Sadly there is one really great event mentioned in scripture that gets overlooked virtually every year by many Christians, especially - of all people - Pentecostals and their pastors! And I for one can’t understand why!
Funny thing is…how do I find out each year when Pentecost Sunday is going to fall? Easy! I don’t only count 50 days after Easter, but I phone a local Anglican church! They always know. Yet, such mainline churches don’t relate to the fiery Pentecostal message as we Penties do!
The incredible first Pentecost
Jesus had given his disciples an assurance that they would not be left on their own to fulfil the great commission after he’d returned to heaven. That the great Holy Spirit - the Comforter - would come to assist them in supernatural ways to establish the kingdom.
This stupendous event happened on the first Pentecost Sunday when 120 disciples were gathered in the upper room (Acts 2). Jesus had directed them to wait until they were endued – clothed – with the power of the Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1: 8) and they waited in great expectation.
And he had promised them a Spirit baptism akin to fire (Acts 1:5)! Indeed at times the infilling of the Holy Spirit and his refreshing touches are likened unto fire which cleanses and energises.
The early disciples’ obedience led to incredible events. Read with excitement Acts 2…the infilling of the Spirit (v1-4), worshipping God in languages new for the disciples (v7-11), the birth of the church through the first great outreach and 3000 saved (v41), the expectation for more (v38).
More than worship in tongues!
Some people still wrongly think Pentecost is only about speaking in tongues and they have a couldn’t-care-less attitude toward it. How sad!
Jesus himself received the touch of the Holy Spirit before he began his ministry (Mark. 2:10). So does every Christian who wants to faithfully serve him! This was why he advised his first followers not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled with the power of the Spirit.
Filled with the Spirit, baptised with or in the Spirit, clothed, endued, swamped, overwhelmed… whatever term one chooses to use, we’re talking about the supernatural of God coming on us to assist us mere human beings represent Jesus in our neighbourhood, church, workplace, marketplace, overseas trips, our ministry.
Whatever you may call it, I call this the visa to go through the gateway of the supernatural into the operation of the 1 Corinthian 12 manifestation gifts of the Spirit to help grow the church.
Expect a special Pentecost Sunday every year!
Personally, I delight to share somewhere every Pentecost Sunday. It’s May 31 this year and I’ll have the privilege of sharing to around 20,000 people in India. I’m expecting the Spirit to move, richly bless and bring glory to Jesus! And I have prayer supporters believing accordingly.
What are you expecting in your church? And through you, not just the preacher or pastor?
Here’s what Pentecost should mean to every Christian. It is about the…
1. People
Traditionally it was a time when people gave thanks in anticipation of the coming harvest. Now a new harvest was coming about when souls would be saved and God’s laws would be so written on their hearts so that they would love, obey and serve him with a new inner strength.
It was the first real ‘soaker service’ …120 people waiting on God. And their lives would never be the same again. They would go out, make history, and change the world!
Your own personal baptism in the Holy Spirit is to enable you to be a more effective witness for Jesus and to be a carrier of his good news to a lost generation.
2. Promise
People often let people down through promise-breaking. God never breaks his promises! Read some of them in Eze. 18:31; 36:27; Isa. 32:15; 44:3 and Joel 2:28.
In John 14 -16, Jesus reiterated the promise of something outstanding for his disciples… the Holy Spirit. And, as promised, the Spirit came to enable them to fulfil Jesus’ work on planet earth.
We too need the Holy Spirit. His infilling enables us too to extend the kingdom of God in our day, in this troubled and very insecure world. And we can do so with confidence as we move in faith.
3. Person
The Holy Spirit is the most wonderful person you can know. He is the gift of God! Not a thing or force but an incredibly wise and powerful person. In John 14 Jesus kept referring to ‘him’ as a ’he’… a person. He’s the third person in the godhead!
