Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

For Those Not Familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings before the Message. On This date they were: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:25-35,37; Romans 8:14-17 and John 14:8-27.

This is Pentecost Sunday...... Today the liturgical color is red .... The color representing ......the Holy Spirit.

"Pentecost" ... designates ... the 50th day ... after Passover.

Pentecost is a Jewish Feast Day....... Also, known as the Feast of Weeks ... or the Feast of Harvest.

It was on this day, .... that the Holy Spirit ... was poured out on 120 Followers of Christ .... who were gathered in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:15)

It was on this day ... that the Church was born.

Born in a Blaze of Glory... In A Blaze... of Fire.

Experiencing Pentecost ... the coming of the Holy Spirit into one's life... it is clearly ... one of the great experiences ... for any disciple ... of Jesus.

However, ... For some ... Any Message ... or discussion ... about the Holy Spirit ... seems to create a spirit of ... anxiety.

The idea ... of God filling a person with His Spirit, ... makes them feel ... a little uneasy.

And some feel uncomfortable ... discussing anything ... having to do with ... the supernatural.

It all sounds too mystical, ... to other worldly.

For others, ... such discussion brings forth a feeling of culpability ... or shame.

They hear of the ... miracles, ... of the anointing's with signs and wonders ... and question ... if they are for our time.

They wonder if God still manifests his gifts here on Earth.

And if they are for our time, ... why don't we witness them more often.

And some wonder ... if it has to do ... with them.

Is there something that ... they are missing? (Pause)

Beloved ... count it as joy.

For there is no greater experience ... than having the Holy Spirit ... present ... and active ... in your life.

There is no greater comfort and companion ...than living in the purity, ... sanctification ... and justification ... of our God.

It seems to me ......that The Average Christian.... And the Average Church ... is Bogged Down Somewhere Between Calvary .... and Pentecost.

They have been to Calvary for Pardon, ... for forgiveness...... but they Have Not Been to Pentecost .... For Power. (Pause)

We have all heard business men and women say, ...... "It is hard to find good help ...these days?"

Well for those that call themselves a follower of the Christ .... we have the ultimate Helper....... the ultimate counselor.

We have The Holy Spirit .... who resides .... within us. Within our very being. (Pause)

Bethlehem means ......God with Us.

Calvary means ....... God for Us.

But Pentecost ... Pentecost means ... God in Us.

The great evangelist D.L. Moody said, ... "You might as well try to hear without ears, ... or breathe without lungs, ... as try to live a Christian life ... without the Holy Spirit of God ... in your heart." (Pause)

Far too Many Christians today .... are much like the Ephesian believers ... spoken of in Acts.

Paul asked them ...... (Slow) Did You Receive the Holy Spirit When You Believed? (Acts 19:12)

They Replied .... we did not even know that there was ......a Holy Spirit. (Pause)

Many do not understand the role ... of the Holy Spirit.

For they have not appropriated the power of the Holy Spirit .... in their lives. (Pause)

What We Need Today Beloved.... Is the Wind ... And the Flame .... Of Pentecost.

Some have described present Christianity ......As, ....... The Time of ... Quote ... "Pentecost Substitutes."

Lacking the real power .... Lacking the real fire from God ... many try to produce... their own ... fireworks.

We are living in the day of program and promotions, ... trying to duplicate ......the excitement that God the Holy Spirit ...brought ... on that glorious day.

These are the days of ... Pentecost ... Substitutes.

We whip up our own flames .... our own fire, ...... but we lack the reality ...... and the warmth ...of what is real.

The real flame ... is the Holy Spirit ... Who lives, ... Who abides ... within each one of us. (Pause)

I appreciate what Dr. Vance Havner ... said some time ago.

The average one of us ....is so afraid of getting out on a limb ... that we never even bother ... to climb up the tree.

Beloved, .......... Through the years ... We have Seen Abuse and Misuse.... of the Spiritual Gifts ... And of ....... God's Power.

We are So afraid of ....... Excesses.

We are so Afraid of ... those.... who go to Extremes.

Yet, ...We Must .... We must Not Allow Them ...To Push Us Away ... From that ... which is Real!