It was a big scene on Pentecost day! As I paused invoking the Holy Spirit silently at the pulpit, someone immediately spoke in tongues from the congregation then a great sound like someone just fell among the pews was heard. As the ushers rushed to help, another person screamed, and like sounds of heavy rain drops many persons fell unconsciously. I opened my eyes to behold the scene and to my surprise 90 percent of the congregants, with some ministers on the altar: servers and choristers lay unconsciously on the floor. While some prayed silently with only their lips moving, others were completely unconscious. It happened after an ‘unusual silence’ I observed obeying the small voice that asked me to pause a while before concluding the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass. ”The Holy Spirit really confirmed His presence in a special way”, everyone said after mass.
Nothing kills spiritual growth than shortsightedness, fear and closure to Divine inspiration and direction. For the early church to grow, God had to remove these limiting factors from the life of the Apostles on Pentecost day!
For you to operate on a higher dimension in your spiritual life, certain things must give way. If you want to experience this impartation and elevation continue reading slowly…
Cf Acts 2:1-11
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language…we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
The name “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Like Easter, it is tied to a Jewish feast: 49 days (7 weeks, or “a week of weeks”) after the second day of Passover, the Jews celebrated the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). On the first Christian Pentecost God corrected the notions, ideas, customs and belief system that limited the functions of the Apostles. As Apostles, they were already called, chosen, commissioned and sent by Jesus to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth but they could not function because of many limiting factors from within and without. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, God removed those limitations and transformed their lives. How did God do it you ask me?
1. God undid the barrier caused by language
As language connects and unites people, lack of it is a barrier as well. And so just as God uses language to divide a people united in evil at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), so He uses the language of the Spirit to unite people of diverse cultures with the preaching of the apostles united in prayer. And so the command to preach the Good News to the whole creation was achieved only in the Spirit because the language of the Spirit permeates the language of men, as it is written the Spirit searches everything even the depths of God(1Cor 2:10). No wonder the people testified: “we can hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God“
2. God changes their understanding of ‘diversity’
The false idea that diversity is disunity was changed as they could hear themselves speaking differently but achieving one purpose. Infact by this level of spiritual encounter they had a foretaste of the divine economy in the Trinity- God the Father, Son and Spirit, who are three distinct persons but One God. They experienced God as United in diversity, like a beautiful garden adorned with different flowers.
3. God transforms their ‘fear of death’ into ‘courage for witnessing’
The apostles locked up themselves for fear of the Jews. But when the Holy Spirit possessed them, every fear disappeared and they witnessed everywhere bravely. That became the end of worshiping in hidden places as they threw wide open their doors because nothing can resist the Spirit.
Child of God what is limiting the manifestation of the gifts and working Holy Spirit in your life? Why have you remained in the same level or operating in a lower dimension in your spiritual and prayer life? Is it a problem of language, your preconceived ideas, knowledge, or fears (of persecution, of the unknown, etc)? As far as these are there you can’t grow.
The problem of language is not limited to whether you speak in tongues or not, but also include the ability to communicate with and pray with the Word of God even in your mother tongue. The language of the Spirit is not the language of men. Hence the bible says:
…We speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words (1Cor 2:13)
Fear also, in any of its form, is a limiter and is a tool of manipulation by the devil. You must get rid of it through prayer. If you want to know how to overcome fears, CLICK HERE.
TASK
Brace yourself now and say 7 times: Jesus send me your Holy Spirit and re-enkindle in me the fire of your Love and the fire for prayer. Pray Psalm 104:1-4 now asking the Jesus to fan your spiritual life into flames of fire.
I pray for you:
May the Holy Spirit re-enkindle his fire in you that you may truly become true ‘winds’ and ‘flames of fire’ ministering in his presence in Jesus name. Amen.
Fr. Simon Onyekachi Madu, OSJ
Is a Catholic Priest of the Oblates of St. Joseph. He developed this medium to promote prayer life, spiritual growth, and meditation on the Word of God. He is a relationship and marriage counsellor, a deliverance minister, a mentor for career development, and a Canon Lawyer.
You can call him for prayers, deliverance sessions, counselling or mentorship. Follow and pray with him daily across all social media platforms and Subscribe to his YouTube Channel with the links provided on this web. God bless you.
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