Holy Spirit Outpouring

 

 

Maria Stockman – Digital Copywriter, cbn.com

Have you ever been so drunk you couldn’t get up and walk? I have! I am a bit embarrassed to share but it may help someone.

So, a dear friend and I had driven to N.C. for a special church service. We were hungry for the Lord. We went expecting to receive from the Lord, and we did. The presence of the Lord was in that place. During worship, I forgot all about my friend and realized I could no longer stand. I was weeping and got all snotty-nosed. Strangely, I was also laughing because the joy of the Lord was flowing all through me. My friend was trying to protect me from getting trampled upon as people were headed to and from the altar and dancing around, but I was oblivious to any danger. It was Jesus and me. I remember hearing the preacher did some sort of altar call and I decided I wanted that too. The only problem was that I couldn’t get up off that floor. So, I tried crawling, a sight for sore eyes indeed! That night was so good! And that, my friends, is what drunkenness looks like!

The Bible shares the account of a whole house full of believers who see and feel the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. How I would have loved to be in that upper room! Acts 2:2-4 says,

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (ESV).

This encounter both “amazed and perplexed” the crowds gathered in Jerusalem (verse 12). Some ridiculed them as being “filled with new wine” (verse 13). Peter stood up and let people know the truth about what had taken place. Acts 2:15 says,

“For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.”

Oh, that the power of God would alight upon us like this today!

Peter and the other disciples, empowered to witness, left the confines of that upper room, and spoke with great boldness “the mighty works of God” (verse 11). Peter began quoting a familiar passage to them from the prophet Joel. That prophetic Word came to pass in their midst as God remembered His people.