Making Sense of the Holy Spirit

On Pentecost Sunday June 9th, we celebrate the Holy Spirit’s miraculous manifestation in the wind, tongues of fire and the disciples speaking many languages. What a dramatic scene to think about. If such a thing were to happen in our church today, we might be like those in the crowd and say, “they must be drunk or something.”

We can become settled in our ways and our understanding of what God is doing. Other times I think we are waiting for a dramatic moment like this one in Acts. We can be resistant to the Holy Spirit with a sense of, we’ve done that before, or we can’t do that here. That’s crazy.
One thing I know for certain is that the Holy Spirit is continually moving and being poured out upon God’s people if we just have pay attention.

When we read the 3rd Article of the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

We are invoking the Holy Spirit. The one who makes us a community of believers unites with all the saints past and present. We are claiming the power of forgiveness and resurrection. Woah! Martin Luther reminds just what this powerful gift is for us.

 I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.

The Holy Spirit gives us the wonderful gift of faith. We are also reminded of the many other gifts we are given. In our hymnals on pg. 231 these words are read to all being baptized:
 Stir up in this person the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, the spirit of Joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.

This is my prayer for all of you. Take some time to read this prayer. Read it with your name in the prayer. These gifts have already been given TO YOU. If you feel like you don’t have them, pray for them again. God daily gives you what you need. Baptism is a wonderous and continuous gift. It more than just a sprinkling of water on your head. It is God’s promise being made to you through water and the word. It is the Holy Spirit poured out on you, forever!  You have gifts of wisdom and understanding, Counsel and strength, Joy in God’s presence.

The Good News of Jesus and the wonderful Gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended for all people. Just as God made it possible for people many languages the ability to hear the Good News through the Disciples. God makes it possible for us to be witnesses of God’s amazing love for all who need to hear it. God’s Holy Spirit calls, gathers, strengthens, and gives us faith, hope and joy in a world in which they can be difficult to find.

How are you using the gift of the Holy Spirit? How are you helping others recognize these gifts in themselves?