A Personal Pentecost

“It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul . . . came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’” Acts 19:1-2 NASB

When Paul came to Ephesus, he “found some disciples.” They clearly knew about Jesus and had been baptized in water. Yet something seemed amiss. Paul was concerned to learn that they had never even heard about the Holy Spirit. They hadn’t experienced the Spirit for themselves and didn’t know what they were missing!
Paul knew from his own life what a difference the power of the Holy Spirit had made. Paul knew that God’s Spirit changes lives in countless ways, with revolutionary impact. So he laid hands on these Believers, and “the Holy Spirit came on them” (vs. 5-7). Their lives would never be the same!
Years later, the Ephesian church needed to be reminded about their ongoing need to be filled with the Spirit. Even though they had been saved and empowered by the Spirit in the past, they needed to continue to be filled with His presence (Ephesians 5:18).
Many Christians today need a similar reminder. Some have been born again, but have not experienced their own personal Pentecost. They don’t realize all that the Spirit can accomplish. Others have forgotten about the ways the Spirit can help us.
Today, on this Pentecost Sunday, Believers throughout the world celebrate the day the Holy Spirit fell on the church in Acts 2. What a wonderful day for you to be renewed in your relationship with the Spirit of God.
Seek to be filled anew with the Spirit. Seek to be more sensitive to His leading, that His fruit and gifts might operate through you. That He might empower you, in new ways.

Prayer: Father, I seek anew to be filled with Your Spirit. May Your Spirit fall on me afresh. Change me by Your Spirit. Empower me. Guide me. Use me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.