The Spirit is Soon Here!
Dear Friends and Families,
A quick question for you all: where do you think Jesus is now and what is he doing?
Appearing in dreams? Playing a harp? Singing with angels? Walking secretly on earth?
“On the day of Pentecost, all the Lord’s followers were together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.” [Acts 2:1-4].
On Thursday last week, one of the most covert and underrated days in the Christian calendar occurred – Ascension Day. This is the day, 40 days after Easter (Resurrection Sunday), upon which Jesus ascended back to the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. His final command to his disciples before leaving, was to wait for the promised gift – the Counselor from Heaven – who would remind them of Jesus’ teaching and continue his ministry in the Church.
Ten days later on Sunday (50 days after Easter), this promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is being observed this Sunday.
Over the centuries, many searching people have expressed a kind of sorrow or disappointment, in that they did not live on earth at the same time as Christ, and thus could not both see and hear the great teacher from Nazareth in the flesh. The thinking normally runs something like this: “If only I lived in Jerusalem sometime between 30 and 33AD, then I would so easily believe!” Such a sentiment is understandable.
However, the gift of the Holy Spirit is actually a timely and far better promise, in the sense that it is essentially the person of Jesus himself dwelling inside a believer for eternity.
Such an intimate and all-consuming relationship was not possible whilst Christ was still on earth. He needed to go away, so that something more advantageous would come in his place.
And how does the Holy Spirit come to live inside a person?
The apostle Paul, when writing to the church at Ephesus (part of modern-day Turkey), gives the answer with beautiful simplicity and clarity: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” [Ephesians 1:13-14].
Where is Jesus now? On his rightful throne in Heaven.
What is he doing? He is continuing to send the Holy Spirit upon every man, woman and child, from every race and nation, who looks to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and thus the receiving of salvation.
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” [John 14:15-16].
So, for this coming Sunday, a joyful Pentecost to you all!
If you would like to speak further, or have questions about the Christian life, then do please contact either me or Reverend Sheela (our Associate Chaplain) at the respective email addresses below:
Reverend Peter: [email protected]
Reverend Sheela: [email protected]
I also encourage you to pray the prayer for Pentecost below and sing the song.
If you would like to explore the certainty of Christ further, the two local Anglican churches listed below lead regular Sunday gatherings.
St Peter’s Craigieburn (meeting at 10:30am on Sundays in the Chapel at Hume Anglican Grammar: 100 Mt Ridley Road, Mickleham)
Minister: Reverend Sheela Pandhare
Mobile: 0451 973 733/03 9308 2452
Email: [email protected]/[email protected]
http://www.humeparish.melbourneanglican.org.au
Redemption Church Craigieburn (meeting at 4:00pm on Sundays in Building 12 – the Year 5/6 Centre at Hume Anglican Grammar: 100 Mt Ridley Road, Mickleham)
Pastor: Reverend Akhil Gardner
Mobile: 0400 021 381
Email: [email protected]
https://www.rccraigieburn.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/rccraigieburn/
Pentecost prayer
O God,
who taught the hearts of your faithful people,
by sending to them the Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgment in all things,
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort.
Amen.
Song (Spirit Lead Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHAAfC6gjnw