MONDAY, APRIL 3
Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” When the disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do, they were all filled, ‘clothed with the Holy Spirit’ and they began to pray in tongues as God gave them utterance. It was their job to open their mouths and pray and it was God’s job to form those syllables into a heavenly language that would call forth the perfect manifestation of the Holy Spirit concerning any given situation that they were facing. When they were facing unknown elements including what to do, how to act and what to pray for, they used this prayer language. It became the most valuable, universal mode of intercession and talking to God that they had. They used it for everything. We know that is true because of Paul’s own testimony. Yet many of us have not understood it to the point that we have included it as a key pillar in our Christian walk and actually consistently do it. It was so important that Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they were saturated with the Holy Spirit. Today many in the church treat the Holy Spirit as optional. This was not optional in Jesus’ understanding. It was not optional for Him to be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit Himself when the Father led Him to be baptized of John. There is nothing optional concerning the Spirit of God. The only thing that has made it optional is our tradition. And for some of us, our tradition can make the Word of God of none effect. It is a huge error to minimize the need for the Spirit of God and our heavenly language. We cannot afford to make the Holy Spirit optional in our lives. Get delivered from tradition that says that praying in tongues is optional! It is not optional if we want to be victorious in our walk. It is not optional if we want to be empowered for ministry the way the disciples were. There is nothing optional about the Holy Spirit. It is time we grow up and believe what the Word says. One of the reasons much of the church is in such a mess is they treat parts of the Word as optional. Why bring a Bible to church? Many believe a Bible isn’t necessary if their church flashes the scriptures up on the wall. He who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, loosely or with slackness is cursed. We need to get back to believing what the Bible says and acting on it. There is victory in that kind of saintly stance! Maybe it starts with each of us individually going before the Lord and declaring that His Word is no longer optional in our lives but it is the necessary, pure standard that we embrace and walk in. It should be the ultimate authority in life and it is time we acted that way! What a refreshing, unique group of people to hang out with-ones who live by the Word of God!