I hate wind; it messes up my hair. It makes some things I enjoy very difficult. Playing tennis is a challenge when there are stiff breezes. Strong gusts cause severe damage to property, altering, and even taking human life. We are all moved by the enormity of the destruction caused by hurricanes and tornados. From comments I’ve heard other folks make, I’ don’t think I’m alone in my dislike of the wind.

I suspect unless you are one who likes to sail or fly kites, you don’t spend a lot of time on your knees praying for wind. I know I don’t. But we should. Oh, not for the hazardous and destructive kind. But for the type that grew the church from 120 believers to over 3000 in a single day. Of course, we’re not talking now about an event of nature, but the wind of the Spirit, as evidenced by Pentecost.

Following Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem (according to Christ’s instructions) and gathered in an upper room. It may very well have been the same room in which “The Last Supper” was held. There the disciples, along with some women, were devoting themselves to prayer. It was in this setting that Matthias was selected to take Judas’ place among the Apostles. The disciples were going about the business of the church.

Then, the day of Pentecost came. Again they were all gathered in one place. Luke tells us, “Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” It was the Spirit Jesus had promised they would receive when they returned to Jerusalem. Acts 1:8 records Christ’s words, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Having received that power, the apostles spoke in languages they had never learned. And Peter made a passionate address to a disbelieving crowd. People repented. And 3000 people were added to the church in one day.

The Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of a man who three times had lost courage even to acknowledge he was a follower of Jesus. And the Spirit’s power broke through the hearts of those who did not believe in him.

I can’t change the heart of anyone with my words. It is only the Spirit. He can speak to others through me, or without me. While it’s true the Bible teaches that the Spirit blows where it will, there are several places in Acts where Luke tells us the disciples were “devoted” to prayer. I tend to believe, the more we pray, the greater the likelihood we will draw the wind of the Spirit.

And that’s what we’re going to need. My weekly letter to those folks without Internet access included a request for prayer for church leadership. They’ll need the guidance of the Spirit. They’ll need it to determine the best path to opening doors to the church ah again. But let’s be honest. We’ll all need the power of the Spirit. Some of us will need it to break the new Sunday morning habits we’ve developed over the past few months. But we also need it to revitalize an aging church.

Stan Mast, writing about Pentecost, says, “The two greatest miracles of Pentecost are the fact that the church began to testify about Jesus out in the world and the world responded with repentance and faith. The wind of God blew open the church’s mouth and the world’s heart.

And here is the even greater miracle. It is recorded later in chapter 2. The fellowship of believers continued to devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and the apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs. Here’s the most miraculous part. “All the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods; they gave to anyone as he had need. There was a miraculous spirit of generosity. Luke tells us they had glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The church does not enjoy the favor of all the people today. I suspect that when Luke wrote those words, the church did not have the support of every single person. And we know the persecution eventually came upon the church. But the early church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was a thing of beauty. Those who saw it, if not converted, were at least favorably disposed towards the church.
Such is not the case today, far from it. The recent torching of a church in Mississippi is evidence of how some people view the church today.

Paul said in Romans that we are to be at peace with all people when it depends on us. We will not be able to be at peace with folks who don’t desire peace with us. But we are not to be the cause of conflict. We may have to make choices on whether or not to take a stand on controversial issues. When making those choices, we need to remember that Christ’s church was not called to be a political body, but a loving and spiritual body.

We need to pray and praise with sincere and generous hearts—something we can only do through the power of the Spirit.