Devotional Materials. Week Commencing Sunday 6th June 2021
Call to Worship
‘In the last days’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’ Acts 2:17
Today we continue to look at the Person of the Holy Spirit. When it comes to the New Testament we can’t help but think of Pentecost and how the risen Christ poured out the Holy Spirit that day on the early church.
Our first hymn reminds us of the greatness and power of God and includes the words ‘Jesus is Lord! God sent His Holy Spirit to show by works of power that Jesus is Lord!
Opening Hymn (Piano)
Verse 1
Jesus is Lord!
Creation's voice proclaims it
For by His power each tree and flower
Was planned and made
Jesus is Lord!
The universe declares it
Sun, moon and stars in heaven
Cry, 'Jesus is Lord!'
Chorus
Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Verse 2
Jesus is Lord!
Yet from His throne eternal
In flesh He came to die in pain
On Calvary's tree
Jesus is Lord!
From Him all life proceeding
Yet gave His life a ransom
Thus setting us free
Chorus
Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Verse 3
Jesus is Lord!
O'er sin the mighty conqueror
From death He rose, and all His foes
Shall own His name
Jesus is Lord!
God sent His Holy Spirit
To show by works of power
That Jesus is Lord!
Chorus
Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
David J Mansell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rflCCx3QRys
Opening prayer
‘Jesus is Lord’. We worship you Lord. We see your power in Creation and are grateful for every material blessing.
We see your power in your great sacrifice which brings us freedom- forgiveness of sins and set free from the power of sin. Lord, we see your power in your triumph over death- which signals ‘new life’ we enjoy in you today, and the promise of our own resurrection after we have died.
Thank you too for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus, whom by your authority you poured out on the first believers. Thank you that you did not leave these first believers on their own, but you gave them the Holy Spirit- the Comforter- to continue your presence in their lives after you had ascended to heaven.
Thank you the Holy Spirit is given to all who repent and are baptised- all who have put their faith in Christ. The promise was for them and their children and for all ‘who are far off’- for all Christians subsequently- and that means for us today.
And like those weak disciples, hiding away from the authorities, how we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit/ baptised in your Spirit. We too acknowledge our weakness. By your Spirit come to us afresh, purge us from evil and every wrong doing. Flood the dry ground of our hearts with the living waters of your Spirit. Renew our first love for you, that we may be full of courage and devotion, as those first believers were, and that we too might boldly declare your name, gladly serve and live for you. All glory to your Oh Lord. Please lead us now by your truth. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Reading. Acts 2:1-21.
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Hymn (Guitar)
Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here
The river of God
Sets our feet to dancing
The river of God
Fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God
Fills our mouths with laughter
And we rejoice for the river is here
The river of God is teaming with life
And all who touch it can be revived
And all who linger on this river's shore
will come back thirsting
For more of the Lord
The river of God…
Up to the mountain we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord
Along the banks of the river we run
We dance with laughter
Giving praise to the Son
The river of God…
Andy Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW3ILo1U9Lw
Sermon. “Who is the Holy Spirit? “ Part 2.
We continue to look at material from Nicky Gumbel’s Alpha Course over 2 Sunday mornings to explore this question ‘Who is the Holy Spirit?’ It is a brief survey of the work of the Holy Spirit. Previously we looked at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Today we will focus more on the New Testament, where much of what is promised about the Spirit in the Old comes to pass.
We saw how in the Old Testament the Spirit of God came upon particular people at particular times for particular tasks. We looked at people like Gideon and Sampson.
But as we go on through the Old Testament we have a rising sense of anticipation: that God is going to do something even more amazing. Jeremiah, chapter 31, verse 33: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
Under the old covenant the people of God were given the Law. And the Law was written on tablets of stone. However they found they couldn’t keep the Law. It became a great burden. And God says: `I’m going to put my law inside, so that you really want to do it, it comes from your hearts.’ How will He do it? Ezekiel 36:26, God says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
That’s how he does it – by the Holy Spirit coming to live within us. God living within us by His Spirit gives us the heart/motivation to serve and obey Him.
Jackie Pullinger at aged 21 went to the Walled City in Hong Kong, which was an area of 60,000 people living in an area where there was no law, where the prostitutes operated, where the gangs operated, where the drugs were bought and sold.
