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 power of the Spirit in our congregations. We should be praying, Oh, Lord, Revive us again! Fill us again!

The key to spiritual power has always been sincere prayer. When the Holy Ghost fell on the church on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples had been praying for about 10 days. After the preaching of Peter that day, some 3,000 people committed themselves to be servants of Christ. Peter and John were headed into the temple for prayer when the lame man was healed (Acts 3:1-7). When persecution began, the disciples prayed fervently.

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). The impact of this anointed power changed the church. Read for yourselves Acts 4:31-37 and see what dedication was found among the Christians. My prayer is that the Lord will again fill the church with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.