By Rev Angela C Bosfield Palacious
Do you believe in miracles? If you have had an encounter with the Holy Spirit then I am sure that you do. Our God is able to do anything, and when it happens in our narrow, shallow lives we have personal proof.
This is what it was like for the disciples and the crowd on that first Pentecost morning: Things too marvellous to explain; feelings too wonderful to deny. It was the surprise birthday party for the Church that has never really ended. The flame may die down but it never goes out completely. Here are some lessons from Acts 2:1-11 that we can learn from that day.
There is something special about being all together that allows God to work in a mighty way: “They were all together in one place” (v. 1)
Each individual is eligible for this blessing: “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 4)
Experience of God includes hearing God “suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind.” (v. 2)
Experience of God includes seeing God at work: “Divided tongues, as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each one” (v. 3)
Experience of God moves us to speak about God to others: “We hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” (v. 11)
God wants each one of us to hear a personal message of salvation: “How is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?” (v. 8)
In the John 20: 19-23 account of the Pentecost moment, the general themes are similar: The disciples are together but afraid of the Jews; Jesus comes to them Himself to show them His hands and side, to speak to them words of peace, to breathe into them the presence of the Holy Spirit for the ministry of speaking words of forgiveness or rejection on behalf of God as the new church. Again there is much to see, hear, feel, express and share.
The ongoing presence and power of the Spirit is manifested in the church from that day to this in the form of a variety of gifts, services, and activities for the common good. Each person receives one or more gifts, and the Body of Christ functions as a whole made up of many members all drawing (drinking) from the same Spirit in service to the same Lord (1 Cor 12: 4-13).
What is your gift? How are you using it to the glory of God and for the good of God’s people? Allow God to renew your life if you are not an active member of a church as verse 32 of Psalm 104 declares: “You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and you shall renew the face of the earth”. Why not join the psalmist and say: “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being. May these words of mine please him; I will rejoice in the Lord.”
Then remain filled with the Holy Spirit.
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