Come Holy Spirit

There were dramatic things at that first Pentecost — a sound like the rush of a wind (when the disciples were inside with the doors locked), tongues as of fire, the disciples transformed from a frightened little band hiding in an upper room to a bunch of bold, street corner preachers, everyone hearing in their own languages, etc.  But how is our life to be different today?

Our lives are different because we have the Holy Spirit!  Before Jesus, the “Holy Spirit” or the “Spirit of God”, the “ruach adonai” was a gift given only to a select few.  The prophets, priests, kings, etc., were given the gift of God’s Spirit for their special tasks.  But in the account from Acts, Luke quotes the prophet Joel who promises a future day when God will, “pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

One of the biggest changes from “Old Testament” times to “New Testament” times is that the Holy Spirit is given to all believers, not just to those with a few special callings.  That means you and me!  And it also means that as we work in the power of the Spirit, there should be virtually no limit to what can be accomplished in the purposes of God!

If you were more confident of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life, what might you dare in the service of God?

This column appeared in the June 9, 2019 issue of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.

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