Come Holy Spirit
Prior to this pandemic, I spoke at a women’s tea about expecting great things. I shared one of my stories about a fear that started at age 17. I never knew until over 35 years later that this fear would become a desire of mine. But God did. Psalm 37:4-5, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” I did commit and I am still learning to trust and He brought it to pass! I waited over 35 years! It was not an easy wait and I struggled greatly. But now, I am in awe of what He has done! It was worth the wait. I am enjoying what He is doing and I have great expectations of what He is going to do. I shared this time of waiting with the ladies. God has a plan for all of our lives. He waits patiently on us. Do we let fear hold us back from what He has planned for us? Do we really trust God with our life? Are we using the power God gives us? We all have an invitation to live that life of great expectations. I got several invitations the following week that I was looking forward to. That same week we learned there would be no more large gatherings. Now I sit and wait and wait and wait. Like many of you, I am asking “when” are we going to be able to do certain things? Will we ever be able to do certain things again? We have to be flexible. We are going to have to take it one day at a time. While I wait, I choose to expect great things with a grateful heart!
In our Pine Valley United Methodist Church staff meeting this week, Pastor Tim gave a devotion on Acts 1:4, “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 have heard me speak about.’” Sometimes we have to wait and during this time we can be available to God. Pastor Tim used the phrase, “waiting with expectation.” Waiting prayerfully together. Acts 1:14, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” We can use this time to pause and reflect, break chains, tear down our walls, and ask the Spirit to fall on us. I do know that whatever is coming will be worth the wait! Expect great things!
This Sunday is Pentecost which is the Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter or 40 days after Easter. Some Christian denominations consider it the birthday of the Christian church. Before Jesus was crucified, he told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after him. John 14:16-18, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Forty days after Jesus was resurrected (10 days after he ascended into heaven), that promise was fulfilled. Peter and the early Church were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 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 were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
It is traditional to wear red on Pentecost Sunday as a symbol of the joy and fire of the Holy Spirit. It is a tangible reminder of an invisible reality, and that is powerful to our imaginations. This Sunday, whether you join us outside or watch online, wear red expecting great things! Come Holy Spirit!