ACTS 2:1 – When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

THEME OF THE DAY. WHICH CROWD ARE YOU IN? So, let’s build a little scenario. Now it isn’t going to happen literally, but for the sake of the build-up, assume it will. The Lord has told us, “Next Wednesday evening, I am going to manifest My literal Presence in your church at 6:30 p.m. I will be leaving heaven and make Myself available to be with you, talk with you, and give you the opportunity for mutual enjoyment of our time together.”

I am absolutely convinced we would be looking forward to next Wednesday with wide eyes and excitement. Might even lose sleep over the anticipation of the Lord meeting with us, and unless physically incapacitated, we would be there. Probably long before 6:30 p.m. to get a great seat. Okay. He isn’t going to do this literally, but He has promised to do so spiritually – when His people gather for prayer.

Today’s scripture is the setting of Pentecost; when God came down and filled His people with His Holy Spirit. The church was alive with the Presence of God. He not only filled the people, but He filled everything. He was real. He was alive. He was with His people just like He said if they sought Him with their whole hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). And it just wasn’t at Pentecost. Where did the Lord manifest Himself in His soul-satisfying glory to Peter, John, and James? On a mountain in prayer – Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said (Luke 9:28-33).

So, here comes the obvious application for us. It goes toward two different groups of people. First, those believers in the “I get it crowd”. They believe God does meet His people in times of praying with other Christians. The “I get it crowd” are faithful to pray with other believers. They have experienced His Presence and want more. Now, granted God doesn’t always overwhelm us with His Presence, but the “I get it crowd” still seek Him together faithfully and fervently. We do so because that is the essence of revival – His Presence capturing and changing us and we want it as evidenced by seeking Him in prayer.. And because we know He has promised to meet with us, the “I get it crowd” won’t miss an opportunity to be in the place where God said He would meet us – praying with other believers. Then we have the application which is really an exhortation to the “I don’t get it crowd” of believers. They may attend church faithfully, but praying with other Christians isn’t a practice with them. Sadly, this category of believers is large and their excuses for not praying many, but what is revealed is their failure to see prayer and fellowship with God as it is modeled in the Bible and church history. And they have allowed the things of the world and flesh to make no room for praying times with other Christians. I think the worst part about believers in the “I don’t get it crowd” is they don’t know what they are missing – the joy, the Presence of God, the growth in grace, the sweet fellowship with other believers, and the opportunity to obey Biblical models of praying believers.

We will conclude today’s nugget with a searching question of self-examination – “Which crowd are you in?” If the former, you know the experience with the Lord I am describing and you pray with other believers. If you are in the latter, “I don’t get it crowd”, please think through this and move over to the other crowd. You will never regret it. The only regret will be, “Why didn’t I do this earlier in my walk with the Lord?”

PRAYER: “Father, help me to never intentionally miss the gathering of Your people when I am able to be there.”

QUOTE: “God meets with His people. He has promised. He fulfills His promise. Don’t miss those times He does”