The Holy Spirit and the Church

Happy and Blessed Pentecost, People of God!!

Today we remember when Jesus kept His promise and poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Mary, and other gathered disciples. Now His disciples are empowered to proclaim the Gospel and bear witness to their testimony with signs and wonders. Some refer to Pentecost as the Birthday of the Church. Even though there are other important events that helped to form the Church: the Last Supper, the blood and water flowing from the side of Christ at His crucifixion, Jesus giving the Apostles the Great Commission, it is clear that Pentecost is really when the Church began to move and minister as one body. So church, how are we going to celebrate our birthday?

Saint Paul shares with us that we are given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not for us to be admired. Paul shares that these gifts are given for the upbuilding of the Church. He means this both in the sense of winning more converts to grow the Church and edifying and maturing the members already in the Body of Christ. We each have been given gifts, but they are meant to be shared. A good way to celebrate our birthday is to share our gifts and strengthen our community. If you do not know what gifts you have, you should probably ask the people of faith around you. It is likely that they have observed gifts in you that you have not even recognized in yourself. If you tell me that you don’t have any gifts from the Holy Spirit, then I will simply tell you that you are wrong.

Another powerful way to celebrate our birthday is to share your praise and gratitude to God with others. When the group of believers in the upper room received the Holy Spirit, they immediately went out and shared the praise and thanks that they had to Christ with the people on the street. One of the most powerful ways to witness to others is to share your praise of the Lord and glorify Him. As others see the Lord lifted up, they will come to seek and find the blessings that you bear testimony about. The people gathered to listen to the disciples praising and worshipping God. Many were baptized that day. They had heard the powerful testimonies of the believers and they desired to be filled with the Holy Spirit themselves. By the Holy Spirit we share the love and praise of God with others so that all can be filled with the Spirit of God and experience His redemption. Happy Birthday my brothers and sisters!!

Rev. Matthew S. Bonk