Empowered for Others

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. There was a time, between Ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples just waited, as Christ instructed them, for the indwelling of the Spirit. When this finally happened, Acts 2 describes it this way:

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

These “tongues of fire” turned out to be other languages heard by people from around the world.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6)

It’s striking to me that in the infancy of the Church there was such an emphasis on others.  It seems like this would be the time to close up ranks, focus on themselves, and make sure they didn’t get persecuted.  But the opposite happened.  God gave them the ability to speak to more people outside the Hebrew community.  He added thousands to their numbers, which was what Jesus told them would happen when the HOLY SPIRIT came.  He said, “You will be my witnesses when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:8)

Thankfully, that same promise is available to us today. And, there is no waiting season. We can be open and expectant of His gifts today. His gifts are available to us, not to be stored away or hidden, but to be displayed with His guidance and wisdom for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. The Holy Spirit causes us to shift from ourselves to others.  As believers, when we start to understand God’s love and acknowledge the indwelling of the Spirit, then the healthy and natural result of that love is that it spills out onto others.  

“We love because he first loved us.” John tells us.

My papers as an Anglican priest reside in a diocese called C4SO, which stands for “Church for the Sake of Others”.  The name seems clumsy at first, but in reality it’s a constant reminder of the attitude we have when being led by the Spirit, as they were at Pentecost.  When filled with the Spirit of God, we welcome the changes taking place within us, but we don’t stop there. There’s always an outward look. In some way, we become more aware of belonging to His Body, and His Body is not just me and Jesus. It is about His call for all of humanity to be united with Him. As we say yes to His invitation to be in fellowship with the Triune God – Father, Son, Spirit – we also say yes to being in fellowship with our brothers and sisters. By the grace of God, the Spirit empowers us to pour out His love, the unconditional love we have experienced ourselves, onto others. No matter who they are, we learn to look at every human with a desire that they would take part in the fellowship of the Trinity with us. 

Every gift of the Spirit is intended to build up the Body. How do you say yes to Him? How do you build up others with what God has given you? I pray you can ponder over these questions, and choose to trust Him in whatever way He challenges you to do.

In our text, we see the disciples speaking of God’s mighty works, so people from different countries could come to know God. 

We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:11)

There is no better sign that someone is filled with the Holy Spirit than when their actions reflect the Glory of God and His goodness.

When Jesus instructs his disciples to be His witnesses, He is saying that the things they have seen and know about Him should be shared.  Not as a pressured sales job, fully rehearsed and performed.  We become His witnesses as an extension of His love in us. He is alive, and He speaks to us today. His love for us runs deep, taking root within us, and giving fruit – then we become His witnesses. 

A Holy Spirit witness is not primarily about giving a theological point of view or inviting someone to church, although it may include this eventually.  Witnessing starts with the way you live your life. How you care for those around you, how you can go out of your way to help someone else, even in a sacrificial way. Being a witness comes from a place of being loved by God, then being able to love others. Your relationship with our Trinitarian God gives you the privilege to be His witness. This relationship is possible through the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is the yearly mark of us being at Mariners. As Christiane and I enter our 3rd year with you, we end this letter with the same words I have prayed over our church on Pentecost Sunday:

May the Holy Spirit give us the gifts, the power, and the ability to speak to the world in a way that they may receive His Love.  And, may we be open to the Holy Spirit to be God’s witnesses in whatever way He leads us. 

Come Holy Spirit come, and fill us and this church with your power that we may love and serve our families, serve the city of Detroit, and serve the world with the love of Christ that we have received.  As we grown in our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I pray His presence in us will be tangible to others, and we will rejoice in bearing fruit. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd and Dr. Christiane