Richard E. Bieber preaches on the transformative power of the Day of Pentecost, where a small group of believers became an Army of Light, drawing thousands into God's kingdom. This motley crew, empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly manifested God's kingdom, setting hearts on fire and impacting cities without big money or names. The disruption caused by the Spirit's visitation turned passive individuals into active soldiers in the war between darkness and light, challenging believers to yield to God's disruptive work in their lives.

Today, The Day of Pentecost, we remember how it all began. On the day of Pentecost a small group of people was transformed from an assembly of souls who weren’t quite sure why they were together, into an Army of Light. Suddenly, this motley crew became a magnet that drew thousands that very day out of darkness into God’s kingdom of light. They began the day in private, meeting behind closed doors, but before the day was half over, they were out in public boldly manifesting the kingdom of God to the world out there and setting hearts on fire. And within a few years, what took place in Jerusalem that day was repeated in every city in the Roman world. Jesus had told them that they would be his witnesses, but they never dreamed they would be witnesses on this scale, with this power. The impact of this little group on Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and the world took place without the help of big money or big names. It grew, not by promotion, but by attraction. They didn’t need television, newspaper ads, celebrity hype, as so much Christian evangelism seems to need today. It was all grass roots. The only power they relied upon, the only power, was the power that visited them that day - and disrupted their lives forever. Disrupted their lives - that’s the key. For the only difference between that motley crew and us is that they had arrived at a point where they were willing to allow their lives to be disrupted by God, whereas we are still scared to death of anything that would upset our present tame routine. One of the questions asked in confirmation class is, “Is the church on earth for the purpose of making war or peace?” And everybody always answers, “Peace”. They give good reasons, wonderful reasons… “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matt. 5:9) But there’s another side to that question we seem to miss these days. Jesus also says; “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…” (Matt.10:34) “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke12:49) He’s talking about disruption. Disruption in the spirit realm that always results in shock waves in the realm of daily life. We’re not living in a rose garden, we’re living in a battle zone. There’s a war going on between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. As long as you remain passive, the powers of darkness will leave you alone, because they already have you. But the minute you align yourself with the kingdom of light: - you become a target - you are in the war. The ultimate war. The war behind all wars. The outcome of this war is already assured by the cross of Christ, but there’s still danger, still battles to be fought. On Pentecost, when the Spirit fell on this motley assembly of Jesus’ followers, they were transformed from passive people into storm troops in the war between darkness and light. And every Pentecost since, every outpouring of the Spirit on a group or an individual, has caused the same disruption, a change of direction, attitude, priorities, as people move from passive to active in the war between darkness and light. You ask; “Why isn’t the Spirit moving with more power in the church?” “Why isn’t the Spirit moving with more power in my life?” The answer is simple: Are we willing to let the Spirit of God come in and do to us what he did to those people? Are we willing to yield to the point where he can disrupt our lives how and when and where he chooses? John 14:12: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.” This is not an exaggeration! This is absolutely true! If we believe, we will do his works, we will cast out demons, we will heal the sick! But to believe in Jesus, is more than to say, “I believe”. - It means that he calls the shots - and that means our comfortable routine will be interrupted whenever he chooses. - It means we begin to live by every word that comes out of his mouth. John 14:13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” This is not an exaggeration! This is absolutely true! Whatever we ask in his name, he will do! But to ask in Jesus’ name means more then tacking the formula, “in Jesus’ name”, on the end of our prayers. It means that your mind and heart are submitted to his authority in all things. To submit where his word shows you to make changes in; your attitude, your thinking, your behavior, your speech. Now you’re in his name. Now you ask in his name and things start to happen. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 This is not an exaggeration! This is absolutely true! You will have the Spirit living inside you just as he lived inside Jesus: - to guide you, - to empower you, - to give your tongue utterance as he gave his tongue utterance. But all this comes at the price of loving Jesus to the point where we keep his commandments all the way. This means that we have to know what those commands are: Read them. Listen to them. Do something about them. And don’t think that this won’t disrupt our lives! It’s one thing to have your life disrupted by bad news from the doctor, an accident, or tragedy striking someone you love. Those disruptions are just no fun. It’s quite another thing to have your life disrupted by the Spirit of God. When God disrupts your life, it’s never bad. It’s always good! It’s like being jolted out of an evil trance. It’s like being awakened in time to get out of a burning building. It’s being given something worthwhile to do for the first time in your life. But God’s disruption won’t happen against your will. Bad news from the doctor comes whether you like it or not. But the Spirit’s mighty visit into your life will come only if you’re ready for it - willing - hungry - thirsty. Of course, you never know in advance how the Spirit of God is going to move on you. What he’s going to do. Where he’s going to lead. What changes this is going to bring about in your way of life. All you know for sure is that, if you open your heart to receive the Spirit as those people opened their hearts on Pentecost, new things will start happening to you and in you. Good things. Holy things. Supernatural things that will blast you out of that rut into a new and wonderful life right here on this earth. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. And when the Spirit is in you, he comes to take you on a road you have never traveled before. So don’t open your heart… Don’t ask for the Spirit unless you’re ready for changes. But if you are ready to let God’s Spirit do a work in you, as he sees fit, just say the word and that new, holy, supernatural work will begin in you this very hour!