On the 4th of July we celebrate our nation’s independence. On December 7th we remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII. 9/11 will ever be remembered for the lives lost in New York City, Washington D.C. & Shanksville, PA. The Day of Pentecost is the Church’s D-Day, the day the tide turned. Until then the disciples were a relatively small group of believers meeting together, trusting in the risen Christ but pretty much dead in the water. But, beginning on the Day of Pentecost, the church went on the offensive and people were swept into the Kingdom by the thousands.
We need to be aware of what the Holy Spirit did on that day, and has been doing ever since. We need to be open to what He wants to do in and through us. Pentecost separates the spectators from the participants.
Many professional athletes attended this year’s Super Bowl. It was a very competitive and entertaining game. Many of those athletes in the stands would have preferred to be playing in the game. In those luxury booths they had expensive snacks, comfortable seats, free Wi-Fi, and porters at their beck and call. Out on the field big men were smashing into one another, they were sweating, bleeding, panting. Still, how many of the athletes in the stands would have preferred playing in the Super Bowl rather than watching it? I’d have to say nearly 100% of them. Don’t be a fan of ministry, be a participant.
-Pastor Joel Everhart