The indwelling and the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

What difference does it make for us today that the first Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit more than 2000 years ago on the Jewish festival of Pentecost?

Pentecost brings together a few themes and critical experiences.

The indwelling and Power of the Spirit of God.
The Church is central in God’s Work in this world – through the power of the indwelling Spirit.
The multi-cultural character and mission of the Church was demonstrated and taught on the first Christian Pentecost celebration.
The complete Ministry of the Church was guaranteed by the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost.

 

On the day of the first Christian Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those followers of Jesus who had gathered in Jerusalem.

And what happened on the first Pentecost still happens to believers today. Not in such a dramatic fashion with the sound of stormy winds and tongues of fire. Yet, God even now pours out the Spirit upon all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, Redeemer and Saviour. He dwells (lives) in them and shares the power of the living Jesus with them. Romans 8:1-11.

 

It is God’s purpose for followers of Jesus to live through the power of the Spirit of God that dwells in them. As a result of his power, the Holy Spirit helps us to believe in and confess Jesus as our Lord (1 Cor 12:3).
The Spirit helps us to serve God with spiritual power that humans typically don’t have. (1 Cor 12:4-11).
The Spirit helps us to live in the Body of Christ, binding us in loving unity with each other and with Christ.
The holy Spirit helps us to pray (Rom 8:26).
And the Spirit prays for us. (Rom 8:27).
The Spirit guides us (Gal 5:25) to help us to more and more live like Jesus did. (Gal 5:22-23).

 

Pentecost asks us very personal questions about how we live. Do we live, witness, worship and pray, relying on the power of God’s Spirit?

Are we open to the Spirit’s gifts that will give us the strength to make a difference for Christ?

Do we really listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every facet of our lives?

 

We know that the Holy Spirit lives in us and grants us the power of the living Lord. But limited by our fear to do something extraordinary for God, we too often ignore the power of the Spirit. Our sin and our limited expectations for our service to God, and the fact that we are so easily sidetracked - forgetting about God’s plan for our lives – result in the reality that we do not receive the full benefit of the Spirit’s work in us.

 

Pentecost offers me a chance to confess my disappointing shortcomings when it comes to my daily living by the power of the indwelling Spirit. We should continuously be praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give us the power of the living Lord every day. This remains the only way to fulfil God’s purpose for our living in the power of the resurrected Lord, Redeemer and Saviour through his Holy Spirit.