Pentecost
Acts 2: 1-21
John 20: 19-23
Surprisingly, Pentecost can bring mixed emotions:
· Some love it – it’s exciting… supernatural gifts of the Spirit are given to the church. There is life. There is power. The church is not some dusty institution confined to history, carrying out meaningless rituals. God is real. God is here.
· Some hate it – it can be divisive, with some Christians feeling “second-class” to the ones who show the charismatic gifts…
o Especially if these gifts are seen as building up individuals rather than building up the church.
o Especially if they are not exercised with love.
· Maybe some feel guilty that they have not had this experience, or jealous of those who have. But if it becomes all about “chasing experience” – that is the epitome of a shallow faith.
Like many good things that God brings, we can get it wrong. But that doesn’t mean we should not embrace what He offers.
So let’s start with God, not ourselves. What did He have in mind?
Well, firstly, this is all His idea.
The coming of the Holy Spirit wasn’t some idea God came up with on the spur of the moment. In our reading from Acts, Peter referred back to the book of Joel in the Old Testament – written 500 / 800 years earlier. He says this event, the coming of the Holy Spirit, was what God said through Joel when he wrote:
‘“In the last days, God
says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
At the beginning of Acts. Just before Jesus was taken up into Heaven, He told His disciples (Acts 1)
4b …‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’”
…
V8 ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
(NIVUK)
Great, but it’s not just about “experience”.
There was experience, and excitement. But God sent the Holy Spirit for a reason. It’s there in our reading from John, chapter 20:
21 Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’
Then he breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. The Holy Spirit was given to empower His followers to continue God’s work.
This is not just for the few… Pentecost is for everyone
Going back to our Acts reading with Peter quoting Joel
(2: 17-18):
Your sons and daughters
will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
This is not just for a spiritual or social elite – it's for all people, young/old, male/female.
Pentecost is about building up the church.
The Spirit brings life.
Look at what the Holy Spirit does in the Bible:
· He leads, guides, comforts, inspires
· It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to confess our faith – to say “Jesus is Lord”, and mean it.
Gifts of The Spirit
· He also gives different kinds of gifts; 1 Corinthians lists some:
o word of wisdom,
o the word of knowledge,
o increased faith,
o the gifts of healing,
o the gift of miracles,
o prophecy,
o the discernment of spirits,
o diverse kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.
To these other passages add:
o apostleship,
o teaching
o helping the poor and sick
o leadership ability / administration.
These gifts were given by the Holy Spirit to individuals, different gifts to different people, so that when they came together, they would be used to build up the entire Church.
Fruit of The Spirit
· Gifts are the exciting part, but perhaps more significantly, the Holy Spirit changes lives – but something that can be overlooked, especially in Church circles where the gifts of the spirit are eagerly desired, the Holy Spirit brings about change in character. The Bible talks about the fruit of the spirit. In Galatians (5: 22-23) we read of the following:
o Love – shown by sacrificial acts towards another, where we choose to give freely to others
o Joy – an inner happiness, or serenity that is not dependent on outward circumstances
o Peace – harmony in relationships
o Forebearance – patience, even when provoked
o Kindness – doing thoughtful things for others
o Goodness – showing generosity to others
o Faithfulness – being trustworthy and reliable
o Gentleness – being humble
o Self-control – defeating the desires to do wrong
Something I was reminded of: not everyone is given every gift of the Spirit; God gives different gifts to different people. When we come together, we have all we need.
Fruit is different. The word is singular. It is fruit, not fruits. Expect to see all these qualities in all of us.
This is how we are to treat each other.
Galatians 5:24-26
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(NIVUK)
God wants us to be more like him, to show his character so we can be a blessing to each other, and to the world that does not yet know him. Live like this, and we will be a blessing to the world.
Jesus spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit when He was preparing His disciples for the fact that He was leaving. Earlier, in John 14, v16, he said
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate…(Sometimes translated as comforter, counsellor, or helper – means the holy Spirit)
What is easily missed is what He said before that in v15
If you love me, keep my commands…. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever
Love and obedience comes first.
And the commands Jesus gave… love God, love each other.
This is how we are to live if we want to be in step with God’s Holy Spirit. We will know if God’s Holy Spirit is here not primarily because of the spectacular things, but if we see love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control amongst us.
It is often the little things that catch us out – how we speak to and about each other. When we speak harshly or unlovingly, putting our point of view forcefully over another, then this breaks relationships. This inhibits the work of the Holy Spirit.
We need help living as God intended. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will help, v25 (of John 14)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Jesus expects those who love Him to be obedient to Him; the Holy Spirit will remind us of this and help us to live it out.
So, as we remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
· Don’t be frightened
· Don’t think this is for someone else
· Don’t allow bad experiences, or where you have seen other Christians get it wrong mean your turn your back on what God offers.
The Holy Spirit is given to bring life to the Church.
The Holy Spirit is for everyone; God doesn’t divide us into first- and second-class children.
With the power of the Holy Spirit, we will flourish as a church.
It was the Holy Spirit who empowered a small group of disciples – largely uneducated and often a bit confused – to be God’s witnesses, to share the message of what God was doing that would change the world.
We continue this work.
God is giving us the gifts we need, He is putting things on our hearts – He is calling us to pray. So let’s ask Him for more. Ask Him,
“Lord, give me the gift needed, so I can play my part here.”
God is developing the fruit of the Spirit as we allow Him to, as we are open to Him. The Spirit will call us to obedience to God. He has brought a number to a place of forgiveness and healing. Let’s ask for more –
“Lord, is there anyone I need to love, as you have loved me?”
Be encouraged; God is working here.
Let’s continue to move forward, allowing God to build His church here. A church that will bring blessing to the people of Swanland as we take up His challenge, His command, to be witnesses to what God has done and is doing – with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Revd Kevin