"The Promise", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Pentecost Sunday is rolling around next week.

The religious will celebrate it just because it's on the calendar. Those who "cheat" and use the Lexicon will have their sermon pretty much all lined out for them.

There's an oxymoron for you. On the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit descending upon the Church, there are people who would not rely on the same Holy Spirit to hear from God and prepare accordingly.

I am afraid that is far too typical today in many aspects and areas of the Church.

I'm talking we have either believed the promise or we haven't. We are going to rely on Him for everything or we're not.

Is it any wonder that the Church desperately needs a shot of Holy Spirit adrenaline instead of the tranquilizer it's trying to shake off on Monday?

Acts 1:4-5 - "And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. (5) For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit."

We are going to look each day this week with wonder and expectation at the various passages of Scripture which put this great promise and subsequent fulfillment in perspective.

This is a great way to spend the week preparing. Many will need to prepare in different ways.

Perhaps you feel you haven't received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why not follow along with me each day and pray and ask God to prepare your heart?

Or maybe you have lost the "edge". There was a time when you were on fire for Christ and the Holy Spirit was actively working in your life evidenced by bearing much fruit. However, over the years you have grown complacent, anesthetized by boring and irrelevant messages. Or perhaps false teachers have crept in and diluted the true meaning of Pentecost and changed the Holy Spirit into an ATM machine instead of the agent of God for wisdom, comfort, and peace. You need to be put back in touch with the real Holy Spirit.

And let's not forget who is doing the Baptizing!

By Sunday, when you go into your respective churches you will be chomping at the bit for the Spirit to invade that place with His Presence!

Let's be preparing together!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><