The Power of PentecostSample

Before Jesus began His public ministry, John the Baptist announced His arrival. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” and warned, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” John’s message is one of critical importance.

It makes sense, doesn't it? If we know guests are coming to visit, we make preparations for their visit. We will probably tidy up the house or change our clothes. We may think of what we can offer them as a snack or drink. Even for someone we do not care much about seeing or if they are strangers to us, we do some work of preparation for their arrival. How much more, then, should we prepare for the coming of the Lord? 

In the same way Jesus is the Lord whom we should be prepared to receive, so too is the Holy Spirit—as an equal Person of the Triune God. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one God known to us in three distinct personalities. If the people of first century Palestine were told to prepare the way for God the Son’s coming, we should understand the coming of God the Holy Spirit is also an event for which we should prepare.

The early disciples were prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost through their obedience, their unity, and their prayerful seeking of the promise of God. Acts 1 tells us the disciples were gathered in Jerusalem as Jesus had told them to do. Their obedience was preparation for Pentecost. 

We are also told they were of one mind or that there was a spirit of unity present among them. This does not mean they agreed on everything, necessarily. When it came time to decide who should take the place of Judas as an apostle, two men were nominated. I am sure some preferred one and some the other, or else there would not have been two nominees. The disciples, however, were united in their singular desire to have the Lord as their priority. They were willing for the Lord to decide who would be the apostle by casting lots. Not seeking our own way, but being united with the Body of Christ—the Church—around the preeminence of Christ is important preparation for Pentecost.

Finally, the Scriptures say the disciples devoted themselves to prayer. To be seeking the Lord through prayer is perhaps the most important aspect of preparing ourselves for anything the Lord has promised. It was certainly a critical aspect of the disciple’s preparation for Pentecost. 

The Believers were prepared, and the Holy Spirit came.