Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of people who have sensed Pentecost this year will be very significant. Pentecost marks the end of the Easter season and celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter. This year we celebrate Pentecost on May 31.
There are times when God speaks through people to encourage the body of Christ. I just read something on Elijah List that really resonated with my spirit and reminded me of the significance of Pentecost this year.
“But when someone prophesies, he speaks to encourage people, to build them up, and to bring them comfort.”1 Corinthians 14:3
Alane Haynes, who has encouraged me through the sharing of “words” she received, wrote the following:
“As I was waiting on the Lord the other morning, I heard, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty..." (Zephaniah 3:17). Then I heard, "Open up ye gates" repeatedly. I immediately thought of Psalm 24:7-10 (KJV):"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."… I saw a vision of a very dark place and a huge, iron gate. It turned to the right and opened. Many people began awakening and moving through. Holy Spirit reminded me of Acts 12 when Peter was in prison, and how when an angel appeared to him, his chains fell off and he was led to the gate of the city which opened supernaturally. I immediately heard, "There has been a shift in the spiritual realm. The forces of darkness have held My people captive behind a gate of iron, but now the gate has been opened. Move forward in faith. In the days to come, you will see a great movement. Keep your eyes on Me!" … The turnaround has begun. The decree has been decreed by the King; the gate of inflexible rule in the spirit that has kept many bound is now open. I prophesy to you that in the days to come, what has begun in part will flood forth, and we will see many gates opening and a harvest of souls. The enemy has already been defeated – he was defeated at the Cross – but he has brought a wave of fear over the earth that has gripped even God's people. I saw the scene from the Wizard of Oz, where the "Great Oz" was seen for the impostor he was – just a little man behind a curtain causing havoc and harm through deceit. I believe that is such a picture of what the enemy has been doing.People of God, rise in faith in the overcoming life of Jesus! The only fear that belongs in the heart of a child of God is fear of the Lord! There is, even now, the rumblings of a great awakening – a mighty turning from darkness to light. Oppression is lifting and the sound of freedom is in the air. Get ready, get ready, get ready! … God's resources are limitless and His purposes will not fail! A gate has been opened, so take courage and move forward in faith!”
I believe that just as our state is taking steps to reopen, God is opening a gate for us to go through. There is a new season before us, not a “new normal,” that is before us. Let’s move forward in faith, not fear, in the God who is all-powerful, faithful and leading us on.
Mark