What can we learn from Pentecost?

A Pentecost Sunday message

What can I say about Pentecost Sunday that you haven't heard before? For those of you who have been to many Pentecost services over the years, maybe not much. For those of you who are new to church and Christianity, or are seeking truth, let me start by setting the scene. By the way, the relevant passages are Acts chapters 1-3. 

At the end of the Gospels, Jesus had been crucified and buried, and a few days later, Mary found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Jesus' body was gone. It soon became clear to them that he had risen from the dead, and he stayed with them a few days, revealing himself to dozens of believers, and then he was gone, returning to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father.

The believers were alone. They were probably scared, because Jesus had been literally ripped away from them and killed like a criminal. The people had howled for his death and the release of a murderer instead. What could this mean for them? Would they be next? Could they also be dragged away by soldiers, or dragged into the streets by a mob and stoned for what they believed? They locked themselves away in a room, in fear, waiting.

They were waiting because Jesus told them to wait. To wait for the councillor who would be with them always. But who was this councillor? So they waited, obediently, but fearfully.

Then suddenly, in a rush of wind and blazing fire, the Holy Spirit bursts into the room and into its occupants. So that is the backdrop to the following thoughts, and hopefully new insights. 

What do you think was the overwhelming emotion at this time? Before there was fear. The disciples cowering in the upstairs room. Waiting … and waiting. Suddenly, they are speaking in tongues so loudly that crowds gather to find out what is happening. Fear is banished, and now, the overriding emotion is joy. Pure unadulterated joy, as they are bathed in the glory of God. Wow!

If you have accepted Jesus as your saviour, and have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, you are also filled with this same spirit. Where is your joy? Is that a difficult question to answer?

Let’s stop and think about this for a moment. This same spirit that caused these men to be transformed from fearful to joyful, inhabits you. The joy of the Spirit should be toe curling, stomach knotting, cheek hurting joy. Joy that makes you giggle for no reason, joy that dispels sadness due to circumstance, it is a joy that is based on hope. 

But there is more. Galatians 6 tells us about the fruit of the Holy Spirit that inhabits us. It says this fruit is love, joy (there's that word joy again), peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. All of this is within us. 

But how can this be? Over this last week I did not feel any of this? To be honest, I felt anger. Angry at life for not treating me well; impatient with my spouse; I shouted at my children with very little self control; I was brusque instead of gentle when approached by someone in need; I sinned against you Lord, showing how unfaithful I am. So how can it be that I am filled with your spirit? This Spirit that produces this fruit that seems so alien to me. 

How? Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

So. When you feel this way, fall on your knees and ask the Lord to refill you anew; to banish those bad and depressing feelings. Confess your sin, and be refreshed with the Holy Spirit. Commit to be God's vessel, and you'll be surprised at how your day will turn out. The Holy Spirit just needs your compliance and desire, and the fruit will rise to the surface. In fact, it will overflow. We are vessels to be filled to the brim, and to overflow into the lives of those we encounter each day, each hour, each minute. We just have to put down our burdens and pick up his yoke. Each day, ask to be refilled anew, and let the Spirit do his work in you, and through you. 

The other thing that is noticeable is that there was action. The disciples went out and did amazing acts. These acts were the product of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they were given. Have you read these stories and yearned for such things to happen to you? I have. Paul tells us that we should yearn for the greater gifts. So at times I feel deficient, wondering why I can't heal or raise the dead. But that is the devil speaking. If you have 2 children, one talented in music and the other in sports, would you discourage one or the other because they do not possess the talent of the other? No. You would provide encouragement to each child based on their own talents, and if they should feel inadequate because of the talent of the other, you would gently admonish them, and make them feel good about the joy they bring you when you watch them performing at their talent. 

So if you would have this approach, how much more so would your Heavenly Father love and reassure you in your talents?  God will not make you feel inadequate about the gifts you have, but the devil will, so guard against this. 

We have all been given gifts. All! How do I know this? The word of God tells me so. 

We all have gifts. 
We ALL have gifts. 
WE ALL HAVE GIFTS. 

Do you get it yet? This is important. If we all have gifts, it means that YOU have gifts.  Yes, God gave you gifts also. What are they? I don't know. You need to seek the Lord and find that out, but I KNOW you have gifts. We are each given gifts, to fulfil a role in the body of Christ on earth. 

Now that we have established that you have gifts, and you have a role to play in God's plan by using those gifts here on earth, in his church. It is your job to find out what those gifts are, and start using them for God's glory.

The last thing I want to bring to your attention is an obscure passage that I have never really paid much attention to. It is Acts 2:46-47.

In summary it says, "they met with glad and sincere hearts ... and God added to their number."

Don't you find that remarkable? They met, and God added to their number. That's it. They didn't plan an outreach program, execute it and God added to their number. They didn't plan a retreat, or an away day, or a BBQ.  They didn't do anything, except meet, and God added to their number.

This confused me. And I struggled to understand what this meant. It can't be telling us that we shouldn't do those activities I mentioned earlier ... could it?

No. I believe it points to something else Jesus said, "... by your love people will know that you belong to me." 

I have paraphrased intentionally, because I want us to focus on one point. We must love each other. When people who love each other meet, there is sincerity and there is joy (there is that word joy again). People see this and want to know what it is, want to be a part of it, want to know more about it. 

They met, with joy and sincerity in their hearts, signifying their love for each other, and God added to their number. Maybe there is something for us to learn from this.

So three take ways from Pentecost:

- the overriding emotion was JOY, from the fruit of the Holy Spirit

- there was Holy Spirit "gifted" action

- they met, with joy and sincerity in their hearts, and God added to their number. 

My prayer is that we trust in the Holy Spirit to do his work within us, and through us.