The Spirit Filled LifeSample

THE HARVEST OF PENTECOST…THE BEST IS YET TO COME By: Wayne Hilsden Charles Spurgeon was one of the most eloquent preachers of all time; yet Spurgeon said, "It would be better to speak six words in the power of the Holy Ghost than to preach seventy years of sermons without the Spirit." One of the world’s greatest evangelists was DL Moody. But Moody said, "There is not a better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit." Spurgeon and Moody lived prior to the outpouring at Azusa Street. If these men confessed their need for the power of the Holy Spirit in their ministries, how much more should we, who claim to be Spirit-filled, be operating in the Spirit’s power! What were Jesus' last words? They weren’t "Go and build a chain of bless-me clubs." No, He gave the Great Commission: "Go and make disciples." And what else did He say before He ascended into heaven? He told His followers that before they go, they should wait. Wait for the promise of the Father—the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Then you will “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” World harvest and kingdom expansion were the chief purposes of Pentecost. The picture of the harvest of souls that will be gathered into his Kingdom is not small, but very great indeed. John had a vision in Revelation 7:9 of “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” This promise is not limited to that one day of Pentecost two millennia ago. For Peter said in his sermon that day in Acts 2: “The promise is (not only) unto you and to your children, (but also) to all that are afar off (i.e. both in space and in time)” (JFB Commentary rendition). The promise of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon “ALL flesh” has not yet been fulfilled. The greatest harvest of all time is still ahead of us. The best is yet to come. What is the Holy Spirit saying to me? ACTIVATION Evaluate how the Great Commission has made an impact on your life. Ask God to show you how you can take new steps in fulfilling Jesus’ last mandate to His disciples. Read John’s account of his vision of heaven in Revelation 7, and ask God to increase your vision for the harvest in our lifetime. Walk in the flow of the Spirit moment by moment so that you will not miss a God–ordained opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus.