Why does Pentecost matter? (1)

The indwelling and power of the Spirit.

What difference does it make for us today that the first Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit 2000 years ago on the Jewish festival of Pentecost?
Pentecost brings together a few themes and experiences. Over the next couple of weeks we will share 4 specific ways in which Pentecost makes a difference in our lives today:
1. The indwelling and Power of the Spirit
2. The Church is central in God’s Work in this world – through the power of the indwelling Spirit
3. The Multi-cultural character and mission of the Church – demonstrated on Pentecost
4. The complete Ministry of the Church - guaranteed on Pentecost

And the first way Pentecost makes a difference is: “The indwelling and the power of the Holy Spirit”.
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those followers of Jesus who had gathered together in Jerusalem.
And what happened on the first Pentecost still happens to believers today. Not in such a dramatic fashion with the sound of stormy winds and tongues of fire. Yet, God even now pours out the Spirit upon all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He dwells (lives) in them and shares the power of the living Jesus with them. Romans 8:1-11.

It is God’s purpose for followers of Jesus to live in the power of the Spirit of God that dwells in them. As a result of his power, the Holy Spirit helps us to believe in and confess Jesus as Lord (1 Cor 12:3).
The Spirit helps us to serve God with spiritual power that humans typically don’t have. (1 Cor 12:4-11).
The Spirit helps us to live in the Body of Christ, binding us in loving unity with each other and with Christ.
The holy Spirit helps us to pray (Rom 8:26).
And he also prays for us. (Rom 8:27).
The Spirit guides us (Gal 5:25) in order to help us to more and more live like Jesus did. (Gal 5:22-23).

Pentecost asks us very personal questions about how we live. Do we live, witness, worship and pray, relying on the power of God’s Spirit?
Are we open to the Spirit’s gifts that will give us the strength to make a difference for Christ?
Do we actually listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

We often know that the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the power of the living Lord, but only to a point we allow it to happen. Limited by our fear to do something extraordinary for God we ignore the power of the Spirit. Our sin and our limited expectations for our service to God, and the fact that we are so easily sidetracked - forgetting about God’s plan for our lives – result in the reality that we do not receive the full benefit of the Spirit’s work in us.

Pentecost offers a chance to confess our disappointing shortcomings when it comes to living by the power of the indwelling Spirit. We should be praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give us the power of the living Lord once again.