ConneXus Blog

By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor

Though we were not able to focus on Pentecost during the month of May (May 11 was actually Pentecost Sunday) it is never too late or an inappropriate time to be reminded of the glorious work and gift that the Holy Spirit wants to bring into our lives. 

Pentecost actually marks the day we celebrate the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our world. It is a time of celebration and expectation for God to create something new in our lives, showing us new depths of maturity in our relationship with Him.  

Acts 2 is one of the most popular passages of the New Testament.  It is foundational to many different denominations, including the Church of the Nazarene because of its continuing work in our lives still today.  What is important as we look at Acts 2 is that we approach it without preconceived ideas or interpretations and that instead we allow the Holy Spirit to bring us to fresh understanding and new perspective about what happened then, and also what the Spirit still wants to do today.

As I read a commentary by Mark Denrickson on this subject a few weeks back he stated the importance of considering the "community aspect of the presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It is no mistake that Christ's follwers 'were all together in one place'. (v.2)".  He drew my attention to the fact that the coming of the spirit was not presented as an individualistic phenomenon, but instead that Luke used plural words in this passage like "they," "them," and "all" when he wrote about the outpouring of the Spirit.  "The gift of the Spirit that imediately follows is also community-centered.  The coming of the Sirit results in the ability to speak in other languages, so that members of "every nation under heaven" (v.5) could hear the story of "God's deeds" (v.11) in their own language." What an amazing event to think that infact the first gift of the Spirit is one that results in the inclusion of … everyone!  The purpose for the outpouring of the gift was so that men would come to know Christ in their own language.  This then emphasizes again the great commission as it was presented to us by Christ Himself that we would 'go into ALL the world making disciples'; that the grace of God was for all humanity (to the ends of the earth, v. 1:8).

So then, what comes as a result of this gift of the Holy Spirit? 

First, I believe, is transformation in our own lives.  When we invite the Spirit of God to take control of our personhood, we surrender our will to be right and the Spirit who will guide us into all truth and knowledge works in our lives transforming us more and more into his likeness.  The working out of our salvation many times includes fear and trembling [moments of uncertanty, frustration, temptation, process, unbelief, wrestling with understanding, wrestling with our own desires or what-ifs].  The Holy Spirit becomes our guide but we still have the remembrance of prior behaviorly patterns, comforts, habits and perspectives that require time and adjustment to overcome.  Thank God with His help however it is possible to no longer be controled by these past patterns.  

Second is that, as we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ the world sees less and less of our humanity and instead more and more of Christ's glory working in our attitudes, behaviors and actions.  We see the world more through the perspective of God's lenses then we once saw through our own.  We see needs, desperation, hunger and sin where as before we didn't.  Likewise, we develop a passion not only to recognize these needs in ourselves and others, but the great love of God working in us enables us and empowers us to respond to the area's of need we see.  In other words, when we are saturated with the love of Christ (it fills us), we will overflow with HIS kind of loving actions, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, words, deeds, etc. 

Now then, if this gift of the Spirit works in us individually how much more should it work through us corporately?  Christ's primary method of delivering His message of salvation to the world was and still is through the Church.  The mission of the Spirit is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Being this, what if again we moved beyond an individualistic interpretation of Acts 2 and called our congregations to be filled with the Spirit?  Not a blessed me to feel good church, but a bless me with an intent to bless others church. With the Spirit brings new and refreshed vision, and scripture tells us that "where there is no vision[no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish;" Proverbs 29:18 AMP. 

Let's be a church with vision.  Let's be a church that passionately desires the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our corporate body.  Let's fullfill the mission of the Spirit and go into the world with the fresh fire of God on our lips, our hearts, our minds and actions.  Let's join together and commit this summer to seek the Lord in a new and fresh way with a passionate desire to be blessed with intent to be a blessing!