St Matthew's West Ham - Insight At St Matthew's

Pentecost Day.

Pentecost Day is a special Day all Christians celebrate to remember the day when the Holy Spirit came and filled the Disciples of Jesus. It was, and is, a unique event. Nothing like it has happened to anyone else, before or since Jesus ascended to heaven.

That is why Pentecost Day, (Sunday) both the central affirmation of faith for Christians and the greatest stumbling block for unbelievers. It is at the same time a source of profound comfort to some and intense irritation to others. It is difficult to remain indifferent to such a startling story.

On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of the disciples and were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of communication, which Peter used to begin the ministry that Jesus had prepared him for.

The promise fulfilled everything that happened to Jesus either before or during his lifetime and ministry were promised. The coming of the Holy Spirit was promised by the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32).

Indeed, we know very well that Jesus Promised the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). There are many Biblical references we need to know about the Holy Spirit; (Exodus 30:30; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32; John 15:26; Matthew 12:28; 28:19; Malachi 3:1-3;), just to mention a few.

However, the record we have in the New Testament section of the Bile in Acts is the best and detail recorded evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ, the risen Lord and King of kings.

The Power of the Holy Spirit.

After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay in the room basking in God's glory but burst out to tell the world. This was the beginning of the Church as we know it (Acts 4:12).

The Celebration of Pentecost.

Today, in many Christian churches, the Pentecost Sunday is celebrated to recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit, realizing that God's very life, breath and energy lives in believers.

In this bulletin we would like to focus our thoughts on:

A. The disciples first experience of the Holy Spirit.

We know that Jesus' resurrection and ascension to heaven proved that the disciples witnessed the glory of God in the risen and ascended Lord. Our risen Saviour supernaturally appearing to the fear laden disciples changed everything. Their fear gave way to joy when the Lord showed them His hands and side. He assured them peace and repeated the command given in Matthew 28:19-20 saying;

"as the Father has sent me, I am sending you".

Then he breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-23).

The celebration of Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the reality that we are all God-breathed with the unifying Spirit that was poured out upon the First Church in (Acts 2:1-4). It is a reminder that we are co-heirs with Christ, to suffer with him that we may also be glorified with Him; that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7); that we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13) and the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives inside all believers (Romans 8:9-11).

This gift of the Holy Spirit that was promised and given to all on the first Pentecost is promised for you and me; your children and my children and for all who are far off whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39).

B. The Holy is a real person who comes to reside within All believers (Acts 2:1-47).

Jesus told His disciples...

" I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not believe Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-16).

The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal shadow, nor an impersonal force. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead. Jesus said to His disciples...

" All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthews 28:18).

God is Father , Son and Holy Spirit. And all the divine attributes ascribed to the Father and the Son are equally ascribed to the Holy Spirit. When a person becomes born again by believing and receiving Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; John 3:3-12), God resides in that person through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) The Holy Spirit has intellect (1 Corinthians 2:11), emotion (Romans 15:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11).

C. The Primary role of the Holy Spirit.

The primary role of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus. The Holy Spirit bears 'witness' of Jesus Christ (John 15:26, 16:14) He tells people's hearts about the truth of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also acts as a Christian's teacher (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). He reveals God's will and God's truth to a Christian. Jesus told His disciples.

"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:2).

"When He, the Holy Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." (John 16:13).

The Holy Spirit was given to live inside those who believe in Jesus, in order to produce God's character in the life of a believer. In a way that we cannot do on our own, the Holy Spirit will build into our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 22-23). Rather than trying to be loving, patient, kind, God asks us to rely on Him to produce these qualities in our lives. Thus Christians are told to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to perform ministerial duties that promote spiritual growth among Christians (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).

The Holy Spirit also performs a function for non-Christians as well. He convicts people's hearts of God's truth concerning how sinful we are needing God's forgiveness; how righteous Jesus is. He died in our place, for our sins; and God's eventual judgement of the world and those who do not know Him (John 16:8-11).

The Holy Spirit tugs on our hearts and minds, asking us to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and new life.

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