May 31, 2020 Pentecost
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
This is a psalm of awe at the great works that God has done. The psalmist sees in nature so many evidences of the work and the presence of God. He promises to sing of the glory of God. How do your observations of the world in which we live correspond to what the psalmist says, or how do they differ?
John 7:37-39
In this lesson Jesus speaks about people being thirsty and being able to come to him to quench their thirst. He says that belief in him will have streams of living water flowing from within. Certainly, this teaching reminds us of the conversation that Jesus had with the woman at the well in Samaria. Jesus obviously thought these words and images to be powerful and revealing. How do they speak to you and do you find them compelling or powerful? Are there other images that speak more powerfully to you?
John gives us an interpretation of Jesus words. He says that Jesus meant the Spirit. How does the work of the Holy Spirit connect with a stream of living water in your mind or in your life?
Acts 2:1-21
Acts 2 records for us the day of Pentecost. First of all, remember that Pentecost was a Jewish Festival Day, which was tied to agriculture – maybe something like Thanksgiving Day is for us. That explains why Jews had congregated in Jerusalem from all over the world.
In vss. 1-4 we hear of the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit manifested in the disciples. Note: the sound of a violent wind, what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and touched or rested on each one and speaking in tongues or other languages, that they would not have known before.
How do each of these manifestations seem to be evidence of the Holy Spirit to you?
The foreigners are amazed to hear their native languages being spoken by these men. Some dismiss this spectacle as drunkenness. Peter, remember under the influence of the Holy Spirit, speaks for all to rebuke that notion. He calls upon the prophecy of Joel to teach the people about the promises of God. This lesson they had drilled into them all their lives, but now Peter can show them in real time how that promise is being fulfilled.
I Corinthians 12:3-13
Paul begins the portion of his letter with the vivid description of the importance and the necessity of the Holy Spirit: Without the Holy Spirit, none of us can profess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit no one can curse or profane the name of Jesus. Paul then goes on to affirm the unity of the Holy Spirit that binds everything in the Body of Christ (the Church) together. Remember the significance of these words to the Corinthians church for much division had occurred because of arguments about the work and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In vs. 13 Paul seeks to clinch their focus on the Holy Spirit as being the common factor between all Christians. Therefore, we should cease our arguing trusting the Holy Spirit to bind us together.
Holy God, it seems in every age that the people of the Church of Jesus Christ are always having to learn the same lessons that the generations before us had to wrestle with. Bind us together, Lord, in your love and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.