And she went as a young woman aged 21 on her own, and she started to minister in this very dangerous place. And she saw people coming to Christ, people being set free from drug addiction. She saw the Holy Spirit at work within people and soften their hearts.
Pullinger said, `God wants to give us soft hearts and hard feet.’ And she said, `The trouble with most of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.’
By `soft hearts’ she meant a heart of compassion, of love- from the Holy Spirit living within her; and hard feet – feet that are willing to go anywhere. And she’s demonstrated that in her life.
To whom does this promise of the Spirit living within apply?
To whom is this promise going to be fulfilled? Joel, chapter 2, verse 28 – this is what God says: “For afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, —it’s regardless of sex.
your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
—it’s regardless of age.
Even on my servants—it’s regardless of background, race, colour, rank.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” —it’s for everyone!
Nicky Gumbel spoke at Stopsley Baptist on Pentecost Sunday. At the end of the service he invited the Holy Spirit to come and to fill people there.
He says “I remember just this extraordinary scene as people were filled with the Holy Spirit. What struck me particularly was two people on whom the Spirit came with particular power – so much so that they were actually lying on the floor. They were right in front of me here. One was a little old lady with white hair. I don’t think she’d mind me saying she was an old lady, because I met her daughter at the end, and her daughter was 75 years of age!
So there was this white-haired old lady lying on the floor, just being filled with the Holy Spirit. And next to her was an eight-year-old boy, who was just laughing and obviously having an amazing time with God. It was a very unusual laugh – it’s a laugh I’ve never heard before or since! But it was – I think `sweet’ is the best way to describe it!
Sometime later his mother wrote to me, and she said this about her son: `He had been quite difficult, bad-tempered and naughty on occasion. Since his encounter with the Spirit he’s become a very different person. Much sunnier, more helpful, kinder, anxious to please. Obviously he still has his moments! But he is different. Not something a child of eight can sustain in his own strength over any period of time. It was an amazing night, with God touching many of my friends as well as my husband, daughter, two sons and myself in powerful and what can only be described as refreshing and equipping ways.’
On all people. The promise of the Father. Yet this promise remained unfulfilled. The people were waiting. And they waited and they waited. They waited for hundreds of years!
And then, with the birth of Jesus, it’s like a trumpet sounds. And everybody connected with the birth of Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit.
So, Luke, chapter 1, verse 15. John the Baptist, who was to prepare the way for Jesus and announces his birth–verse 15: He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
Mary, the mother of Jesus – Luke 1, verse 35. The angel said:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Elizabeth: the moment that she came into the presence of Jesus, still in his mother’s womb – verse 41: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Even Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist – verse 67: His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied…
It’s still particular people at particular times. But then John the Baptist is the first person to make this link between the promise and Jesus. Luke, chapter 3, verse 16:
John answered them all, “I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie. He [that is, Jesus] will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Baptism with water is important, but it’s not enough. Jesus is the Spirit baptiser. In the secular Greek, the word `baptise’ meant `to overwhelm, to immerse, to plunge, to drench’. It was the word that was used of if a ship sunk, it was baptised, it was overwhelmed, water everywhere, inside. And that’s what the Spirit wants to do – he wants to drench us, overwhelm us, fill us.
Sometimes, I think – this is certainly true of my heart – I become like a dry sponge. You know one of those real sponges, which when it’s very dry, even when you put it in the water it doesn’t absorb any water, because it’s so hard and crusty on the outside. Sometimes my heart becomes like that.
But then as you put that sponge into water, the edges begin to soften. And once the edges have softened, then that sponge can absorb so much water. And when you take it out of the water, it is literally pouring out water. And that’s how we’re meant to be – full of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus himself was completely full of the Holy Spirit–chapter 3, verse 22:
The Holy Spirit descended on him [that is, on Jesus] in bodily form like a dove.
Chapter 4, verse 1: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit…
Verse 14: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…
Verse 18: he says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he’s anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.” – that quote from Isaiah.
And then Jesus predicts the coming of the Spirit—John, chapter 7, verse 37:
On the last and greatest day of the Feast
[this was the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus had gone to],
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anybody who is thirsty…”
There’s a thirst, isn’t there, in every human heart – not just a physical thirst. Of course we have a physical thirst that can be satisfied by drinking water; but we have a spiritual thirst also, which can’t be satisfied by physical drinks – or even material things.
