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"THE WINDS ARE ABOUT TO SHIFT"
Acts 2:1-9: On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. 7 They were completely amazed. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
This Sunday I will be ministering at Abundant Life Church in Bangor, filling in for Pastor Russ while he is away. As I was praying about what the Lord has for them He gave me one word, "shift." As I was putting my message together I realized this is a message for the entire Body of Christ, not just Bangor. I'm not going to share the whole message with you, just this one part that really stuck out to me.
The word "shift" by definition means: to put something aside and replace it by another, change or exchange, to move from one place, position, direction, etc., to another. There's a shift that's about to take place in the Body of Christ. The wind shifted on the day of Pentecost and the wind is about to shift again. As I was praying this week I asked the Lord why there seems to be a lack of the Holy Spirit in our churches, I'm not talking about any one particular church, I'm talking about the church in general. I know there are churches where the Holy Spirit is welcome and moving. The Lords response to me was very clear and very simple: "I will not visit any place I am not invited to visit, The Church needs to invite me, I'm waiting for my invitation." It's time we, The Church, extend an invitation to the Holy Spirit. Tell Him He's welcome, He's allowed to completely invade your church and turn things inside out and upside down. The winds are about to shift!
Anytime you read of significant change in the Bible, there was a shift that took place. Something was put aside and replaced with another or there was a change of position or direction. When you got saved, there was a shift. God sent His son to die for us, He exchanged His son for our sins. On that day there was a shift from law to Grace. On the day of Pentecost something got put aside and replaced with the Holy Spirit, a shift took place.
For those who are willing, for those who will extend an invitation, the winds are about to shift and it will be in your favor and it will be for your good. It was at Mount Sinai God gave the Ten Commandments and 3,000 people died. On the day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, God gave the Holy Spirit at Mount Zion, and 3,000 people were saved! A perfect picture that the law kills, but the Spirit brings life. The law condemns, but grace saves. Invite the Holy Spirit and He will breathe life into your situation.
The winds are about to shift!
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