The Message Bible describes the Spirit this way: ‘I (Jesus) will talk to the Father and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.’ Hey! I like that. No wonder I call the Holy Spirit my Forever Friend!
We all need the Holy Spirit. I sincerely encourage you to develop a deep relationship with him! Talk to him every day and expect to be used by him powerfully (or simply) to bless others.
4. Presence
He’s also a precious presence…the presence of love. Some sense his touch - the breath of love or a flowing river or a refreshing breeze. Or that dynamic fire mentioned earlier. Whatever, you just know he’s there and he’s going to communicate God’s love and power in some special way.
However you sense him, you’re aware he’s there caring for you. At times you can feel the strength of his arms around you and you get encouraged, renewed and replenished. And you’re enabled to overcome satanic opposition and achieve much for Jesus.
I encourage every Christian to develop a deep relationship with the blessed Holy Spirit through prayer, trust and active service. And to seek a fresh touch of his presence daily. Just ask him!
5. Power
Mark 16:10 tells us that as the first disciples accepted the privilege of the great commission, the Holy Spirit moved with them in power.
The Message Bible puts it this way: ‘(They) went everywhere preaching, the master working right with them, validating the message with undisputable evidence.’ How? Signs and wonders in amazing action as the Spirit responded to their faith! (Read the book of Acts)
We need to soak in the Spirit and believe for signs and wonders to flow through us at every given opportunity! Remember the old chorus ‘We are a People of Power’? Let it be so today! Jesus is in heaven; we are his representatives on earth today. And we have the authority to move in the Spirit’s supernatural to make both Christians and non-Christians take notice.
6. Potential
Satan and doubters and ‘putter-downers’ would have us think that we can’t achieve anything. But we can in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants to use all of us, not just pastors! You are a person of immeasurable potential when you allow the Spirit to flow through you. Believe it!
Great confidence comes as we wait on God and the assurance of an ability to do whatever he wants us to. Don’t let the enemy - or anyone - put us off achieving much for Jesus.
7. Present
The ministry effective holy fire of the Holy Spirit is also about today…the present day!
Some people still foolishly teach that the days of signs and wonders are over, that they were only for New Testament days. That somehow they ‘died off’ after Paul and Peter died. And - worse still - that we don’t need them now because we have the Bible.
How ridiculous! Nowhere on scripture does it teach that the Holy Spirit’s work is over for our day! We need Spirit-filled Christians who will boldly go through the gateway of the supernatural, let the fire of the Spirit fall afresh on us and then and do mighty things for Jesus!
We live in a day of trouble when both unsaved and Christians need to see God in action! And we can…supernaturally through his saints filled with the enabling, the anointed fire of the Holy Spirit.
Let the fire fall afresh this Pentecost!
About Us
- Robert and Maureen McQuillan - Life Focus Ministries
- Inspirational speakers Drs Robert and Maureen McQuillan are regular warmly welcomed guest speakers at churches as well as at business gatherings and leadership sessions. Many ministers, especially those younger, inexperienced or struggling,appreciate their ‘pastor’s heart’ to mentor. Willing to travel extensively, blessing, challenging and inspiring churches, pastors and potential leaders, they have a reputation of (if available of course) 'being willing to come along at the drop of a hat.' Their special retreats are 'Moving in the Spirit' and 'Marriage - The Real CSI!'
Showing posts with label pentecostal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pentecostal. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Saturday, November 01, 2008
LakeLand Lament?
It was sad news indeed to learn recently that the news-attracting Lakeland Revival has ‘shut down.’ Sad not because some were priggishly saying, ‘See, I was right, it wasn’t of God and didn’t last!’ and too late came the ‘well-known big voices’ for fatherly intervention, correction and advice. But because it has meant that yet another Holy Spirit phenomena had phased out.
Yes, it was obvious that certain actions and claims needed challenging and some ground rules needed putting in place - if the blessing was to continue. But good results were happening; ministries were being bold with Holy Spirit expectancy; people were being miraculously touched and the news of a mighty God was getting out there!
