Pentacost Sunday 2014

The Holy Spirit is looking for a place to abide.  It is the nature of a dove to find a nesting place – a place to abide and nurture their young.  For years we had a family of doves live in the trees in our back yard.  Doves mate for life and once they find a suitable place to abide, they stay.

When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, He found an atmosphere that was compatible with His presence. Specifically, he found a place of…

The PERSONAL Atmosphere - Honesty and Humility.  After all the disciples had fled Jesus, there was no more arguing who was the greatest.  They had all fled.  They had all sinned. In their hearts, they were honest about their inconsistencies and weaknesses and humbled by their recent experience. When the Holy Spirit finds a heart that mirrors this kind of transparency, He likes it!    

The RELATIONAL Atmosphere – Forgiveness and Community. Jesus taught His disciples the importance of forgiving one another.  When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, he found an atmosphere of love and forgiveness. Given their recent struggles, no one could claim preeminence. While the disciples used to try and relate to each other based on mutual strengths, which brings competition, now they related to one another based upon mutual weakness, which brought unity.  This relational quality gave a place for the Holy Spirit to abide.

The CORPORATE Atmosphere – Expectancy and Worship. Since Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come, surely the disciples must have been engaged in prayer, worship and great expectancy.  For 10 days they sought the presence of the Holy Spirit.  They were not disappointed!  The same is true for us, expectancy and worship attracts the Holy Spirit.  It provides Him a familiar place to abide.

How can you make this happen in your life - Personally? Relationally?  Corporately?