I Corinthians 15:6 - “...He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once...” The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact and many people witnessed the risen Lord! Over five hundred people heard Jesus as He told them to go to Jerusalem to receive “Power from on high.” The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the beginning of the Church. This Church would impact the world and carry the message of Christ over centuries of time to this present age. But not everyone went to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to receive the Power. The book of Acts tells us that only 120 people showed up. What happened to the other 380? Simply put...they missed the glory. The Holy Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind and fire. It baptized all who were in the Upper Room and they began to speak in other tongues. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 3000 souls were converted on the very same day because of the Power associated with this mighty move of God’s Spirit. In the Church today, some are not hearing the voice of the Spirit. As a result we have missed the Glory. God wants to pour out His Glory on all who believe. Let’s be available and ready to receive everything God has for us!

It doesn’t take very long to discover that there are not many things in this life that we can keep as our own. The old saying, “you can’t take it with you when you die” is an accurate statement. So why does God allow us to have certain things for a while if we can’t keep them? Well, the answer is quite simple if we know the reason God gave them to us in the first place. We are to be stewards, not owners. In Matthew 25, we read of the parable of the talents. One man receives five talents, another receives two talents and another receives one. The one with five, multiplies what he has by two. The one with two does the same. But the one with one talent hides his talent by burying it in the ground. When the Lord came to settle the accounts with these men, he congratulated those who had multiplied their talents, but was angry with the one who hid his talent. The lesson learned is that we are loaned certain things in this life. What we do with those things can be pleasing or displeasing to God. Abilities, talents, money, even our own families are great examples of stewardship if we know how to multiply the blessings God has given to us. You are given certain things for only a while... Be a good steward!