I expect, several months after Jesus returned to his Father, that the disciples would have gathered to share an evening meal and one of them probably would have blurted out his latest revelation: “We are Pentecost people!” After a few seconds to absorb this word, there would have been unanimous consent as the collective Aha’s made the rounds. It was true! Their lives had so radically changed since the arrival of the Holy Spirit! They were still adjusting to this new way of living, this sense of being filled to the brim with Jesus’ presence even though he was physically absent. They were increasingly coming to grips with the odd phenomenon of ‘hearing’ the voice of the Spirit: His directions, His encouragements, His messages for the people. And then, there were the healings, the deliverances, the chaotic crowds of people clamoring to know what the disciples knew. It was all exhausting and thrilling at the same time. They were also learning to pray about the questions they would normally have peppered Jesus with when he was with them. And they were regularly getting answers and seeing those answers right before their eyes. People were joining their numbers by the thousands! It was craziness! Jesus’ words about the harvest being ripe was taking on new meaning day by day. . .
All that Jesus initiated 2,000 years ago will continue full force until he returns. The ministry of the Holy Spirit likewise continues unabated until the Kingdom is filled with the family of God – every tribe, every nation, every tongue. To achieve this, every believer has been ‘saturated’ with everything Holy Spirit. New Testament Scriptures are clear that whatever we need, whenever we need it, we receive it. In several different places, lists of spiritual gifts are outlined but it’s pointless to try to limit Holy Spirit giftings to those lists alone. He is God, therefore eternally super-abundant, limitless! The only limitation is the one we impose by not cooperating with what is available to us.
As Pentecost people ourselves, we have the full measure Jesus’ joy and peace in us, the indwelling Holy Spirit just as Jesus promised, the loving approval of our Heavenly Father, the testimony of faithful ones who have gone before us, and the body of Christ surrounding us and encouraging us. Maybe most wonderful of all, for those of us whose stumbling efforts can really get us down: “. . . if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9, TPT. The Apostle Paul tells us the world has yet to see the Church in all her glory. What if our sin-sick, confused, lost, and dying world is longing to see God’s glory in us, His light shining through us, His love oozing from us? What if the Holy Spirit is longing to make that a reality? We’ll keep talking about his Pentecost People Plan tomorrow, 10 AM, 4 PM. PD
