Don't you wish that you could travel back in time and visit events in the Bible as they happened? I know there are so many amazing moments that I wish I could I witness first hand. If I ever get that time machine, on my list of places and times to visit would be the upper room on the day of Pentecost. This might be an unusual place to choose, but when I read the account of that day in Acts 2 I can sense the anticipation in the hearts and prayers of the believers. Can you imagine the expectation in the room as they prayed in total unity? Jesus had promised them that something very important was going to happen in that room if they would wait and pray. This gift was so important that Jesus said it was better for him to leave so the promise could come! That promise was the Holy Spirit and he came in a dramatic demonstration of power and glory at Pentecost. This moment was life-changing for all who were there, and it was the very moment that the New Testament Church was born.
The disciples and followers of Jesus had great expectation of what God was going to do, and they experienced something amazing! However, I wonder how long it was before that expectation turned to demand.
There are only a couple of times mentioned in Acts when the Holy Spirit came with that kind of power and visual evidence. So I wonder what happened at the other meetings where people were praying for the Holy Spirit and there was no rushing wind and no tongues of fire as in the upper room. How long did it take before people began to pray "God send the Holy Spirit in fire and wind as you did in the upper room"? And how long before people began to complain because the Holy Spirit wasn't cooperating with them and doing what they wanted him to do? I know human nature, so I don't think it took very long for any of that to happen.
As followers of Christ we must always remember that, while we pray for God to move, we do not get to tell him how he should do it. We don't get to give the Holy Spirit directions on how, where, and when he should show up. We are followers of Christ, not leaders. We pray and he responds to our prayers in the way that he knows best.
There can be a fine line between expectation and demand, but that line is crossed in our hearts and minds when we start telling God what to do.
How many times have you left a service disappointed because God didn't show up in the way you wanted him to? Could it be that did show up, he just didn't do it according to your plan but his?
It is great to expect God to do great things, and to pray for exactly that, we just need to be careful that our expectation does not turn into demand. Since God knows you better than you know yourself, you can always expect him to move in the way you need him to the most. Just enjoy it!
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