The Power of Pentecost 5-15-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You and the Father and the Spirit are One. By Your grace, You come to live in our hearts and release the power of Your love. Come live in me as I welcome You into my heart afresh this day. ... Today is the Sunday we celebrate Pentecost -- fifty days after the celebration of Passover. You prepared Your first disciples for this day of the coming of the Spirit of God in power by calling them together with expectant hearts: "While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This,' He said, 'is what you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now' " (Acts 1.4-5). You explained that the power of God to live our lives as Your witnesses in this world is released through the coming of the Holy Spirit: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1.8). In anticipation and faith, they gathered together in one accord, "constantly devoting themselves to prayer," as they were watching and waiting for the coming of Your Spirit in power (Acts 1.14). "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability" (Acts 2.1-4). Today we gather in one accord from every tongue and tribe and nation throughout the earth on this Pentecost Sunday set apart as a Global Day of Prayer. Though we are many and though we are physically in different places throughout the earth, we are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord, as we gather together in the place of prayer. Come Holy Spirit, like a mighty rushing wind, and fill the house of our hearts with the fire of Your living presence. Set us ablaze with a passion for You and a passion to be Your witnesses throughout the earth. Let our tongues proclaim Your praise in the spiritual language of love. As Charles Wesley wrote of this day of passionate praise and holy fire, "O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!" We triumph in Your grace this day as thousands upon thousands of tongues sing Your praise throughout the earth. Let Your Spirit come as our spirits pray; let Your fire fall as our praises rise; let our hearts swell as You fill us with Your love; let Your power be released as You send us forth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, let's join together today for the Global Day of Prayer throughout the earth. In Lexington, we will come together in the unity of the body of Christ at Heritage Hall downtown from 3-5 pm. God bless you in your celebration of prayer today! To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!