Minister's Message May/June 2011

Pentecost Presence and Power

The words of Jesus..I am going to send you what my father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.(Luke 24 v49) is an amazing wonderful promise packed with glorious possibilities.

Firstly, the disciples were to look forward to the gift of God the Holy Spirit living in them. Both His presence and power were to be clearly evident in their worship and witness. He was the mover and motivator in their lives. Reading through the Acts of the Apostles (Holy Spirit) we see the first 30 years of the church in belief and behaviour. The opponents of Christianity summed up the effectiveness of the Holy spirits power when they said...these Christians are turning the world upside down. (Acts 17 v 6)

Secondly, the day of Pentecost was for them to be a personal encounter.. until you have been clothed with power... 50 generations have passed since that time, but we too need to know the same working of the Holy Spirit in our own life.

We are Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We are called to be.. good soldiers.. seeking to make the invisible Christ visible to a torn and tormented world. More than ever we need the Pentecost presence and power in our lives. Be filled with the Holy Spirit was a challenge to the early church at Ephesus, but how much more to us.

Prayer

Lord I ask that this day I will know the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. I am open to all that He wants to do in me. Amen.