The Father’s good gift
by Margaret Silvester
Today is Pentecost Sunday and churches throughout the world will be joyfully celebrating the birthday of the church. Believers recall the day the Holy Spirit came into the world to baptise, fill and equip disciples of Jesus to take the good news of the kingdom to the whole world.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was a promise fulfilled. His coming was marked by an audible violent wind and visible fire that separated and became small tongues of fire resting on every person in the room .No-one was left out. Jesus was no longer with them but they now had another One just like Jesus to be with them for ever. The promise would be perpetuated down the ages and remains for us today. It’s a promise ‘for all whom the Lord our God will call’ (Acts 2:39).
The coming of the Holy Spirit was the coming to earth of the permanent presence of Jesus. The whole room where the first disciples met was filled with the divine presence. Their sadness at Jesus being taken from them was turned to inexpressible joy. They were not alone. The Holy Spirit lived in them and walked beside them every moment of every day. They were marked with a seal. Not only did they receive the Holy Spirit, they were sealed with His actual presence as a sign and pledge that they belonged to Jesus. Jesus asked the Father to give another Counsellor like Himself to be with us for ever (John 14:16) and He is with us today, walking, guiding, leading, in intimate relationship with those who love Jesus.
When the Holy Spirit came to the first disciples they received power to witness for Jesus taking the good news of the Gospel wherever He sent them. After Pentecost they lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. His life was within them. Their words were His words, their actions were His actions, their love was the love of God the love put into their hearts by the Holy Spirit. He flowed through them enabling them to speak in unlearned languages and perform miracles. The supernatural became natural to them.
The promise, the presence and the power are for us today. We, like the first believers, desperately need the continual reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We live in the era of the Spirit. He is not a written law but the dynamic Spirit of God who enables us to live life as God desires. When we are utterly dependent upon Him for everything we bring glory to God because we are saying “Only you can do it and I desperately need you.”
On this Pentecost Sunday why not ask the Father to put within you a fresh awareness of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world today. I confess that without His power and anointing I struggle in my own strength. I ask You today to touch my life afresh. Have Your way with me and fill me anew with the Holy Spirit ,that I will bring glory to Jesus and affect others as You have Your way in me. Amen.
Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God. Margaret`s book "Stepping Stones to the Father Heart of God" has recently been published.
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