It’s a spiritual thirst. And Jesus says: `If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flowing from within.’ Literally, it’s out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water. He says, `Not only will I satisfy your spiritual thirst, but then you will become a source of blessing, a source of life.’
Water. This is a society living on the edge of the desert. They knew that they were reliant on water for plant life, animal life, every kind of life! And water symbolises life.
And Jesus is saying the Holy Spirit brings life. And it means when we’re filled with the Spirit, then the life of the Spirit flows through us to other people, and other people are able to come and to drink.
By this he meant the Spirit, which those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not been glorified.
When John speaks about Jesus being glorified, he’s talking about the Cross and Resurrection. And some of the very last words of Jesus to his disciples, at the end of Luke’s Gospel, were these: “I’m going to send you what my Father has promised [the promise of the Father]; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
And then Jesus ascended, and still the promise had not been fulfilled. And they waited. Acts, chapter 1, verse 4: On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you’ve heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
Verse 8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And still the promise was not fulfilled. And they waited, and they prayed – for ten days they waited. And all the time there’s this rising sense of anticipation. It’s like taking a champagne bottle and just shaking it! And eventually – chapter 2, verse 2 – the cork flies off!
Acts Chapter 2, verse 2:
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them [not just particular people at particular times for particular tasks] all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
People’s reactions were mixed. Some people said, `Oh, that’s absolutely amazing! This is wonderful!’– verse 7. Others– verse 12– were amazed and perplexed: they thought, `Wow, this is amazing, but it’s a bit perplexing!’ Others said, `No!’ They made fun of them – verse 13: “They’ve had too much wine.” `These people are drunk!’
In other words, something amazing was happening and they didn’t know how to explain it, so they gave a natural explanation that was something actually supernatural.
And Peter gets up and he says, `Let me give you the true explanation!’ He said, ”Let me explain this to you… These people [verse 15, he says:] These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning! No, [he says] this is… the promise, this is Biblical, this is what was promised in the Old Testament:
“`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’”
And then he says something even more amazing. He says: `This is for you.’ Verse 37:
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and they said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The promise is for you [every one of you] and your children [not just those standing there, but the next generation] and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
This is the amazing promise of the Father – the gift of the Holy Spirit is no longer just for particular people at particular times for particular tasks; it’s for everyone. It’s for you, and for you, and for you, and for you! Because we now live in the age of the Holy Spirit.
Father, we thank you so much for this extraordinary privilege we have of living in the age of the Spirit, when the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people. And Lord, we pray that you would help us to understand better what that means for each one of us in our own lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Prayers
Lord we pray for ourselves and your whole Church, that we might be open to the empowering presence of your Spirit, open to the gracious gifting of your Spirit, and open to the adventurous leading of your Spirit.
Holy Spirit, as you filled those first Christians with an enthusiasm for the gospel of Christ, so enthuse us, that we go out into the streets and market places of our world, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit, all who heard the apostles’ preaching understood in their own language. Fill us with a vision of the whole earth filled with your glory. Send us out to all people, to every people group for we are one race, to rich and poor, powerful and oppressed, that we might be messengers of the gospel and servants of your kingdom.
Holy Spirit, that first Christian community began a life of sharing in worship and in living. Fill us with a generous spirit, ready to share what we are and what we have with others.
Holy Spirit, strengthen those who care for the sick and those whom they serve. We commit to you all in our fellowship who are ill, relieve the suffering of those in pain and give patience, comfort and hope to all who call out to you as their refuge.
Holy Spirit, draw close to all who are elderly- especially those who are house bound. In their weakness may they find your strength and in their loneliness may they know the joy of your presence. Be to them a sure and certain hope of the life you have prepared for them in heaven.
We ask all these things in Jesus name. Amen
Hymn (Piano)
All over the world, the Spirit is moving,
All over the world, as the prophet said it would be;
All over the world, there's a mighty revelation,
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
All over His Church…
Right here in this place...
Roy Turner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR4tE1kh-mE
Blessing
May His tongues of flame burn out all evil from our hearts fill us with his love and peace, and give us the fruit and gifts of His Holy Spirit, and a voice to praise him for ever. Amen
David Barnes 2/6/21