Harvest is Messy
Acts 2:2-4, “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” (NLT)
Can you imagine? Nothing like this had ever happened before. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you react if God moved in your church like that? The sound of a windstorm, flames of fire, everybody speaking in unlearned languages. Would you be okay if that happened?
Some of the people OUTSIDE their doors questioned what was going on. Luke, the biographer, records: “But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, ‘They’re just drunk, that’s all!' (Acts 2:13, NLT).
It was different. It was noisy. Weird. Unexpected. Some were probably thinking, “That’s never happened at my church.” They were made fun of… mocked.
When the Holy Spirit comes and visits His people, He comes on His own terms. His visitation is empowering. But you might not be comfortable with some of it. It might not fit inside your box of how you think God should act.
Sometimes we speak out of both sides of our mouths. On one hand, we want our kids and grandkids to have an encounter with God, but on the other, we have our stipulations and perimeters. We want the harvest, but we also want it to be neat, comfortable, and convenient. We don’t want it to last too long or to cost too much. We don’t want to get too involved or to commit ourselves that much.
Are you willing to experience messiness? If God wanted to do it that way again, would you be open? Are you open to the messy?
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