Happy Birthday, Church! It’s Pentecost Sunday
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. So, it is YOUR BIRTHDAY, because YOU ARE the Church going and coming.
Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter) commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and those in the Upper Room. Pentecost fulfills Jesus’ promise when He said: “I must go away but I will send the Holy Spirit to you!”(John 16:5-15) and it launches the large-scale spreading of the Gospel. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said these words to His disciples: “When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you shall receive POWER.” (Acts 1:8) How awesome is that?
Peter is such a great example of how God turns a fearful, impulsive coward who denied even knowing Jesus into a powerful, bold and courageous witness for Christ. It was because of Pentecost, and Peter receiving that power, that Jesus had promised. Acts 2:41 records that Peter spoke to the crowd and 3,000 people were baptized. Power-less to powerful! And that’s what Holy Spirit does for us, too!
My story is very similar to Peter’s because I was weak, timid and afraid but because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in my life, I have weathered and even overcome so many storms in my life. The Holy Spirit gives me the power and confidence to share the Good News boldly and unafraid. That power of the Holy Spirit is available to anyone who is a believing and obedient Christian and who desires the fullness of God’s Spirit.
I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer to our actions AND reactions of anything OR anyone we encounter. How was it possible to be a strong and bold witness of Jesus Christ back in those days of such tyranny and oppression? How is it possible for us to overcome the challenges in our lives? How is it possible to experience John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The moment we received Christ, the Holy Spirit not only came to live in us, but He also imparted the power to overcome the enemy’s tactics. “Be filled” means to allow the Holy Spirit to produce his attitudes and actions in the life of the believer. We received amazing gifts of the Holy Spirit when we received Christ and a big bushel of fruit. Galatians 5:22: “The Fruit of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
People ask me: “What’s your secret?” “How can you always be so happy?” It is no secret. It is the natural product of “living in the Spirit” and embracing His presence and fellowship. Through life’s ups and downs, I can tell you I know peace. I know faith. I know comfort because of the Holy Spirit.
Won’t you pray this prayer with me today in celebration of Pentecost Sunday and Holy Spirit that lives in you? It’s simply acknowledging His presence and His power that is available to you today.
“Dear Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, welcome into my life. I know You are living in me, and today I acknowledge that You are my helper, my counselor, my confidant, my comforter and my peace. I ask You to take complete control of my life. I ask for Your gifts and fruit to be evident in my life. Lord, I ask that You fill me to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit. Baptize me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet – the same way You filled those in the Upper Room. I ask You for a radical transformation like the disciples had when they went from fear, anxiety, timidity, and concern to empowered people of love, faith, boldness, and courage. May I receive you fully and completely. Come Holy Spirit! Consume me! I ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!!!