that? A couple of days ago I met with a young woman to encourage her as she was going through some pretty tough times. I told her how I weathered many storms of life because of the Holy Spirit's power that helps us successfully make it through this thing called LIFE. And, Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to share the Good News boldly and unafraid. That same power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is for believing and obedient Christians in our generation to turn our world around.

I believe the Holy Spirit, the one Who Jesus said, “I must go away so that the Holy Spirit can come”, is the answer to our actions AND reactions of faith and trust and love and power. How was it possible to be a strong and bold witness of Jesus Christ back in those days of such tyranny and oppression? How is it possible for us to overcome the challenges in our lives? How is it possible to experience John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

It is all possible by acknowledging and living in the Spirit! The moment we received Christ, the Holy Spirit not only came to indwell us, He imparted to us the power to overcome the enemy’s tactics. "Be filled" means to allow the Holy Spirit to produce his attitudes and actions in the life of the believer. We received an amazing gift of the Holy Spirit when we received Christ. In fact – a big bushel of fruit. Galatians 5:22 -- "The Fruit of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control." Just look at what being “filled with the Spirit” provides to us as we acknowledge Holy Spirit in our life.

People ask me: “What’s your secret?” “How can you always be so happy?” It is no secret. It is the natural product of embracing the Holy Spirit’s presence and fellowship that’s called “Living in the Spirit”. Through life's ups and downs, I can tell you I know peace. I know faith. I know comfort because of the Holy Spirit. Walking in dependence upon the power that is there.

Come Holy Spirit! Consume me! Won’t you pray this prayer with me today in celebration of Pentecost Sunday and Holy Spirit that lives in you? It's simply acknowledging His presence and His power that is available today.

“Dear Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, welcome into my life. I know you are living in me, and today I acknowledge that you are my helper, my counselor, my confidant, my comforter and my peace. I ask you to take complete control of my life. I ask for your fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to be evident in my life. Lord, I ask that you fill me to overflowing with your precious Holy Spirit – baptize me from the top of my head to the bottom of our feet – the same way you filled those in the Upper Room. I ask you for a radical transformation like the disciples had when they went from fear, anxiety, timidity, and concern to empowered people of love, faith, boldness, and courage. May I receive you fully and completely. I ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!!!