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Building a spirit-filled church
pastor corner

Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke

As the ministry of Jesus was concluding He plainly told the disciples He was going to leave but would send a Comforter to fill His role in helping and sustaining His children (John 16:7).

The Greek word for Comforter is ‘Paraclete.’ This translates as an Advocate, a Consoler, a Helper or a Comforter. Jesus was introducing the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Knowing the critical importance of the Holy Spirit in upholding the new band of believers, He instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until the Comforter, or Holy Spirit, arrived. This phenomenal experience occurred on the Day of Pentecost, one of the celebration feast days of Israel, and is recorded by Luke in Acts 2. The New Testament church was born at that moment as the men and women of God shouted and spoke in languages they could not understand. The church survives today, being sustained by the Holy Spirit. If the church Jesus established is to remain, and it will, we need to revive the Spirit power in our congregations. We should be praying, Oh, Lord, Revive us again! Fill us again!

When a person is young so many of life’s experiences are new and fresh. As we age those new things become familiar and simply less enjoyable and thrilling. A new car is exhilarating for a little while, but usually not long. My point is this.

We simply cannot allow the precious Holy Spirit to become something we get used to and fail to appreciate.

The prayer of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk was, “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Hab. 3:2). Judgment had been pronounced against the people of God, but a praying man sought God’s mercy and hoped for revival. Should we not do the same?

If our nation is to survive the divisive cultural war in which we are engaged our churches must have a renewing of Holy Spirit power and action. Join with me in prayer for God to revive the church in the midst of our years.