Hi Friend,

Humans exist in a deceptive environment, protected from reality by layers of steel, brick, and mortar. Have you ever been outside during a thunderstorm? Camping next to the Snake River beneath the Grand Tetons once, I witnessed at close range the power of a huge thunderstorm. Separated from nature by a thin sheet of canvas, electric streaks shooting across the sky, the percussion of thunder sending shock waves through my body, I never questioned the existence of God. I just wanted to be on His team.

Paradoxically, there is both fear and security in the enormous power of nature. It is awesome. Everything man can do or even the combined effort of all men is simply miniscule by comparison. Only a fool could think that man can make a positive change in the temperature of the globe by eliminating cow flatulence.  My carbon footprint will not impact global warming.

One lightning bolt, if only for a split second, can reach a temperature more than double the surface of the sun. The leader of a lightning bolt can travel at speeds of 60,000 miles per second.

A single lightning strike can carry enough electricity to power 10 million homes for one month. The Atlanta Journal reported that one lightning storm can discharge enough energy to supply the entire nation with electricity for 20 minutes. And there are over 16 million lightning storms every year.

A fascinating characteristic of nature’s power is its invisibility. Only the effects are seen. Jesus used nature to explain the power of God to Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.” (John 3:8 NKJ)

When a charlatan magician saw the invisible power of God manifested to heal fellow citizens of Samaria, he recognized the genuine versus the fake. Simon the Sorcerer witnessed his neighbors speaking in foreign languages after the disciples prayed.  He could see that these miraculous gifts were received from the laying on of hands, so he did a dumb thing. “He offered them money, saying Give me this power also…” (Acts 8:18-19 NKV) Simon was so overwhelmed when he saw the genuine article, that it aroused his jealousy of the real power. But trying to obtain the Holy Spirit with money is like grabbing a live wire while standing in water. The value of the Holy Spirit is too great to be cheapened by money or pretense.

God has been giving His Spirit to men for centuries. The Prophet Micah wrote, “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD.”  (Micah 3:8)

And then a decision, unseen by man, was made in the 3rd Heaven that changed everything.  The Holy Spirit was offered to men and women other than Prophets.  Paul testified that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

When the Savior of Mankind was executed and resurrected three days later, it was a miracle foreshadowed 3,000 years earlier by the Passover service.  This was followed by another miracle which has done more to change civilization than any other single event in the history of mankind.

Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit became available to all who believed. The next thirty years transformed the world. The miracle of Pentecost did more to civilize mankind than any event in the history of the world.

This Sunday we will celebrate the invisible power God gave to change mankind.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien