RENDEZVOUS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
BE ENCOURAGED: Pastors, Ministers, Lay ministers, Church leaders, Christians, Church:
While the disciples hid themselves in fear behind locked doors, I imagine ‘fear’ took center stage in their lives. What if – what if they had used more of their time to have daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit?
In their weaknesses they were overcome by doubt and fear, due to the turmoil around them. John in his gospel – Chapter 20, told how Jesus came to his disciples after his resurrection. Jesus found them locked away – hiding behind doors. With great love and compassion, Jesus gave them his peace. He said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”
All this happened behind locked doors. I imagine after the disciples saw Jesus; they finally got the idea of having daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit. I imagine prayer replaced fear and unbelief. What joy it must have been for them to know that Jesus is alive!
Luke in the Book of Acts gave an account of how Jesus encouraged his disciples, and told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them; and they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The disciples understood that the time had come when they could no longer confine themselves behind locked doors. The disciples also realized that a tomb could not hold Jesus and the power of his resurrection.
Luke gave an account of Jesus and how he commanded his disciples to not leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
I imagine they left the Mount of Olive and walked to Jerusalem with great joy. I imagine they gathered together with excitement and expectancy in the room or upper room. It was the season of the Jewish Festivals. I imagine, God had a plan to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit on a day when people from all over the world gathered to celebrate: the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
It was on the Feast of Pentecost when the power of the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:1–31).
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē), which means “Fiftieth”. Pentecost is a festival, celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover. it is also known as the “Feast of Weeks” or the “Feast of 50 days”.
The Septuagint refers to the word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) as “Feast of Pentecost”. The Septuagint also uses the word to mean “the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10), an event which took place every 50th year.
The “Feast of Pentecost” was a time to celebrate! It was a time of great significance. I imagine people received freedom from all kinds of things. The disciples received freedom from their locked doors and were empowered to preach the gospel under the anointing and with the power of the Holy Spirit.
(WE CAN TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH THESE SIGNIFICANCE)
In Luke Chapter 4, Jesus before he was crucified spoke to a congregation of people with power and authority. He informed them exactly who he was. That the Spirit of the Lord was on him, that he was anointed to preach good news to the poor, that he was sent to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
God through Jesus Christ chose the day of the “Feast of Pentecost” to manifest his power in and through his disciples, so that those who were present would experience the power of the Holy Spirit. After that the disciples were empower to preached the good news under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. And many were added to the church.
Although Jesus preached in many synagogues in his day, his eyes and mind were set not so much on the narrow sphere of the four walls of the church. His eyes and mind were set on the Mass – the Mass of people. It is because he loves them. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).