Outpouring Of The Spirit

We have this sad tendency to seek the extraordinary; it gives us a buss, the mystical and odd. Like an old bible teacher expresses: Only a strange animal pulls people to the market place, - but how many are interested to hear about sin and grace? – About God’s salvation? – About Jesus Christ’ sacrifice and love?

When we are on the subject about his certain gift of the Spirit, we shall also mention it’s first and foremost function, exactly to edify the one who already has it. A pretty introspective gift you could say, but it is pretty useful like that, because we cannot go into this fight without getting guided and strengthened from above, so please ask God for this gift; - but as Paul says: “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”

Paul was busy as you can see, by what which really profited the kingdom of God, God’s case, and not what was evidently extraordinary, - on account of that he puts speaking in tongues way down, and not out there visible, as we so often see examples on. I want to recommend you to grab a bible word book and look up the word: tongues.

But Paul says about it: “I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

Even though he do not put this as the first and foremost gift of them all, as many of us do, he does not put aside, which some of us do, but he is rather thanking God for speaking more in tongues than any of them! Everything I have quoted now you can read about in 1 Cor. 14.

What this wonder on the Day of Pentecost has to point out for us, is that we have a Father in heaven, who has not spared anything, so that exactly you should hear the Gospel being preached! – So that you would hear about your savior in your own language! It is the Spirit’s first and foremost deed, - to preach and glorify Jesus, so that you can start believing and get saved! That has happened has it not? You could say: “Praise God, He is mine!” Or else you got to draw near unto Him, in this moment of time. He who did not spare anything, not even His own life, to bring you salvation, he would like to hear you, when you call! – Yes, He hears before you call! It is also Him who works the call, by His Spirit and by His word. Therefore we shall thank the outpouring of the Spirit; - Because He has come to testify of Jesus for us, so that we can take part in Him. It is not possible by pure knowledge; the testimony of the Spirit has to come.

Let us pray that it must happen to all of us, and all of our closest, and all who God calls, exactly on this day, when we hear this mighty testimony about what God has done; - He has sent us His Spirit! – His hand is not too short to save us! (Is. 50:2; 59:1).

E.K.

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