We start by thinking about the majesty of God – his power – his splendour.
Sing along on YouTube: ‘How great is our God lyrics’
God of glory, we exalt your name –
You who reign in majesty; we lift our hearts to You
and we will worship, praise, and magnify Your holy name.
In power resplendent You reign in glory; eternal King, You reign for ever:
Your word is mighty, releasing captives, Your love is gracious – You are my God
(Dave Fellingham © 1982 ThankYou Music)
Spend a few moments honouring and admiring God
Read: Acts 2: 1-6 & 36-42 or perhaps read the whole of chapter 2
This day, 50 days after Easter Sunday, used to be a day which everyone celebrated – some of you will remember getting new clothes for ‘Whitsun’ – White Sunday – a name which emphasises how the ever-present help of God’s Spirit reminds us that through faith in Jesus we have been washed clean of our sins. We no longer use that title but instead call today by the Jewish title of Pentecost.
The events described in Acts 2 are important and worth celebrating because it is the first occasion when people like us – people who hadn’t physically seen Jesus, put their faith in him as Saviour and Lord, and knew that their sins were forgiven through the ever-present help of God’s Spirit.
Many of those 3,000 people who declared Jesus to be their Saviour and Lord at that Pentecost festival didn’t live in Jerusalem, in fact many of them didn’t live in anywhere in Israel but a few days after Pentecost returned home to places scattered across the Roman Empire, with only the ever-present help of God’s Spirit to guide and help them.
Those believers would have struggled as much as we might to describe what it means to know the presence of God’s Spirit in their lives. We, with hindsight often describe the difference it made to their lives as being that they became bold – they had a confidence which wasn’t there before. This observation is true but it can lead us into thinking that is the main function of God’s Spirit – when in fact it is simply one of many outward expressions of the Spirit’s work going on inside our lives, hearts, minds.
To use a phrase from the bible, boldness is another fruit of the Spirit along with those listed in Galatians 5: 22-23. Boldness, love peace etc... all are an outward result of God’s Spirit dwelling in us and these fruit grow out of the Spirit’s main function which is to enable us to know God and recognise how to respond to his loving presence. If we give God’s Spirit opportunity he will mould and shape our lives so that we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.
The boldness we read about throughout the bible’s ‘Acts of the Apostles’ is a result of individuals recognising how much they are loved by God – how he sent part of himself (his Son, Jesus) so we can know that our sins are forgiven and then gives us another part of himself (his Spirit) to be constantly with us, helping us to understand how we can respond to this amazing, overwhelming love God has for each of us.
Perhaps you have read biographies of how other Christians through the ever-present help of God’s Spirit have done amazing things – and you have thought ‘I could never be like them’ yet we each have the same Spirit of God with us, telling us the same truths about how much God loves us. What makes the difference is how willing (or not) we are to trust that God’s ever-present help will enable us to live our lives in the best way possible – empowering us to live a life of purpose and fulfilment – a life which will worship, praise, and magnify God’s holy name.
Father God, Lord of all,
when we are tired, may your Spirit give us energy;
when we are fed-up, may your Spirit give us refreshment;
when we are hesitant, may your Spirit give us confidence;
when we are complacent, may your Spirit show us challenges;
when we are afraid, may your Spirit give us courage;
when we are divided, may your Spirit show us how to united;
when we are inward-looking, may your Spirit send us out into your world
– in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Some lyrics you may find helpful, before voicing your own prayers asking God to make you more aware of all that his Holy Spirit wants to say to you.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.
(David Iverson © 1935, 1963 Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
A song to listen to which is all about how much God loves us and how he wants to care for us like a perfect parent. YouTube: 'Good, good Father lyrics'
You may also enjoy singing along to more traditional Pentecost song, written by William Booth, who with his wife Catherine started the Salvation Army. There are videos about their lives on YouTube where you can hear how both William and Catherine Booth are wonderful examples of lives motived by the Spirit’s ever-present assurance of being loved and cared for by God. On YouTube sing along to: ‘Send the fire today lyrics’
I look forward to hearing how God’s Spirit inspires you – challenges you – reveals more of God’s love to you and I will write to you again on Wednesday - Stephen