Holy Spirit Day!
So - Quiz! Let's have some fun with it.
How many people think the first time the Spirit came to Earth was Pentecost?
She/He/It WAS there - as the Acts of the Apostles tell us - but that was hardly the first time
SPIRIT - not as a separate new entity, but integrated essential, integral part of the Trinity.
Quick HIstory of Spirit-
Genesis 1: 2 - Spirit of God hovering over the waters before the foundations of the world. Stirring up life!
Animals - spirit or breath of God breathing life into being
Inspiring!
Spirit is the wind which blows back the Sea for the Exodus.
This is the same Spirit the Prophets speak of anytime they are doing something REALLY big to reflect God's holy presence in the world.
Isaiah: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Wisdom literature and psalms - Spirit breathing life into the dry bones
Big stuff - holy stuff.
Spirit that stirs up life, and life-giving ministry. Spirit that stirs up the waters of Mary's womb to become the Theotokos - God-bearer as the Christ manifested in human form.
Holy Spirit - rests on Jesus during his baptism - rests on his body - in his body, in his ministry.
Who is prevalent in Paul's ministry and sharing of the good news - Paul has the Spirit leading the children of God, strengthening us, filling us with peace and joy, helping us in our weakness, revealing God's glory, and inviting us into ministry by enabling us with those spirit-given gifts.
Pentecost is a reminder that the same Spirit which came and rested on Jesus' body some 200 years ago rests on his body now - the church is now the body of Christ - enjoy the Spirit resting on YOU!
Resting how - why - how are you living in the Spirit - Inspired How are you re-Spirited in God's grace - respire-ing.
Grab a tongue of flame and hold it up if you think you are living the call of the Spirit!
Try that one again.
Grab a tongue of flame and hold it up if you:
· told a friend about church
· invited a friend into church
· visited a lonely person
· prayed with a heartbroken person
· offered hospitality to a neighbour
· volunteered with Sunday School
· helped with the breakfast programme
· donated food, goods, or money to local agencies like Community Care, Bethlehem Place, Start Me Up Niagara
· were involved in a school reading or cooking programme
· donate to relief and development efforts
· sung to the glory of God!
· cleaned, repaired, gardened a space to improve the beauty of someone's worship
· Prayed for a stranger
· Responded to the needs of someone right in front of you
· Defended and supported someone who was being hurt
· Done your best to live out your baptismal vows
When you have done this - and so many other things - it is because the Spirit is sitting on you. It is because we ARE the church, the folks with the desire to share the love of God in the world. We know how amazing the Pentecost was for the Apostles; we want the experience of the Spirit to be as exciting for us all.
While Pentecost celebrates that unique and creative connection of Spirit and church - ecclesia - we need to remember that the Spirit is not limited by us. The church cannot contain the Spirit - she will blow where she will! Within these four walls, beyond these four walls. Within our history, and into our future. Within our expectations, and beyond our wildest dreams.
"The Holy Spirit is a wild, unpredictable character" ~Stanley Hauerwas
I pray that you would breathe in the breath of God - respire the holy wind of the Spirit
I pray that you would feel the stirring of God deep within you - Inspired into ministry - called to ministry IN THE SPIRIT.
Let's live our lives, every day, knowing that each and every breath we take is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the presence of the living God - in our lives - waiting to be lived into wild and unpredictable realities.
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