(OPINION) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. – Acts 2:1-3

The event above was a miraculous event that birthed the New Testament Church during the Feast of Pentecost, which was one of even major feast days on the Jewish calendar but it was also the fulfillment of a promise that was made to the disciples from Jesus himself. However, there is something that really stands out to me that I want to share a little insight with you on and that is the word “Suddenly”.

By definition the word “suddenly” means in a sudden way; very quickly or unexpectedly: Thus, this miraculous event took place very quickly and in an unexpected way. Many of us have read this passage without really examining some major key points here that produced this “Suddenly” event that I believe are the same key points for us today in receiving our “suddenly”.

Now, you may be reading this and saying, “What do you mean, receive “our suddenly”? Let me explain it like this, I am speaking of needing God to “suddenly” show up in a trial we are facing, suddenly healing our body of a long going infirmity or sickness, suddenly restoring a marriage that seems hopeless, suddenly opening the eyes to those wayward children or grandchildren we have living in prodigal living. Im talking about the sudden break in the storm clouds that have been aging in our lives for a long time!

I want to share with you what I believe are four major keys that unlocked this “suddenly” and all 4 are found in the Book of Acts but can be applied to bringing about our own “Suddenly” as well.

1- Contending for the Promise – The first thing the disciples did was, they contended for the promise they were given by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Jesus told them directly that they would receive a promise from the Father called “The Holy Spirit”.

“And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14

He went further to say: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” – Luke 24

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. – John 16:7, 12-13

So we see in these passages that Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit was essential for them to have as he would aid them in their commission to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel empowering them to do “greater works” than Christ, baptizing with signs and wonders following those who believe including casting out demons, speaking with new tongues; and raising the dead.

Now when we say they “contended” for the promise, it literally means to “fight while standing on the very thing being assaulted”. Have you ever received a Word from the Lord in your personal devotion that leaped off the pages and it was like God was speaking directly to you regarding your particular struggle, circumstance, or hardship? We call this Greek word a “Rhema Word” meaning ” the “spoken word of God”, unlike the written Word which is called the “Logos” in the New Testament.

This Greek word “rhema” is used by Paul the Apostle when he told the Church of Ephesus to put n the whole armor of God and put on the “sword of the spirit” which is the “word” (rhema) of God. This is a quickened word from the Holy Spirit to us as believers in regard to a particular situation that is needed. Paul instructed Timothy, “According to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare”,

Timothy had received many rhema words from the Word of God but also, from elders of the Church who had laid hands on him and prayed over him giving him prophetic words of exhortation and encouragement. Therefore, Paul is instructing his spiritual son to fight or contend for those promises that he had been given.

If we are going to receive our own personal “suddenly” from the Lord, it’s going to take action on our behalf. We will have to contend for the promises of the Lord that have been both written and spoken over our lives.

Remember the children of Israel were set free by the hand of the Lord from the bondage of Egypt and then were taught to trust the Lord through the wilderness but once they rented their promised land they still were required to contend for it. They had to fight off enemies and conquer walled cities.

The reality is, not everyone will be able to contend for their promise and many just accept defeat. Let, me bring this into the context of this event in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

According to the book of Corinthians, there were 500 brethren that saw him after his resurrection but only 120 remained and received. Have you ever wondered what happened to the other 380? Is it possible they were not able to contend the full ten days until the fullness of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

2- Being at the right place at the right time – One aspect many overlook to this glorious event in Acts chapter two is the fact that they gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem where they were instructed by the Lord to receive their promise.

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” – Acts 1:4-5

Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. – Mark 14:14-16

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. – Acts 1:12-13

Have you ever heard the phrase “Being at the right place at the right time”? All of those who received the promise that day made a choice to be in the right place at the right time. Think about this, If they had not been obedient to the Word of the Lord and gone to the upper room in Jerusalem and remained there they would have missed it. Did you know the Bible is filled with promises but come with contingencies?

For example, The Bible promises those who meditate on the Word and obey it will prosper and have success. It talks about the blessings that come with remembering the poor and needy. It tells us that we should not forsake the assembly of ourselves together. It also instructs us to abstain from evil, not be yoked with darkness, and strive to live a holy life.

I can look back at my own life and speak of so many situations where the Lord showed up and brought miracles, breakthroughs, and words of encouragement and it was always when my family and I were walking in obedience to the Word and being at the right place at the right time. Now have you heard of the phrase “being at the wrong place at the wrong time”? If I was walking in disobedience, forsaking the house of God, not in his word, and neglecting prayer, I would have missed those windows and seasons of “Suddenlies”

3- The power of Unity – Another factor that I immediately see in Acts Chapter Two, is the fact that the 120 that did remain were all in one mind and one accord. This term used here is likened to a symphony orchestra that is made up of many players and different instruments all in absolute harmony together.

They all were on the same page with the same intent. The book of James talks about “double-minded” individuals that cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” – James 1:6-7

The Bible is filled with examples of unity and how powerful it is when individuals come together with one intent even in defiance against God himself. We see this in the Book of Genesis chapter eleven with the tower of Babel. “And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” – Genesis 11:6

Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven”. When we look at all these passages we see how unity moves the hand of the Lord on our behalf. What miracle do you need, what breakthrough, what “suddenly” are you praying for? Find someone that is in the same mind and accord that will believe and agree with you in faith and watch your “suddenly” come to pass.

Many years ago, I had a vehicle stolen from me and I immediately began to pray that this car would be found without a scratch on it! I had many tell me with laughter that it would never be found again, it would be taken to a chop shop and stripped down or wrecked and the list goes on but I found one brother in our church that I knew would believe and agree with me that the vehicle would be returned the way I found it.

After being missing for 3 days, the next day after we prayed I suddenly got a phone call that my car had been found and it had not a scratch on it.  If you’re going to ever expect a “suddenly” in your life you need to find some folks that are full of faith and the holy ghost that will come into agreement with you to see it come to pass! Get away from the naysayers that say it won’t and will never happen!

4- Pray and Praise your way to your suddenly! – The last key was not only found in Acts chapter two with the 12o remaining in prayer but a powerful one-two punch is also demonstrated in the Book of Acts Chapter sixteen, where the Apostle Paul and Silas were locked up in prison and chose to remain in prayer and praise until something happened!

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. “Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” – Acts 16:25-26

Look how powerful this story really is! How do we respond when we are in a dark situation? a bondage, an addiction, facing an impossible circumstance? Here these two men of God were locked up but remained in prayer and praise until they received their “suddenly” which was an earthquake that struck the prison foundation busting the doors open and setting the captives free!

Folks this was not a natural occurrence! God himself showed up and brought the first “Jail House Rock” recorded! Don’t stop praying! Don’t stop praising him! I can attest to you that in every season of difficulty and impossible circumstances when my family and I remained in prayer and praise, God came through with a “suddenly”

Notice here that the prisoners that were around them watched and observed these two men and how they received their “suddenly”. The reality is, we have sons and daughters, grandchildren, family, friends, and co-workers all around us that are watching and observing how we respond in our darkest hours and most difficult circumstances. Let’s show them how to remain faithful, contend, be obedient, and come into agreement to see a “suddenly” come to pass! If you reason in the sixteen chapter of Acts, this event resulted in the salvation of the jailer and his entire household.