The Spirit of God

Acts 4:23  After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24  When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25  it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? 26  The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' 27  For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28  to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29  And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30  while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31  When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. 32  Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35  They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36  There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"). 37  He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

This passage from Acts says that the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit was boldness and generosity.  Why then do we tie ourselves in knots by chasing after speaking in tongues, ecstatic experience, exclusive wisdom and inner feelings of joy? The Spirit of God is not some personal possession, given to make us feel good, or to allow us to feel superior over those who do not “have our experience”. The Spirit of God is given so that we may be faithful in our service: a service that asks us to be bold, and to become generous.  

To Sing:

God’s Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do,
what I have to do....

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come.

Author: Alan Date (1902-1979) & Hubert J. Richards (B 1921)

Third Sunday of Easter

24 The Lord is with us

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Rueben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 154.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.