MAY 2008
“ When the day of Pentecost came, they were together in one place”
That’s how the Evangelist Luke starts the story of what happened fifty days after Easter and ten days after our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. We call this event Pentecost and it will be celebrated this month on May 18th. It is the third great festival of our Church year. It also marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the “birthday” of the Christian Church.
Jesus had asked his disciples to wait for this outpouring. We can be sure they must have had an eager longing for the fulfillment of Christ’s promise. HE gave them a foretaste of what this would be like on the evening of Easter day when he breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit…If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Pentecost was the hour of the Spirits coming in power and special manifestation. In that event the disciples were equipped empowered and dispatched. This is still the work of the Spirit among us today.
Note in this account the disciples were all together in one place. Our presence in and with the gathering of Christ’s people is necessary if the Spirit is to do His proper work among us. When we are gathered in the name of the Triune God and hear the Good News of the Gospel as well as make use of the blessed sacraments , then the Holy Spirit can do His work of calling enlightening , sanctifying and keeping us in the true faith. And it is finally only the Holy Spirit who can , and still does , make us children of God and members of the Holy Christian Church. He still accomplishes the miracle of faith that accepts and believes God’s promise of forgiveness and new life. He still keeps us steadfast in the faith as we grow in all Christian virtues, in love and service to God and our neighbor as we are open to the Spirit.
Pentecost this year may not come to us with the sound of a might rushing wind; with tongues of flame resting on our foreheads, and the sound of foreign languages being spoken and heard in our assembly. But the Holy Spirit still comes to empower, guide and direct us into all truth and the life of obedience and loving service. He does this through reminding us of all the words Jesus spoke in his earthly ministry in the Word of God.
The power of God’s Word to change lives is nowhere more evident than in the working of human thoughts, consciences and hearts. The Word pierces where no man made sword could reach: to the very heart of all people, turning them back to God. God’s word convicts, but only you can commit yourself to do God’s will. Is there an area of your life where a response is overdue?
THINK!
We need God’s Word 365 days a year !
The Bible to our soul or spirit as food is to our body. Our bodies cannot go a great length of time without nourishment. The degree of our spiritual vigor is in direct proportion to the time spent in God’s Word.
If you have not yet picked up on what the two areas of focus for my ministry are, they are: unity and spiritual growth. As we think about unity, one of the things that promises it best is fellowship. May the month of May be a great month for spiritual renewal for us all. And to all the Mothers
“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY”
On May 11th Blessing to you all in Christ our risen Savior and Lord!
Your Brother in The Lord
Pastor Potter
