Holy Spirit,
Thank You for coming and fulfilling the promise of our Lord Jesus. He told His followers that You would come to live in us, to complete the work which He began. As the Father sent the Son, the Son sent You, and You are accompanying us as You send us forth to carry out the commission which originated in the heart of the Father. On this Pentecost Sunday we celebrate that monumental moment when You poured Yourself out upon a simple, unimpressive group of people who had gathered to wait and to pray. You made them into instant witnesses of Jesus Christ, and the miracle of the new birth became a spreading flame that will never be extinguished.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for sealing us in covenant security. Thank You for imparting gifts to us, and for giving each of us outlets for those unique giftings to be employed. Thank You that our saved children do not receive Holy Spirit Jr. but, like their saved parents, a full possession of You – the One who will direct them all of their days. Your fruit blossoming from the branches of our lives is such an encouragement. We experience deepening levels of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When I read this short list of spiritual produce, my heart beats faster, knowing that none of these precious things characterized me before You came to live within me. You are He who transforms us into the image of the One who loves us enough to die for us. You make Jesus real to both our minds and our hearts, and we cannot help but to follow Your guidance as You take us on adventure for His holy name. Forgive us for those senseless moments when we seek to muzzle Your beautiful voice and, instead, listen to our own faulty counsel and lean to our own understanding. Forgive us when we limit God because we do not think beyond what we ourselves can do – failing to acknowledge that, with You, nothing is impossible. Stretch us more greatly into faith-filled abandon with You. We yield to You today. Fill us, Holy Spirit, with Your eternal self.
And concerning love – we must have more. More love for You, more love for the Church, more love for our enemies. Incubate that within us, please. Do not allow us to come up short of this great pillar of love which characterizes our walking in You. Make us people of rich, agape love. Then, also, there is the need for power – we do not wish to merely do what we can do in our propped up strength. We long to accomplish the un-doable. I call on You still for all available power to make Christ known. Anoint my mouth to preach. Empower my hands to heal. Capture my mind for all words of knowledge and wisdom that will enrich and edify the Church. Your Apostle Paul taught us to seek prophecy above all gifts – raise up, Holy Spirit, true prophets indeed. Our generation has salesmen and press-secretaries, but very few men and women who will pursue a word from on high, and then share it with both faith and fury. Lay Your touch on our children that they may rise up in their generation and proclaim the messages which flow from the throne of God. Send us prophets.
It is Pentecost Sunday, Holy Spirit. We love the history of Acts, chapter two… but we are hungry for our own Pentecost, a fresh outpouring in the latter end of these latter days. I find nothing in Your Word telling me not to expect a greater manifestation of You in my day. I do not believe that You have diminished in desire or ability to move among Your people. Bring the new wine out from the cellar and pour it forth. Will you pour Yourself out in new and fresh ways? Are we able to receive that outpouring? If not, then please make us ready. We are hungry for You to move so that Jesus will be made known and received in ways that our eyes have never seen.
How long, Holy Spirit? How long before You say Yes again.