But into this world of "plenty-cost" shines a powerful light--Pentecost! The costly sacrifice of Calvary makes it possible, and thus, we can survive the costliest of situations. There's plenty of disease, despair, and devastation in our world, but alongside the agony comes a Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He has plenty of grace, peace, and hope--and the power to effect it in your life. Come to the well and let your "plenty-cost" life become His power-filled life today!
Plenty of Wind?
A tornado may be blowing in your life, about to flatten you in devastating fury. Work, home, church problems--hot heads and hot air everywhere! Well, you have a choice. You can be caught up in the high cost of the wind--or you can ride on the wind, with the power of Pentecost blowing around you, lifting, encouraging, drawing you to the ONE who IS all power. For that's the work of the Holy Spirit--to draw men to God. Let Him draw you in worship this week--worship of a Holy God who is greater than any fury blowing in your life. The wind of the Spirit is blowing in our world--will you let it blow in YOUR life today?
Plenty of Fire?ou may be in the furnace of life, with hot, angry flames surging around you, threatening to engulf you; the flames may already have almost wiped you out, and ashes of relationships and unfulfilled plans lie at your feet. You've got a choice. You can be cringed--and singed--by the high cost of the flames--or you can be cleansed--and made creative--by the flames. For what the enemy means for evil can turn into your good. The furnace of life can become the flame of the Holy Spirit to cleanse and purify you; to mold and shape you into a vessel of honor for Jesus Christ. Let the Holy Spirit use that cleansing fire for His glory in your life. For the fire of the Spirit is falling on our world--will you let it fall on YOUR life today?
Plenty of Rain?You may be in the middle of a downpour--showers of trouble, grief, sickness, woes--and they're about to drown you! Well, again, you have a choice. You can drown in the high cost of self-pity, misery, and despair--or you can be blessed by the rain of His Spirit, melting you, gently touching you, blending with your tears, until they turn into HIS joy and gladness. For that's what the rain is all about--April showers bring May flowers--and the Holy Spirit would rain goodness and grace on your life in the middle of the storm. Let Him turn the torrential rains of burdens into spiritual showers of blessing. For the rain of the Spirit is falling in our world--will you let it fall on YOUR life today?
Wind? Fire? Rain? Devastating trials of life--or delightful triumphs of the spirit AND the Spirit--which will it be? As for me...I'm a Pentecostal. I probably cut my teeth on the back of a Pentecostal pew. I grew up in churches where my pastor dad preached the full gospel--and that included the wind, fire, and rain of the Holy Spirit. As a child of eleven, I experienced the personal infilling of the Holy Spirit. My sincere words of love, praise and worship to my Lord were not enough--and at some moment, the Holy Spirit filled me to overflowing. I spoke in another tongue, one that was unlearned; I knew not what I spoke; I only knew I was loving and praising God.
This ongoing experience is precious to me; but underlying any physical manifestation of His presence and power, IS His presence and power, a vital part of my life today. However you choose to worship God, He is precious to all of us--Pentecostal, evangelical, charismatic, or you-name it! We all love and serve Him; we all know the blessed presence of His Holy Spirit, a priceless treasure we hold in these earthen vessels.
Let the Holy Spirit have His perfect way and will in your life. Let Him blow, fall, rain, on the desert of your being, until you are full to overflowing. For the power of Pentecost is not only to be believed; it is to be experienced. Life's "plenty-costs" can become an altar for your Pentecost this week. And then, you can proclaim, with plenty of praise, "Let the wind blow! Let the fire fall! Let the blessing rain!"
And that's just a word--from the heart of a Pentecostal--to yours!
His Healing Word
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And sudddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4 KJV)."
"Lord, the winds of life have almost swept my away; the fires of testing have flamed around me; the floods of life have almost drowned me. I've had plenty of it all, and now I need you. Let me experience the winds of Your Spirit, the fire of Your cleansing, the rain of Your blessing. Let me know the power of Pentecost in my soul this week. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
"'Twas the Night before Easter!" - popular parody at Peggie's Place! . . . More Easter resources
