31st May 2009 (Pentecost)
Acts 2:1-21
On the day of Pentecost (a harvest festival) the Spirit came upon the church. First they heard a wind (same word as spirit), and then they saw flames of fire, and then each of them was filled with the Holy Spirit and they all found themselves praising God in languages they had not learnt. It was a physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual experience. Something remarkable had happened, and changed the course of history. Christ had sent them into all the world to bear witness to him, but told them to wait until the Spirit came. Now he had come! The mission had begun!
The Holy Spirit is still with his church. The Bible assumes Jesus’ followers experience the Spirit’s presence, guiding them, empowering them, growing Christ’s character in them, and working through them, sometimes in extraordinary ways. The mission continues today. It was not easy then; the disciples found their message resisted, and their lives under threat as Jesus had warned. Even today Christ’s mission is not easy. But the Holy Spirit lives in Jesus’ people, assuring us of God’s love and of the ultimate fulfilment of his purposes.
Questions:
1) Should we expect to experience the Holy Spirit today? If so, in what ways?
2) How can we be ‘full of the Spirit’?