Happy birthday to the Christian Church and blessings to you on Pentecost Sunday.
Our invitation to worship introduces the power of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the empowerment of humans to tell our story of God in our lives. Our first lesson from Numbers relates the story of Moses’ power to prophesy to the 70+2 and Moses’ declaration that all should be prophets by the power of the spirit. The psalmist relates the power of God which is found in all creation. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is the story of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples so they can preach to the corners of the world. John’s gospel recounts Jesus’ first appearance to the Disciples after his resurrection to empower them for their mission.
On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the beginning of the transition from Easter to living our lives of faith in the “mundane” phase of life as we await Jesus’ return. Today was the celebration of the first Pentecost, the day where the Holy Spirit descended like a tongue of fire on the disciples. But the message of Pentecost is not simply ecstatic tongues speaking in an other-worldly, holy language. Pentecost is the celebration of our remembrance of being commissioned to speak the news of God in our lives, each and every one of us. That commission comes, not with 50-cent words, but with everyday language which others can understand. Pentecost reminds us to trust the Holy Spirit but to also do our part.
With what has the Holy Spirit empowered you for the good work you do for God in the world? I invite your comments,
Les+
Lessons: Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-sunday-sermon
