The worldwide Christian community has three big
events to celebrate: Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. God’s promise is fulfilled in the birth of the
Christ child whose life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection make a way for
the redemption from the penalty and guilt of our sin. Our redemption makes possible our
reconciliation with God. We are freed
from the bondage of sin and can claim our privileged position as a child of God
in a renewed relationship with him. Our
redemption and reconciliation begin a new day, a new journey, and a new
possibility of spiritual maturity and intimacy with God. Two events, Christmas and Easter, were humanity’s greatest
game changers. They are worthy of our
celebration of thanks and praise to God for these unspeakable gifts. But, is celebrating only two out of the three
events good enough?
We do well on the first two, but think about
how incredible is the Father and Son's gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the third
game changer. God throws the door open
to an unimaginable future in our relationship to him. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was
given to a handful of specific individuals. Bezalel, the Tabernacle’s chief
artisan in Exodus 31:2&3 is an example. All of the prophets are also
examples of the specific gift of the Holy Spirit for a specific purpose,
proclamation of the Word of God to the people. In the New Testament, starting with Pentecost,
God makes it possible for all people, not just a few, to be "filled with
the fullness of God" as Holy Spirit. We are blessed. We can celebrate this
amazing privilege. We must
celebrate. Seedbed.com provides an
abundance of resources to help us appreciate the lavish love of God's gift of
himself as Holy Spirit.
ENJOY and CELEBRATE!
Thanks Jonathan - wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI have long believed that The Salvation Army is a perfect movement for Pentecost. William Booth himself writes, "We want another Pentecost."
We were birthed in revival and somewhat contained in the Pentecost preaching of Peter and the prophecy of Joel: Male or female; young or old; clever or simple is part of who we are.
General Eva Burrows one pronounced to a congress of Salvationists, with thunderous applause, ‘The Salvation Army doesn’t need any more programs, what we need is more of the Holy Spirit.’
Salvationism and Pentecost – perfect together.
Richard Munn