Acts 2:1-4: 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. 

The Lord has been speaking to me lately about the importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people and in the life of The Church.  This ties in with what I shared last week.  As I was in prayer a few days ago, this is what the Lord spoke.  "If The Church will invite The Holy Spirit into their lives and into their Church, it will be the key they need to unlocking three doors.  The Door of Signs and Wonders, The Door of Growth, and The Door of Transition.  It's time to give the Holy Spirit permission to do what He's called to do.  I want My people back, I want My Church back, and I want My Pastors back who have fallen away, burnt out, and given up.  I'm about to unleash the greatest move of the Holy Spirit The Church has ever seen but My leaders MUST set their hearts on Me and they MUST invite Me back into their lives and their Churches." 

THE DOOR OF SIGNS AND WONDERS 

Acts 2:14-21: Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o'clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 'In the last days,' God says, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants-men and women alike-and they will prophesy. 19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below- blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. 21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit was the key to signs and wonders, and nothing has changed.  As we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our Church's, our homes, our work place, our schools, our small groups, in everything we do, it will unlock the door to signs and wonders in the earth today.  I believe we are continuing to write the book of Acts today.  I don't know about you, but I desire to see people healed, delivered, and set free and it is only by the power of The Holy Spirit that it will take place.  It's time for The Church to extend an invitation to The Holy Spirit. 

THE DOOR OF GROWTH 

Acts 2:38-41: Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles-all who have been called by the Lord our God." 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day-about 3,000 in all. 

As we, The Church, allow and invite The Holy Spirit growth just happens.  The Holy Spirit is a multiplier.  He has a way of drawing people in that we have been trying to draw in for years.  I love the fact that on the day the law was given in the Old Testament, 3000 people died and on the day The Holy Spirit was given, 3,000 people were saved!  The Holy Spirit brings life and growth!  Sometimes we get to a point as a Church that we do everything that we can do.  We implement all of our programs and ideas, and don't get me wrong, I fully support programs and things in The Church that keep people plugged in, they are important.  However, the key to them being effective and causing growth is inviting The Holy Spirit to have His way and be the ultimate authority in all that we do.  It's time for The Church to extend an invitation to The Holy Spirit. 

THE DOOR OF TRANSITION 

Acts 2:42-47: All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. 

Transition: movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change.  I know there are many churches who can say they are in the transition stage.  They've begun to move out of something in order to move into something.  They are changing from one position to another.  However, they haven't fully stepped out of the old position and they haven't fully stepped into the new position.  It's like having one foot on one side of a door and one foot on the other side.  I believe The Holy Spirit is the key to that final push that you need to complete the transition.  After The Holy Spirit was given in Acts, there was a transition that took place.  There was movement, there was a change from one position to another and it was The Holy Spirit that unlocked that door.  It was after The Holy Spirit that they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to sharing in meals, and to prayer.  It was after The Holy Spirit was given that the apostles performed signs and wonders.  Because of The Holy Spirit they began to share everything they had with those in need.  It was The Holy Spirit that opened their eyes beyond themselves.  There was great joy and generosity.  The last sentence of verse 47 says, "And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."  Did you catch that?  Each day!  Can that happen today?  If it happened in the book of Acts it can happen today.  The key is The Holy Spirit.   

Here's the Word the Lord gave me again: "If The Church will invite The Holy Spirit into their lives and into their Church, it will be the key they need to unlocking three doors.  The Door of Signs and Wonders, The Door of Growth, and The Door of Transition.  It's time to give the Holy Spirit permission to do what He's called to do.  I want My people back, I want My Church back, I want My Pastors back who have fallen away, burnt out and given up.  I'm about to unleash the greatest move of the Holy Spirit The Church has ever seen but My leaders MUST set their hearts on Me and they MUST invite Me back into their lives and their Churches." 

Will you extend the invitation to The Holy Spirit?  He's your key.  I challenge you, The Church, call your leaders together, call your people together and extend an invitation to The Holy Spirit and watch as doors unlock and open up!