A New Adaptation Of Pentecost

In sharing from the Old Testament concerning the needed outpouring of God’s Spirit in my church, I believe a paradigm for any church, or individual, hungry for a fresh touch can follow.  In densenian form, here’s what was taught.  First, the opening salvo of the Spirit will be seen when a wave of repentance comes over the family of God.  (Jeremiah 31:31-34)  Second, we are going to see ourselves broken with the things which break the heart of God.  Our stoniness, hardness, calloused hearts will be replaced by hearts which are breakable, pliable, tender before the Lord.  (Ezekiel 36:26-27)  Naturally, there will be “manifestations” of the Spirit’s presence.  He will break through our natural senses and bestow His gifts.  However, it won’t be for a select few or a narrow segment of the body.  It will transcend age, race, economics…all the flimsy walls we have erected to develop a sense of “being better than them.”  (Joel 2:28-29)  Lastly, if it’s really Him, if He really does invade our church, our lives, it will be far more than a “Charismatic fix” on Sunday which has evaporated by Tuesday.  It will last, even to the coming generations.  (Isaiah 44:3)

I’d really like to know your thoughts on this…I happen to think without this taking place, we are in for some real problems in the American church.  What’s your take?

Imagine This…

Sitting at your desk, working on the latest spreadsheet, all at once, Jesus appears and says, “Hey, leave that and follow me.”  Or, you are teaching High School English, He knocks at the door and utters, “I need you to follow me.”  One more, you are in the middle of rebuilding a transmission, parts all over the place, when He drops by the shop and says, “Follow me and I will change your life.”  What do you do?

A group of men who changed the world heard that call, right in the middle of their busy lives, and left everything dangling so they could follow Him.  Could it be Jesus is calling to us….not necessarily to leave everything behind, but to place Him first in our lives?  Could it be the reason they changed their world and we haven’t changed ours lies in this one simple decision…He really is worth following completely?