When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force — no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. - (Acts 2:1-4)

The image of “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (language of other translations) is a powerful one. This wildfire of God’s grace signals the dawning of a new era in God’s work of salvation. The message of Jesus is boldly proclaimed.

Hearts are convicted and touched. Faith is born. People are baptized. The Spirit is given as God’s gift. Sins are gone. A new movement is begun that will sweep through the mighty Roman Empire and is still with us today.

The Holy Spirit is the wind that causes heaven’s wildfire to spread through human hearts and change the future of people, family, friends, cultures, and nations. So let’s pray for this wildfire to sweep through our lands, our churches, our friends, and our own hearts!

Prayer : O Father in heaven, I know that the Holy Spirit lives in me and in the hearts of your people. Yet we yearn for a fresh movement of your Spirit to bring renewal, to empower evangelism, to bring conviction of sin and a realization of grace, peace, and joy. Please send your Holy Spirit to break out like wildfire among us and propel us to be the people our world needs us to be! In Jesus’ name we ask for this grace. Amen.

When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. – (Psalm 104:30)

Psalm 104 praises God as creator and sustainer of the earth. One of the dimensions of his providential care has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that is hovering above the primordial chaos before creation waiting for the Father’s word to begin the work of creation is even now the Father’s partner in bringing blessing to our world.

When we pray to God — the Creator and Sustainer of all we know, when we talk about Jesus holding the universe together, we also need to remember this is also the work of Holy Spirit: “When you send your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the ground.”

Prayer : O Father, thank you for your ongoing involvement in the universe that you created. I know that our world is broken as a result of the fall and our human rebellion to your will, but I take comfort in knowing that you hear our prayers and that your Holy Spirit still is at work in our world renewing your creation. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven – except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.” - (Matthew 12:31-32)

The Lord made clear that there was a fundamental difference between rejecting Jesus and attributing his power to Satan. Why would Satan destroy himself? He wouldn’t. In fact, if Satan could stop Jesus, he would. But as the Son of God, empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, Satan does not have the power to stop Jesus.

Jesus is delivering people from the power of sin, death, and hell. No other power, but the very power of God in the Holy Spirit, could do such wonderful things (Matt. 12:25-29). To attribute such power to the evil one is to blaspheme the Spirit of God who is bringing the deliverance of God to the broken and the lost. As Nicodemus said in his encounter with Jesus, “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2).

Prayer : O Father, I recognize that Jesus’ awesome teaching and amazing miracles happened because of his allegiance to you as he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. I am thankful that this same power is at work in my life. I am comforted to know that Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to live within me and to be at work in my life. In Jesus’ name I thank you and praise you. Amen.