It would seem that those who ran the revival down and bad-mouthed it just couldn’t see the bigger picture behind it all and praise God for the good things that were occurring during the short months of supernatural activity. Or give God, at least, some credit being original and willing to use non-perfect, but willing humans!
The bigger picture
To be frank, the Lakeland Revival’s closing has been expected for some time by those operating the 1 Corinthians 12:10 gift of discerning (incidentally, not ‘discernment’ as some repeatedly erroneously put it…that’s a completely different matter that I’ll deal with in another blog). I’m referring to those who simply were aware in their spirits that while good things were happening and God should be praised, all was not kosher.
And the bigger picture is this…at the proverbial end of the day Lakeland was yet another reason - and lesson - why Christians individually must draw close to the Holy Spirit in a meaningful and personal way; know the word and church history (especially pentecostal and charismatic) and check everything out - not just go blithely hiking here and there after ‘happenings, big names or those currently in the limelight.’
The devil is sidetracking so many these days and more distractions will inevitably come! People seek to run to certain places where it’s ‘all happening’ and to hear and be blessed by certain personalties, possibly kind of fulfilling 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
Oh it’s good, if you can, to visit and to be expecting to receive from God. But if you do, come away praying and believing for the Spirit to move in and through you and your own church! A Lakeland type revival will enrich any church!
And – very importantly – know that you can’t pinhole the Holy Spirit! When he wants to move on, or change the scenario or the personalities involved, he will!
What should we be doing now?
What do we do then about what seemed a fresh move of God that went on for several great months? Attack those involved? Write it off? Blame the devil? Revel in disappointments? How do we respond?
Very simple, especially when you realise that such pentecostal moves and personalities have come before, lasted for a while and then either mysteriously disappeared or progressed into something new and even better for the kingdom's sake, or simply set a landmark for future expectation eg revivals or outpourings such as occurred in:
Yes, it was obvious that certain actions and claims needed challenging and some ground rules needed putting in place - if the blessing was to continue. But good results were happening; ministries were being bold with Holy Spirit expectancy; people were being miraculously touched and the news of a mighty God was getting out there!
It would seem that those who ran the revival down and bad-mouthed it just couldn’t see the bigger picture behind it all and praise God for the good things that were occurring during the short months of supernatural activity. Or give God, at least, some credit being original and willing to use non-perfect, but willing humans!
The bigger picture
To be frank, the Lakeland Revival’s closing has been expected for some time by those operating the 1 Corinthians 12:10 gift of discerning (incidentally, not ‘discernment’ as some repeatedly erroneously put it…that’s a completely different matter that I’ll deal with in another blog). I’m referring to those who simply were aware in their spirits that while good things were happening and God should be praised, all was not kosher.
And the bigger picture is this…at the proverbial end of the day Lakeland was yet another reason - and lesson - why Christians individually must draw close to the Holy Spirit in a meaningful and personal way; know the word and church history (especially pentecostal and charismatic) and check everything out - not just go blithely hiking here and there after ‘happenings, big names or those currently in the limelight.’
The devil is sidetracking so many these days and more distractions will inevitably come! People seek to run to certain places where it’s ‘all happening’ and to hear and be blessed by certain personalties, possibly kind of fulfilling 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
Oh it’s good, if you can, to visit and to be expecting to receive from God. But if you do, come away praying and believing for the Spirit to move in and through you and your own church! A Lakeland type revival will enrich any church!
And – very importantly – know that you can’t pinhole the Holy Spirit! When he wants to move on, or change the scenario or the personalities involved, he will!
What should we be doing now?
What do we do then about what seemed a fresh move of God that went on for several great months? Attack those involved? Write it off? Blame the devil? Revel in disappointments? How do we respond?
