Pentecostal Power

I have seen miracles and experienced a few of my own. I have also known people who would cry “miracle” when none occurred and others who would not admit a miracle even when rigorous tests were applied. My purpose is not to argue with either the overly credulous or the overly skeptical, but point to the joy of living with miracles.

At a time when I needed direction, a man of God came to me and said some specific words that came to pass. They were improbable at the time, but I was encouraged by them, put their fulfillment in God’s hands, and saw them happen over that year.

At a time when I was very ill, cause unknown, my Dad prayed for me and I immediately felt better.

I saw my parents give away their car to a person who lived with us, tell nobody, and just as we were about to be left without transportation, a miracle happened. God woke a person up, not a member of our church, and had her give us a car. I can still see it sitting brand new in our driveway. We hadn’t been given a car before and we haven’t been given one since.

Generally, God works slowly to bring healing from the vices in our life, carefully weeding out the evil roots of our bondage to preserve self, but I have also seen Him work quickly. When God could root out an addiction without destruction to a soul, He will do it. I have seen addicts cured overnight and people released from all types of bondage.

I have also seen people given the power to walk through situations that seemed unbearable. Prayers I thought should have been answered were not answered as I wished and time has shown me some of the whys.

All of this has enabled me to live with constant expectation of a miracle, but never the presumption of a miracle. An atheist once said to me: “You pray for healing and go to the doctor.” I replied: “This is exactly how my religion teaches me to live.” God is not whimsical. In a law based universe (moral and physical), a man will reap what he sows. Garbage in generally means garbage out. It is true of our moral health and not just our physical health.

Bad things happen to good people, because there are also bad people.

And, yet, God does all He can do to soften the blows of a broken world. He must act for the greatest good for the greatest number of people. If a butterfly flapping a wing can set off a typhoon, by a long causal change, then God’s every action has even greater repercussions. He knows all and acts for our best. God is all powerful, but He is also all good and the Creator of all things. His calculus is never simple and somethings that seem good for us in the short term would be bad in the light of eternity or come with too great a cost to the cosmos.

This means, however, that He will do what He can for all His children. We do not even need to pray. God loves the atheist as well as the theist! He will heal those who wish it when He can and comfort those He can when He can.

Pentecost was one of those unexpected “breaks” in the normal order of things. This is not “defying the law,” since all laws (from our perspectives) simply represent the regular actions of His Divine Will. He is a person and a person can do unexpected things without being whimsical! God came and empowered a group of men and women with great gifts.

They spoke in unknown tongues. They had courage where fear had abounded. The gift was not what they expected and it seldom is. My family has even received gifts from God that offended the narrow. God is always holy, He never breaks the moral law, but He might blow the traditions of men to hell.

Pentecost is not in the past, my Church celebrated it this week. Like all events in God’s time, Pentecost was, is, and will be again. And yet if you are depressed, as I often am, or hurt by the church, as so many of my friends are, Pentecost may seem impossible or even a cruel joke. Why hasn’t the Spirit come? Why doesn’t the Spirit come now to us in ways we wish?

The Apostles must have wanted many things: what they got was “other tongues.” They got something great, but not the great thing they anticipated or felt they needed. Today am I opening myself up to the gift God can give and wishes to give? Am I waiting for His Pentecost or one that fits my demands?

Am I standing waiting for the miracle I demand or the miracle God gives?

This much I know: Pentecost comes and miracles happen. They are not always the miracles wanted and I am often full of His glory while full of my sorrow. This life is a mixed bag with the same Church of Acts that saw the miracle of Pentecost finding itself full of divisions over food distribution and lying to the leadership.

Still, living in hope of miracles fills me with hope this Monday. What might be? What will be? God knows. This anticipation has never disappointed me as what happens is always mostly routine with a dollop of joyful Pentecost! The stories of the martyrs confirm the joyful oddity of this miraculous life. Often they are healed or saved from torture only to die under some other punishment from the tyrants . . . their next waking sight after death-utter Beauty. God delivers His beloved when He can and allows death to come as He must in His good time.

But the demons’ plans and the tyrants’ strengthless presumption are always vanquished and always will be vanquished. I live today in no presumption of a miracle, but in the delighted anticipation that at any moment the wind can change and God can come like a mighty wind to disrupt the pattern and bring joy.

Here is a song I learned as a teenager that has been true to my life:

Lord, as of old, at Pentecost,
Thou didst Thy pow’r display—
With cleansing, purifying flame,
Descend on us today.
- Refrain:
  Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
  Thy floodgates of blessing, on us throw open wide!
  Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
  That sinners be converted and Thy Name glorified!
For mighty works for Thee, prepare
And strengthen every heart;
Come, take possession of Thine own,
And nevermore depart.
All self consume, all sin destroy!
With earnest zeal endue
Each waiting heart to work for Thee;
O Lord, our faith renew!
Speak, Lord! before Thy throne we wait,
Thy promise we believe,
And will not let Thee go until
The blessing we receive.