RENDEZVOUS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

BE ENCOURAGED: Pastors, Ministers, Lay ministers, Church leaders, Christians, Church:

While the disciples hid themselves in fear behind locked doors, I imagine ‘fear’ took center stage in their lives. What if – what if they had used more of their time to have daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit?

In their weaknesses they were overcome by doubt and fear, due to the turmoil around them. John in his gospel – Chapter 20, told how Jesus came to his disciples after his resurrection. Jesus found them locked away – hiding behind doors. With great love and compassion, Jesus gave them his peace. He said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

All this happened behind locked doors. I imagine after the disciples saw Jesus; they finally got the idea of having daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit.  I imagine prayer replaced fear and unbelief. What joy it must have been for them to know that Jesus is alive!

Luke in the Book of Acts gave an account of how Jesus encouraged his disciples, and told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them; and they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The disciples understood that the time had come when they could no longer confine themselves behind locked doors. The disciples also realized that a tomb could not hold Jesus and the power of his resurrection.

Luke gave an account of Jesus and how he commanded his disciples to not leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

I imagine they left the Mount of Olive and walked to Jerusalem with great joy. I imagine they gathered together with excitement and expectancy in the room or upper room. It was the season of the Jewish Festivals. I imagine, God had a plan to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit on a day when people from all over the world gathered to celebrate: the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

It was on the Feast of Pentecost when the power of the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:1–31).

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē), which means “Fiftieth”.  Pentecost is a festival, celebrated on the fiftieth day after  the Passover. it is also known as the “Feast of Weeks” or the “Feast of 50 days”.

The Septuagint refers to the word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) as “Feast of Pentecost”. The Septuagint also uses the word to mean “the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10), an event which took place every 50th year.

The “Feast of Pentecost” was a time to celebrate! It was a time of great significance. I imagine people received freedom from all kinds of things. The disciples received freedom from their locked doors and were empowered to preach the gospel under the anointing and with the power of the Holy Spirit.

(WE CAN TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH THESE SIGNIFICANCE)

In Luke Chapter 4, Jesus before he was crucified spoke to a congregation of people with power and authority. He informed them exactly who he was. That the Spirit of the Lord was on him, that he was anointed to preach good news to the poor, that he was sent to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

God through Jesus Christ chose the day of the “Feast of Pentecost” to manifest his power in and through his disciples, so that those who were present would experience the power of the Holy Spirit. After that the disciples were empower to preached the good news under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. And many were added to the church.

Although Jesus preached in many synagogues in his day, his eyes and mind were set not so much on the narrow sphere of the four walls of the church. His eyes and mind were set on the Mass – the Mass of people. It is because he loves them. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

PENETRATE THE DARKNESS WITH THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL NATIONS?

In the olive grove – the garden of Gethsemane soldiers came looking for Jesus. They carried torches, lanterns and weapons. When they arrived, Jesus asked them “Who is it you want? Their response was “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus’ responded to them “I am he.” One would think the soldiers would quickly grab Jesus, but instead they were taken a-back and fell to the ground upon seeing him. Well, Paul the apostle did quote Isaiah, where the Lord says, “As surely as I live, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.” The soldiers had to get down in the presence of heavenly authority and power. Jesus had to ask the soldiers the question again, “Who is it you want? When they repeated themselves, Jesus again responded, “I told you that I am he.”

The soldiers arrested Jesus and took him away from his disciples. During Jesus’ ordeal – his sufferings his disciples ran away -left him alone to face the sufferings that was unleashed upon him. The disciples were experiencing a sense of loss. They were discouraged and afraid – afraid of the world and fear for their lives.

Jesus was tried, condemned and crucified. Jesus’ death drove the disciples to shut themselves away behind locked doors. To put it simple, they hid themselves in their house. They were afraid of those they thought were too powerful for them to face. They feared for their lives.

What are we going through at the moment that might send us hiding behind locked doors?

God raised Jesus from the dead and upon his resurrection, he presented himself in the midst of the apostles in spite of the locked doors. When Jesus saw them, he gave them his peace, showed them his hands and sides where the nails pierced him. Then he breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Luke in his 24^th chapter tells how Jesus opened the minds of the apostles so they could understand the Scriptures. How Jesus told his disciples that after his resurrection repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And Jesus promised the disciples that he would send them what the Father has promised, but they are to stay in the city – Jerusalem – until they have been clothed with power from on high. Jesus then blessed them while he was being ascended into heaven.

Luke in the Book of Acts chapter one gave account: where Jesus gave a command to his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift  his Father’s promised. That John baptized with water, but the disciples would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. That they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them and they will be witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of he earth. Then Jesus was taken up in a cloud.

The disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Upon their arrival they gathered into an upstairs room, about 120 of them. They all joined together in constant prayer. And suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the room. Tongues of fire came and rested on each of them, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them, and the people heard the message in his and her own language (Acts 2).

As the church, we have received power from on high to do exploit in the name of Jesus Christ.

Is the Church acting like she has been endowed with the Holy Spirit power?

Does the Church want anything to do with the power of the Holy Spirit?

Without the power of the Holy Spirit the church can do nothing great for the Father. Simply because the church rejects the promised power. 

Is the church ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The gospel must be preached in the power of the Holy spirit to allow the kingdom of darkness to shake and crumble in the presence of God.