Very simple, especially when you realise that such pentecostal moves and personalities have come before, lasted for a while and then either mysteriously disappeared or progressed into something new and even better for the kingdom's sake, or simply set a landmark for future expectation eg revivals or outpourings such as occurred in:
- Topeka in December 1900/January 1901
- Azusa Street in 1906
- Wales, Belfast and elsewhere
- the initial thrusts of Sunderland, Holy Trinity Brompton (London), Toronto and Pensacola, and so on
And personalities such as Smith Wigglesworth have come and gone, the renowned Rodney Howard-Browne has moved on to new areas of productive service for the Spirit.
They all happened or operated differently, even unusually. But they had one thing in common…they left a legacy! We should…- Not write off such wonders and blame the enemy or some person or system or mishandling for everything!
- Gratefully thank God for the wonders and healings that genuinely occurred
- Go on, as has been requested, praying for all who have been involved. That disappointments will be dropped and great new things will happen, that ministries will be refreshed and renewed
- Look beyond the one or place the Spirit was using (they're only gifted channels after all and the people involved are like you and me, very human! But at least they dared to be instruments of grace!)
- Seek after the blessed Holy Spirit ourselves with all our heart. He’s the one who causes the wonders, yet so few Christians have taken the time to read the many scriptures about him and get to know him on a personal level. Or dared to be used supernaturally by him
- Very importantly, expect the Holy Spirit to be moving powerfully in our own lives and through our local church! And even in any other new, fresh way He wants to! In other words be encouraged and find your own destiny - and your local church's - in God.
Stephen Strader is to be congratulated for his courage in boldly allowing the Holy Spirit to flow in his Ignited Church. He himself has wisely stated not knowing how long the revival would last.
Of interest, I recall way back in ’95 I was in Orlanda, Florida visiting Steve Strang’s great Charisma organisation en route to LA. It was my intention to interview Stephen’s father, Dr Karl Strader, at his Carpenter’s Church about the megachurch’s great vision for the future.
But some Charisma staff volunteered to take me down to Melbourne where the Holy Spirit was moving. As it was closer, and I had, interestingly, come from Melbourne, Australia, I decided to go there instead and was given Steve Strang’s office to phone Karl. He wasn’t available and his daughter answered (Typical guy, I’ve forgotten her name. Sorry!) With a heavy heart she shared what had unfortunately happened at that time at Carpenter’s and that her dad was under attack.
I remember feeling compelled to pray with her and then prophesied that it would all come again, that the Holy Spirit would once more move powerfully in Lakeland but at a later time and in his own way. No doubt she’s forgotten about that phone call even as I had until hearing what was happening in her brother’s Ignited Church.
The Holy Spirit did move again in Lakeland! Not because I had spoken prophetically but because he obviously wanted too – and to get our attention. And in a mighty way – even if it was only for a short season – for which we should give thanks and, having learned some valuable lessons, move quickly on!
Moving farther on
Dr Luke tells us in chapter 24: 28-29 that Jesus wanted to ‘go farther’ but the previously disillusioned and disappointed two disciples mentioned only thought of the big three S’s…stomach, supper and sleep! They missed out on something ‘farther along’ with Jesus (I have a great teaching message on this!), and they turned back to Jerusalem.
We too can miss out by remaining disillusioned and disappointed, not moving on, moving farther along with Jesus, and going back or dwelling on the past. Until the Lord returns there will always be some kind of Lakeland, praise God. Those who are believing and praying for revival – and acting boldly – will see it! And God will be praised by those blessed by the Spirit’s refreshing and refiring touch.
The challenge as always is to learn, be wise, be discerning, give thanks and move on. As Master Potter Ministries’ Jill Austin recently stated, ‘Christians should stop waiting for the next big festival to spark a revival in their cities. Every Christian has the power to ignite a revolution in his town (let’s add ‘or her’) when he pursues a personal revival in his heart. Revival is not born out of mass movements but out of a series of solitary decisions.’ (Charisma’s Streams of Revival, Oct 22).
