I seriously doubt that there are too many people in our country who haven’t at one time or another seen one of the most famous tag lines in modern tourism marketing, “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas”. Believe me when I say I’m not sharing this tagline to promote Las Vegas or the “what happens in Las Vegas” mentality. I mention it only because, unbeknownst to many in the church, they have adopted this same mentality. To many, what happens in church stays in church. Consequently, the world isn’t being impacted by their lives.
God isn’t a fan of this mentality. In fact, He sent the Holy Spirit to combat and destroy this mentality! We see that upon the Holy Spirit’s arrival in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit radically impacted the believers and then immediately launched them out into the mission field. The 120 believers left the upper room, taking what had happened in their service with them, and saw some 3,000 people come into the Kingdom
Jesus was definitely not a “what happens in the synagogue stays in the synagogue” Savior. After being baptized in the Spirit (Luke 3:22; 4:1) and launching His ministry, Jesus spent the majority of His ministry outside the synagogue (church). In reading through the Gospels, we find that only three of Jesus’ 37 recorded miracles were done inside of the synagogue. (Luke 4:33-36; Luke 6:6-8; Luke 13:10-13). We never read of Jesus seeing a need and telling the individual to meet Him in the synagogue on the next Sabbath. The Holy Spirit living inside of Jesus was always ready at any time and place to meet any and every need.
I’ve written about the 120 in the upper room and also Jesus’ ministry. Now, let me write directly about you. Ready? This may seem too strongly worded, but it is true. If you have the “what happens in church stays in church” mentality, I guarantee you have a frustrated Holy Spirit living inside you. Next Sunday, when the last shout is done and the last amen said, the Holy Spirit is ready to walk out of the church with you to impact your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Put Him on display at Walmart as you’re shopping and dodging the falling prices. Allow Him to show that He is with you as you stand in line at Burger King, waiting to get your Whopper. The Holy Spirit living inside of you is always ready at any time and place to meet any and every need. Let’s give Him that opportunity this week!
