Now, in our neck of the woods, we are closed in with fog all around us, but it is now 39 degrees and rising and the snow is slowly melting, into a slush, but that is better than fast and have it flood our streets, fill our creeks to overflowing and filling basements with water.

I can remember winters, here, where it was thawing so fast the man covers were being raised off their holes and sliding down the streets as the water powered up and out of it.  Basements did fill up and there was destruction everywhere. 

And what is just as bad, the water shed wasn’t getting enough stored water because the snow melted too fast.  Which meant not enough water in the summer.

So, we can live with this.

Now, if they would just give us forecasts that didn’t include wintery mixes and freezing rain or fog...

Home, and getting ready to watch the pre-game shows and the Super Bowl itself.  Carla will be off in plenty of time to join me.

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Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

While Christian Jews were leaving Jerusalem, going back to their homes – and some in fear of their lives – and telling others about Jesus, the Apostles were told to remain until the Holy Ghost came upon them.

It is God’s Spirit that touches our soul and heart as we draw closer to Him. 

It is God’s Spirit that draws those that do not know Him closer to Him so that they hear the Word and can make a decision for Christ.

AND that Spirit is not limited to just those that are in full-time ministry or missionaries or teachers – He is there for every Christian that waits before Him and asks for Him to fill them.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We know the story, about 120 people were in that room when this happened.  Only 10% were apostles the REST were people who loved Jesus, who want to continue spreading His Gospel, who wanted to serve Him.

108 people who were not in a leadership position.  108 people who were ordinary Jews; not preachers, not teachers, just ordinary people whom God had called together.

They submitted to God and wanted to let others know the salvation that would only come through their (and our) Lord Jesus Christ.

They had no idea what was about to happen.  They didn’t know what to expect.  But they were told by Jesus to wait, they had faith in Him, so they waited.

They knew that the Holy Spirit had spoken through many of the prophets, but how would He relate to them?

Ten days.  240 hours since Christ’s ascension.  They waited. Not knowing what it meant to have the Holy Spirit come upon them.

They remained faithful to God and to the order of Jesus to remain.  But, they didn’t just wait while playing games, or gossiping about this person or that.  

They didn’t look around them and ask each other ‘what is that person doing here?  They aren’t worthy to be counted among us.”

They didn’t grouse about the fact they had to wait until God felt it was ‘His’ time to send them the Holy Spirit.

They didn’t ask why the women were there, after all it was the men that held leadership and special privilege in their culture.

Nope, Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

120 people continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.

I know the argument can be made that many of these were family members or close personal friends that supported Jesus in His ministry and were trusted by the Apostles. 

These people were not trained speakers of course neither were the Apostles, but at least eleven had been appointed by Jesus and they felt that the Lord wanted Matthias to take Judas place in the group.

With, perhaps, the exception of Mary, Jesus’ mother, none of these people could really lay claim to any position in Christ other than believing in Him.

YET, when the Holy Ghost came upon them, they ALL received Him, they ALL had the tongues of fire above their heads and they ALL spoke in tongues.

While these people were in one accord with each other, they were also in one accord with God.

Lots of people can gather together and say we are in agreement with each other and not only not consider God, but be plotting against Him and His people – it happens all the time.

We need to make sure that those we align ourselves with are also aligning themselves with God.

We need to pray that the Holy Spirit rests upon and within the breast of not only those that are designated leaders, but also in every one of us that are not.

The only real thing those 120 people had in common with each other was their love of Jesus and their desire to serve Him.

We can be different, we can have different occupations, hobbies, color of skin, cultural differences, but we have a bond with other Christians that comes from the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

What a wonderful heritage these 120 people and those that have followed their teachings have given us in the last 2000 years. 

May we continue to contribute to that heritage; may we call upon the Holy Spirit to fill us and, then, to allow the Holy Spirit to work within our lives to HIS glory!

Later, Art (-: