Breathe on me now, as I bow down. I’m desperate Lord for more of You. Come satifsty until I am even more in need of you.

Brent is teaching through some chapters in Acts right now. Acts 2 is an amazing chapter! The Holy Spirit comes as the people are gathered, then Simon Peter boldly proclaims who Jesus really was (yes, the same Simon Peter who was so frightened that he denied Christ just days before – amazing grace, how sweet the sound).  Many of the ones gathered there had been part of the group that put Christ to death. The scripture says:  “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” He then tells them that the promise is for them and their children!


I am trying to imagine the scene … what would it have been like to be there and experience all that happened this day?  As I read the first few verses in the chapter again, and attempt to capture the event in my mind, for one thing it occurs to me that “Pentecost” has always been to me the time when the Holy Spirit came and was given to us in fullness and freshness.  BUT .. to them, it was just another annual harvest festival (at first, anyway :)).  They were gathered most likely there in the room we’ve come to know as the Upper Room, not to receive the Holy Spirit – although Jesus had promised He would send His Holy Spirit in the previous chapter of Acts before He ascended – but to celebrate the festival of Pentecost.  There is no indication that they knew that THIS would be the day the Helper would come. 
 
Suddenly …..  a sound like a tornado filled the room. Slightly scary, don’t you think? In John 3, Jesus had referred to the working of the Spirit like the wind, when sharing with Nicodemus. The wind is heard and felt, but not seen.  Today though, on this day of Pentecost, it was sudden and it was mighty.  It rushed through the room and appeared to be something like fire blowing through the crowd and “landing” on those present.  They then began to speak in languages they had never learned.  By now, of course, a crowd was coming to see what was going on near the temple courts!  It was unbelievable … the people “from every nation under heaven” that were in Jerusalem that day heard this group speaking in their own native language – a language they couldn’t have possibly known.  The Word of God says that they were telling of the works of God in the languages of all the people there. Can you imagine this scene?!?
 
Then somebody with nothing better to say spoke up and mocked them all:  “They are all drunk!”  Seriously? Have you been around someone drunk?  Slurred speech, yes.  But not another language, making total sense to the hearer.  So I can’t help it – that strikes me as funny.  But doubters are always with us … quickly claiming to know what MUST be going on, when there is no other explanation.  Then the truth was spoken, from the prophecy of Joel through Simon Peter:  …. AND I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH.  
That’s what was happening here. 
 
Peter shares about Jesus, what had been promised and what had been fulfilled through Him.  The One they had just crucified was the One.  Their hearts were deeply moved and stirred …”What do we do?”  Great question!  In fact it’s THE question.  This chapter reminds me of the sequence that can occur, and should occur, in the life of the church.  The Holy Spirit fills us, and God then does something amazing in and through us, and the onlookers say what do WE DO now?  People are searching for it.  They long for it.  What is that?! HOPE!
 
Peter said “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  How are we ready to do that?  Being filled with the Spirit of the living God.  Personally becoming aware of the moment by moment need of our lives – being full of Jesus through His Spirit!
 
Lord, may your church be revived, and may it begin with ME.  Help me really understand the power I have through the Holy Spirit, Who desires to use me for Your glory in bringing people to You.  Lord, breathe on me and give me a burning passion that I would not be content until Your power and glory are on display in my life.  I want to be so filled with You that people ask me … What’s in you?  And I want to be so filled with You that I am ready with the answer for the Hope within me when they ask … So what do I do now?
Rain down on us.  Heal us with you Spirit that we may be empowered to see many come to you in these days.  Give me faith to believe You can do it in me!  Satisfy me until I am even MORE in need of You.