Bill Engvall, one of the Blue Collar Comedy guys, has as a part of his routine that some people should wear signs that say "I'm stupid." So when these people ask a stupid question, he gives some smart remark followed by "Here's Your Sign!" It's his way of saying watch out for the obvious, or simply pay attention! Like one time when he was packing to move, the moving truck was in the drive way, packing boxes were lining the driveway and one of the neighbors comes over and asks, "you moving?"
We don't want to be stupid, so we have to pay attention to the signs, especially the ones from God.
The prophets Joel and Amos gave us a sign that St Paul used in his writings to the churches, the "Day of the Lord." The language of Joel is used to describe the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon all the believers,
on every kind of people.
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters.
Your old men will dream,
your young men will see visions.
I'll even pour out my Spirit on the servants,
men and women both. (Joel 2:28-29, Msg)
I doubt if any of the disciples asked any stupid questions that day like, "I wonder if this means something?" They saw the signs because they were prepared. They were praying because Jesus had told them to. They were expecting something and it came.
I don't think we expect to see signs or Spirit-filled events so we don't. It's not that they don't happen, we just miss them. Even on the day of Pentecost some didn't see the signs of power, they just saw people they thought were drunk. Peter should have said to the religious leaders at the end of his sermon, "Here's Your Sign!"
It's these voices of truth, the prophets, who give us insight into what's really going on, the signs to look for, the language to name them. We still live in the that time, the Day of the Lord. The Spirit of God is still being poured out on all God's people and the signs of power are all around us. We just have to open our eyes and be expecting to see just what God is going to do next...
...maybe even through us.
That's right! The Disciples were expecting a sign and they became the sign! At COFS, we've been praying for Spirit-signs and over the past few months we've seen many. But we were not just waiting or wishing for them. No, the key to seeing is praying for them and expecting them.
If you need a sign (from the spirit) today, do so with prayerful expectation and wait with eyes wide open.
It'll happen.
Peace ><>
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