O for a passionate passion for souls,
O for a pity that yearns!
O for the love that loves unto death,
O for the fire that burns!
O for the pure prayer-power that prevails,
That pours itself out for the lost!
Victorious prayer in the Conqueror's Name,
O for a PENTECOST!
- Amy Wilson Carmichael
We need another Pentecost.
Not because we need the Holy Spirit to come upon the earth again, and not because William Booth sung about it over 100 years ago.
We need another move of the Spirit in our day. We need it.
Yes, theologically speaking, the Spirit hasn't left. I get that. I understand your point. But it's like a large bottle of water sitting on the table in a restaurant. The water may well be there, but only those who are drinking the water experience the benefits of that water.
The Spirit of Jesus is among us. We can sense the Spirit in moments of worship and response. We hear the gentle whisper when we tune our hearts to the Lord.
But, we need another Pentecost.
Not because we don't have the Spirit here with us already. Not because we don't occasionally sense the prodding of God upon our lives.
We need another Pentecost.
We need it. Desperately.
The Fire Upon Ever Nation
Have a quick look at the first time the fire of God came upon the disciples after the ascension of Christ. We read in Acts chapter 2, verse 8, that a crowd came together in bewilderment, because those who were gathered each heard the message of Jesus spoken in their own native tongue.
The fire of God came upon the people gathered and all of a sudden every nationality could understand there was hope found in Jesus Christ!
We pray for the fire of God upon every nation. Every people group. Every tribe.
The Fire Upon Ever Believer
As you make your way through Acts chapter 2, you read of a man, named Peter, who preached a powerful message, where over 5,000 people chose to follow Jesus. This is the same man, who, when in the temple courts before the crucifixion of Jesus, couldn't even stand up for Jesus.
He was suddenly bold. In Acts chapter 4, you read of Peter standing in front of the Sanhedrin (71 members, including the High Priest), and he yells out, 'It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.' Boldness came upon him.
What's the difference: before the cross and after the cross?
There was a spiritual shift in Peter's life. A switch was turned on. A pilot light was activated. It's the fire of God. It's what early Salvationists called being baptized in the Holy Ghost.
A Holy Discontent
Maybe someone reading this is sensing a similar thing to me. You're fed up with playing church and rearranging chairs and giving the walls the occasional lick of paint. If you're like me, you love the church. It's God's primary vehicle for transforming the world. But, you have a holy discontent.
There is a mighty move of God stirring up the faithful. You can hear the wind a-blowin'. You can feel the coals a-burnin'. A big move of God is coming.
Not everyone will be ready for it. Some may even miss it. They'll be plodding along, trying to photocopy song sheets, and running their closed-off bible studies.
Though meanwhile a new and powerful move of the Spirit will breathe life afresh into the weary bones of tired ecclesiastical gatherings.
The move is coming. Whether you recognise it, validate it, or embrace it. Another Pentecost is coming. The revolution now begins.
More leaders will step up and step forward.
Believers will embrace the calling of God upon their lives.
New people of all generations and every nation will turn to Christ.
Righteousness will be hip again.
The depth of love that we have for each other will grow.
Vibrant new expressions of ministry will multiply.
This Pentecostal fire, (while scary for some and misunderstood by others), will embolden what is already happening. God is at work, and this fire will further empower the church in these days.
Salvation to every nation! Salvation to every generation!
*****
If you are passionate about starting a new expression of ministry, I want to encourage you and resource you. Please let me know in the comments and we will pray for you!
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