Being Very Serious (Part 21)

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing branch of evangelical churches in the world today. It is so overwhelming that even traditional non-Pentecostal churches are now accepting the last days move of the Holy Ghost within their services. We hear reports of an outpouring of the Spirit on just about every denomination in the world today. When I was growing up Pentecost wasn't popular and was frowned upon by non-Pentecostal groups. In fact, when my grandfather received the infilling of the Spirit back in the 1930's his family thought he had gone crazy. People would walk on the other side of the street to avoid coming in contact with him in his home town. Nobody wanted anything to do with someone who spoke in an unknown tongue.

I am a 4th generation Pentecostal. I found out that my great grandparents were some of the first in the low country of South Carolina to experience the power of Pentecost. What's so amazing is that many who made fun of us and our Pentecostal infilling are now a part of us. I believe that as the times grow more desperate sincere people are beginning to seek a deeper relationship with God and many are discovering if you seek you will find. What they are finding is the same experience that the 120 found in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. Tongues of fire are falling and sitting upon the heads as the Holy Ghost endues them with power from on high. What a great day to be Pentecostal!

There is a concern, however, that we have emphasized the outward aspects of the Spirit for so long that we have forgotten the cost spiritually to keep the Pentecostal fires burning. Many of our old line Pentecostal denominations or fellowships are being bombarded with new theologies that try to take away the initial sign of this Holy Ghost baptism, which is speaking with tongues as the Spirt gives the utterance. Others are debating the necessity of spiritual gifts within the church and have formally stated in many of their local congregations there will be no more outward manifestations of the Spirit publicly in their services. The Charismatic movement of the 70's has been wonderful in introducing non-Pentecostals to Pentecost, but it has produced a lot of skeptical ideas concerning the power of Pentecost into the established Pentecostal churches. Because of these different ideologies many of our mainline Pentecostal churches are filled with believers who are saved and satisfied no longer seeking the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Some are even questioning His necessity within the realm of Christianity.

We in the Church of God need to affirm our Pentecostal heritage. We need to stand up for what the Bible says about Pentecost and not be persuaded to go to the right or the left on this issue. Every church has gone through a period of extremism and we are no exception. I have seen it growing up in this faith as many of you have. We were too extreme on some items, but lax on others. Now that attitude of laxness is beginning to affect our hunger for the move of the Spirit and the infilling of His power. The infilling of the Holy Ghost power is not for personal gratification, but an enduement of power for service. We need the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to help us live right, do right, and be right in this troubled age. We need to stand on the power of Pentecost to defeat the enemy of our souls. We need to seek His presence and the infilling of His Spirit every opportunity we get.

It's not about shouting, or prophecy, or even the laying on of hands. All of these are outward manifestations of being filled with the Spirit. It's about having the power of God within you that gives you the ability to say "NO" to the devil and to share the message of Jesus in places you never thought God would send you. It's about being Pentecostal in spirit and not just in name. It's about seeing the moving, convicting power of God in a day filled with occultism and doubt. It's about being what we once were-a living, breathing example of what happened on the Day of Pentecost. That's my desire and my hope for the future of the Church of God. Let us never waver from the reality of Pentecost!