Have You Heard?

Several years ago, I was in one of three weekend services and my wife Vickie was on the platform leading the children in worship. I'll have to admit, it was one of the most wonderful, powerful times of worship that I had witnessed in any of our services. It seemed as though that we had entered into a new level of intensity and passion. After the worship was over and I was on the platform transitioning into the next area of the service, I commented to Vickie about what I had just witnessed and told her that I saw that some day that we would have to work to get the kids to stop praising and worshiping God because of their unquenchable passion. What a spiritual statement ... at least that is what I thought. A few minutes later, the service had transitioned into the teaching portion and I was off of the platform and going out to my Explorer to put away some props. On the way out to the truck, I clearly heard the Holy Spirit correct me. I heard Him say, "Quit saying that I see the day coming and instead begin to declare TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost." In other words, He was instructing me to quit putting things off into the future and to begin to vocalize and announce what He wants to do today. So, instead of saying that I see the day coming when we will have difficulty stopping the children from worshiping God I should announce to the children that TODAY is the day that the Holy Ghost is moving and stirring. TODAY is the day of His moving in and amongst our children. TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost.

It is easy in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles to live in the past and to constantly talk about what God did at Azusa Street or during the Charismatic revival of the 60's and 70's or the Toronto Airport Revival or the Brownsville Revival. On the flip side, we can put off the day of His visitation and moving into some distant day that is just barely beyond our reach. The correction informed and reminded me of the reality of His being a TODAY presence and power. TODAY is His day and we need to announce it, welcome it, and embrace it. In doing so, He will make our announcement a visible reality.

The purpose of this week's blog is to ask you to join with me and together let's declare that TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost. Beginning today, let's daily declare, welcome, and embrace that He is ever present. Beginning today, let's daily declare, welcome, and embrace His power. While we are thankful for what He has done in the past and at the same time recognize that He has plans for our future, we are to acknowledge that He is working TODAY in a mighty, powerful way.

In case that you haven't heard .... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!