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Pentecost

Readings: Acts 2: 1-21; Romans 8: 14-17; John 14: 8-17

30/05/04

Today we celebrate the festival of Pentecost. This was the day when the Holy Spirit came down and entered the first disciples as described in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles. It was a day foretold in prophecy, as Peter tells his listeners, in that same reading. It is a day that Jesus told his twelve disciples about on the night of his arrest, as recorded in John's gospel. But the Holy Spirit wasn't just for that day; today we celebrate the fact that the Holy Spirit is still here for us as individuals and as a church.

I'm going to read to you again Romans 8:14-17, this time from a different translation of the Bible, the Contemporary English Version, which helped me towards a clearer understanding:
"Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him."

This is such good news. Not only are we sheep of his flock, being lead in a new direction by our Good Shepherd. But now we are adopted as his children, part of his family, with the same right to call God Father as his first-born son; the same right to intimacy that Jesus had.

Not just sheep though, because the Spirit doesn't stay at a distance like the column of fire which lead the Jews through the desert away from slavery in Egypt, as recorded in the book of Genesis. Now, because of what Jesus has done through his death, resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit lives in us, filling us with God's love. This works a change in us, from the inside outwards.

This entering and filling isn't like possession, it isn't like an alien body-snatcher forcing entry and taking over our minds and personalities. Instead it's more like filling a glass with pure water until it overflows. That overflow is the way the Spirit in us shows itself to the rest of the world in how we live.

God's Spirit overflowed at the first Pentecost and pushed the apostles and disciples out of hiding, onto their roof and into the spotlight. They couldn't stop talking about God, each one gifted with a different language, in order to pass on the good news of God's deeds of power to as many people as possible. As Jesus said in John's gospel, "the Father who dwells in me does his works". It's not a relationship to be afraid of, it's one that overcomes fear.

The Holy Spirit isn't always so dramatic though. Don't worry if you don't have any dramatic gifts; whatever gifts you do have, use them to build up God's family. And remember that the fruits of the Spirit, as listed in chapter 5 of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, are related to a Christ-like personality.

And again, don't worry if you don't want dramatic gifts. Some years ago I had a conversation with Madeleine Wheeler, our previous priest-in-charge here at All Hallows, during which I insisted, quite vehemently, that I could never imagine standing in the pulpit on a Sunday morning and talking to the entire congregation. The whole idea was terrifying, I wouldn't know what to say, it wasn't me at all. And God wouldn't ask me to do something I didn't like that much, right? Well, no, he wouldn't. But he would put me in situations in my life where I could learn that public speaking needn't be that terrifying. And he could teach me about himself and what he wanted said. And I'm the first to say that I'm wearing 'L' plates, I'm a learner, I haven't lost all my fear but I do feel God's love. And I am here because I want to be here.

Sometimes it’s very easy to feel loved by God, to feel that we’re his children and inheritors of the eternal life that starts here and now. But there are other times when our experience tries to tell us different. It might be sin, or a tragic situation, or a negative relationship with another person, or any number of other reasons. But God doesn’t leave us alone at these times. Perhaps you know the story called Footprints in the Sand written by Mary Stevenson, I’ll read it now:

“One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."”

In the difficult periods of life, God carries us. His Holy Spirit is continually at work in us and around us, convincing us of that truth and remaking us as children of God, in the image of Christ.

As Christians we’re called to be Christ-like. In today’s gospel reading Jesus says that “the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.”

We can, and should, claim that promise for ourselves. Let’s be filled by God’s Spirit of love. It might take many more years to become more like Jesus, but let’s decide to start now.