Personal Pentecost
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
The Flower of the Holy Spirit, or Dove Orchid is the national flower of Panama. Its scientific name is Peristeria Elata Orchidaceae. The name Peristeria in Greek means “dove.”
Before it blooms, this orchid looks like praying saints. Then it blooms into a flower that looks like a dove. This orchid blooms during Pentecost each year, between June and October.
This amazing creation of God is a reminder to us of what happened on the Day of Pentecost.
Before Pentecost, the disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit, who will come upon them from on high.
They prayed for ten days. They repented of their doubt, lack of faith, fear of men, failures, selfishness, lust for power. They emptied themselves so that they could receive the fullness of God.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and took full control of the disciples.
From then, their lives were fully transformed.
Peter was not the liar as before. He preached like a lion.
The disciples were fully committed to Christ and their calling. They went about preaching the Gospel.
They stood boldly before their persecutors. They counted themselves worthy to suffer for Jesus.
They prayed until the place was shaken. They showed such sacrificial love for one another in sharing their possessions with those in need.
They loved to gather together to worship, pray, learn from the apostles’ teaching.
The Lord wants the Spirit to fill us as He filled the disciples on Pentecost.
The in-filling of the Holy Spirit is for each and every one of us today.
As we surrender and yield our lives to Him, and as we empty our sin and ambition to Him, we allow Him to take over us.
May we experience our personal Pentecost today.
(MT)