May 31 The Day of Pentecost

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

The Pastor was teaching a class of three teenagers who had only recently started coming to church. He had covered worship and was now moving on to the festival and seasons of the church year. When he got to the discussion of Pentecost, he began by asking if any of them knew what Pentecost was. Since none of them had any idea, he proceeded to inform them that Pentecost was “when the church sitting in a group and the Holy Spirit came upon them like tongues of fire on their heads. Then they spoke the gospel in many different languages all at the same time.” Two of his students took the information in stride, but the third looked astonished, her eyes wide open. Finally she said: “Pastor, I’m sorry we were absent that Sunday.”

In case you were absent that Sunday, the followers of Jesus, about 120 of them, were gathered in one place when the Holy spirit came upon them in an indescribable way. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit . As Peter explained in his sermon, the Spirit is now poured out on “all flesh”. He didn’t say the Spirit descended on the brightest and best of them. He did say it doesn’t make any difference whether you are young or old - or whether you are male or female. It doesn’t matter, because God’s Spirit is poured out on all who call on the name of the Lord.

After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit became accessible to all. The very same spirit is now poured out on everyone. no matter how they came to church, no matter what their knowledge or lack there of. The Spirit enables ordinary people to do what Jesus did - to speak for God - to speak of God.

Pentecost is the festival of the Holy Spirit. All three lessons speak of how the Spirit can work within us – keeping us connected to Christ and guiding us toward greater maturity.

Jesus said: "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, He will testify on my behalf.” John 15:26

The Holy Spirit is called "the Advocate" in the translation in your bulletin. Other translations render that same word as "The Comforter", "The Counselor." and "The Helper." The term "Advocate" includes comforting, counseling, and helping – one who is at your side and on your side.

The lessons mention three specific ways the Holy Spirit helps and counsels us- first in prayer, second in understanding, third in living the Christian way. And all three of them are ways we stay connected with Jesus,

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:26

You are not left just to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit will pray with you and for you. God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in us, even making prayer out of our wordless sighs. Romans 8:

With Him helping you, you don’t need to worry about finding the right words. For the Spirit intercedes for you in accordance with God’s will. So, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will do what is best, as Paul writes

The Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s will

The point is don’t be reluctant to pray. You don’t have to plan what you’ll say. So just start praying spontaneously, knowing that even confused silence is a prayer. Stay connected to Jesus through prayer, for His Spirit will be with you.

Along with prayer, reading and studying the Bible keeps us connected to the Lord. For when you get into the Bible, you are inviting the Spirit into your mind, as Jesus promised:

The Advocate, the spirit of truth will take you by the hand and guide you into all truth… The Spirit of truth will come and testify about me – will continue to teach you about me. John 15:26; 16:13

The Bible is the way the Lord speaks to you personally. As you read and reflect, His Spirit works in your mind to apply those words to your life today. The role of the Spirit of truth is teaching, illuminating, reminding, as Jesus said:

The Spirit will teach you all things, and remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

So read your bible prayerfully and with an open mind, asking how these words apply to my life.

Eventually you’ll get to know the bible well - even be able to quote verses. A pastor went to visit the home of a member who was devout and appreciated his visits. Although he saw her car in the driveway and heard the sound of her TV coming from the windows, she seemed indifferent to his persistent knocking and calling her name. He left his card with Rev. 3:20 written on it.

“I stand at the door knocking. If you hear my voice, open the door.”

The next Sunday as she was leaving church, she handed him a card with Gen. 3:10 on it.

“I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Jesus said The Spirit will testify about me. And you too must also testify about me... John 15:26,27

You all are to testify, to witness to Christ in your daily life.

But most witness in the name of Christ is unassuming. A researcher asked a group of men and women what was the major influence in their lives that led them into a deep Christian faith. He concluded: "Every one mentioned a person. And the surprising part was that all of the persons mentioned as effective in personal ministry were inconspicuous. Most of them had made a significant witness without knowing it."
When the Spirit is at work in our lives we will witness even though we may not always be aware that’s what we’re doing. As we strive to follow in Christ’s way in our daily lives, we are testifying to the truth of His teaching – even when we don’t realize that’s what we’re doing.

On the first Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in a mighty way upon the disciples of Jesus. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them and tongue rested on each of them. Since then fire, which is a source of light, has been a symbol of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, that symbol also connects us to Jesus, who said I am the light of the world.

Maybe that these tongues of fire rested on each of Jesus followers on Pentecost is a way of showing that when the Spirit fills us, we too are to radiate the light of Christ. We are to be light-bearers – to glow with the light of Christ as we share the good news, as we go around doing good, as perform acts of love for our neighbors – and even our enemies.

Several years ago an author spent time observing Mother Teresa working with the poor and wrote a book about her titled: Something Beautiful for God. In it, he said “God’s universal love has rubbed off on Mother Teresa, giving her features a noticeable luminosity, a shinning quality.”

On her way home from church, a little girl said “Mommy, the preachers sermon this morning confused me.”

“Why is that?”

“He said God is much bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes”

“He also said that God lives within us. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Well, if God is bigger than we are and lives in us, wouldn’t he show through?”

That’s the point. God is supposed to show through you – to shine through your words and deeds.

Every Christian is a recipient of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is given to us first in our baptism,

and then is repeatedly poured out upon us through the sacrament of Holy Communion

- and through hearing the Word of God.

Jesus assures us that in Holy Communion, when we receive the bread and wine His Spirit comes to abide in us. Whether we feel it or not – for the Spirit is not just a feeling – Jesus promises that through His Spirit he is personally present to us when we receive communion.

Whatever we feel today, we may add our voices in the songs of praise knowing His Spirit is present as we worship.

And His Spirit is also here to help us in weakness, intervening in ways we may not be able to recognize at the time. The Spirit is in us and among us, healing and guiding, teaching and encouraging.

We who have been baptized in water in Christ’s name have received His Spirit as he promised - we have been clothed with His power, anointed by divine grace, and touched with Holy fire.