‘All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ (v4) Acts 2:1–4
Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Church. The angel told the disciples to gather in Jerusalem and there to wait and pray. After nine days the Holy Spirit hovered over them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Christian life is a challenge without the action of the Holy Spirit. I know for a number of years as a new Christian, I struggled. I faithfully prayed and read my Bible.
I attended a beginner’s group for fellowship and teaching. However, I was struggling to maintain, even make sense of, my faith. It seemed very dry and I appeared to be fulfilling my duty with little enthusiasm.
Then I encountered the person of the Holy Spirit. Like those first disciples the Spirit had been present within me, yet not released in power. Jesus, full of the Spirit after baptism, was led into the wilderness by the same Spirit, yet returned, after His trials, in the power of the Spirit.
Life is demanding. The unseen battle to advance the kingdom of God is a continual struggle. But we have not been abandoned.
The Holy Spirit fills and accompanies us every day, always pointing us, and others, to Jesus, whilst revealing God in us. My choice is always choosing between accommodating this world’s values and causes or praying and serving the interests of God for the extent of my life on earth.
Related Scripture to Consider: Acts 1:6–11; Luke 4:1–14; John 20:19–23; Luke 12:1–12.
An Action to Take: Today is Pentecost. You have walked the nine days of prayer. Decide today if you want to yield to God afresh, or for the first time. Ask to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit of Truth, Hope and Love.
A Prayer to Make: ‘Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; melt me, mould me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.’(Daniel Iverson The UM Hymnal, No. 393.)
Photo by Nowshad Arefin on Unsplash
