Pentecost - legacy
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· 60 viewsLegacy - Holy Spirit as Jesus Legacy a partner in building a Kingdom Legacy in our lives
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Legacy
Legacy
Bob Gass
Bob Gass
Bob was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father died when he was 12 and Bob’s mother raised Bob and his two siblings, as a single parent.
Bob always described his mother as a formative influence in his life, encouraging him to attend church as often as possible.
'She came into the Kingdom at a hundred miles an hour,' Bob once wrote, 'and never slowed down. She took her family in one hand and her faith in the other, and said, ‘we are going to serve the Lord.’
Bob was his mothers legacy
Bob’s legacy sees 400,000 uk people lived
Bob’s legacy sees 400,000 uk people lived
Bob himself, actually planned for his death several years ago. His potential legacy was always at the front of his mind. He began a long writing project, which would mean his legacy continues long after he passed away.
A strange legacy
A strange legacy
In 1926, a wealthy Toronto lawyer named Charles Vance Millar died, leaving behind him a will that amused and electrified the citizens of his Canadian province. Millar, a bachelor with a wicked sense of humour, stated clearly that he intended his last will and testament to be an “uncommon and capricious” document. Because he had no close heirs to inherit his fortune, he divided his money and properties in a way that amused him and aggravated his newly chosen heirs. Here are just a few examples of his strange bequests:
He left shares in the Ontario Jockey Club to two prominent men who were well known for their opposition to racetrack betting.
He bequeathed shares in the O’Keefe Brewery Company (a Catholic beer manufacturer) to every Protestant minister in Toronto.
But his most famous bequest was that he would leave the bulk of his fortune to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in the ten years after his death.
This clause in his will caught the public imagination. The country was entering the Great Depression. As people struggled to meet even their most basic economic responsibilities, the prospect of an enormous windfall was naturally quite alluring. Newspaper reporters scoured the public records to find likely contenders for what became known as The Great Stork Derby. Nationwide excitement over the Stork Derby built quickly.
In 1936, four mothers, proud producers of nine children apiece in a ten year time span, divided up the Charles Millar’s bequest, each receiving what was a staggering sum in those days -$125,000. Charles Millar caused much mischief with his will. This was his final legacy to humanity.
Pentecosts
Pentecosts
When Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, he promised a different kind of legacy to his followers. He promised the Holy Spirit - to comfort, to guide, to empower them to be all that God had called them to be. Today we celebrate Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church.
After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together. Now they were afraid no longer. The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples from fear to confidence. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage to go out into Jerusalem and to declare the resurrection of Jesus to a city whose people had so recently called for his death.
1 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. 6 When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. 7 They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? 8 How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”
The Holy Spirit can make all the difference.
The Holy Spirit can make all the difference.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was a tangible and dramatic event.
Sounds of rushing wind. -
Tongues of fire resting over the heads of the disciples -
Strange languages being spoken - that could be understood by people from all over both Jew and not.
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
This Holy Spirit event changed things. It turned the disciples from being scared and locked in a room with no plan - to bold, driven ambassadors for Christ.
That is the first thing I want us to take away today.
When we have the Holy Spirit working in power on us, it changes the situation and it changes us. The Holy Spirit changes the Game.
The Peter we read about Acts seems very different from the Peter of the Gospels. The Holy Spirit has refined and honed his good qualities and pared away the bad. The courage to speak out, remained, - we remember what a ‘hot head’ he was in the Gospels, but his words are no longer impetuous and without thought. Now they are considered, wise and carry the power of the Holy Spirit
But he was still Peter. The Holy Spirit had not destroyed his essential self and replaced it with something new and alien. His basic personality remained the same, but had been refined and strengthened, so that he became closer not only to what God wanted him to be, but closer also to what he himself wanted to be.
Peter’s undoubted courage was demonstrated on several occasions in the Gospels, but while Peter trusted in his own strength, it inevitably let him down at the crucial time and led him to deny Jesus. This same courage, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, became infinitely dependable and sure. It became the key to building a Kingdom legacy.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The power of the Holy Spirit is an amazing thing and is directly God. The Holy Spirit is God, not a lesser part of God or a representative of God - but is God. Part of God from before the beginning of time,
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Notice the spirit of God - The Ruach of God, the breath of God - this wind hovering - trembling over the water, and see how the Wind rushed through Jerusalem that day - identifying this phenomena as God.
It is important to recognise that the Holy Spirit is as much God as Jesus and the Father because it gives us two important pieces of understanding.
Firstly - The power that the Holy Spirt can bring is the whole power of God.
I get freaked out by the that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. but it is greater than that, the Power that created the universe is within the the Holy Spirit.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
No wonder Jesus confidently declared
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would come and change the game
Jesus knew thae
Not every one will understand what is happening.
Not everyone will understand what is happening.
Not everyone will understand what is happening.
After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together. Now they were afraid no longer. The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples from fear to confidence. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage to go out into Jerusalem and to declare the resurrection of Jesus to a city whose people had so recently called for his death.
The second thing the understanding the Holy Spirit is God brings to us is that not everyone will understand what is happening.
We see the people in Jerusalem accusing the disciples of being drunk and Peter pointing to the truth, in Joels prophecy.
The same is true today culturally, people do not expect to see God move and when it does they are confused and sometimes suspicious - but I tell you people are intrigued and seeking it out.
In the church we seem to be concerned that if the spirit moves too much it will mess up our order and our organisation - we may not get the last song in. Or we’ll be late for lunch.
Personally, I don’t understand what is happening when God moves, when the power of the Holy Spirit moves on people, why my legs buckled as I walked away from praying for someone, why I find my self promising things in peoples lives that I would be stupid to do in the Natural. I can’t understand why Shirley can have a picture of a bithday cake that she delivers to the one person in the room who is a cake maker, considering what to do with their life and talents. I don’t understand why when we pray for people God heals or moves in their lives, bringing healing and restoration Or why so many ‘coincidences’ happen when the Spirit moves - I don’t understand any of it, other than it is God, it is the Holy Spirit.
Freely Available - but not forced.
Freely Available - but not forced.
In Acts we heard how Peter quoted the prophet Joel who said that God’s Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all who believe.
We see how Peter was empowered by the Holy Spirit - from hot headed fisherman to a leading fisher of men ( that calling Jesus put on him on day one)
But he was still Peter. The Holy Spirit had not destroyed his essential self and replaced it with something new and alien. His personality remained the same, but had been refined and strengthened, so that he became closer not only to what God wanted him to be, but closer also to what he himself wanted to be.
The Holy Spirit does not invade us unasked but, if we truly wish to receive it, it is there for each one of us for the asking. And if we truly want the Holy Spirit to enter our lives, it will be because we want to change and will welcome the changes that the Spirit will bring. It will also mean that we have recognised our inability to bring these changes about on our own and have realised our need for God’s grace.
Legacies have an impact.
Legacies have an impact.
We started talking about legacies.
Legacies have an impact. The acts and artefacts that we leave behind affect the people that follow us. The things we do no matter their significance at the time have the potential to have significant impact in peoples live. The legacy of God - The Holy Spirit has the potential to change our live and those we meet but we have to ask and we have to act.
When Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, he promised a different kind of legacy to his followers. But they were left in Jerusalem with nothing: After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together as they waited.
When Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, he promised a different kind of legacy to his followers. But they were left in Jerusalem with nothing: After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together as they waited.
Sometimes what we see as a failed opportunity just needs time and needs faith.
Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasise how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after his time on earth. The angels gather around him to learn all that happened during his days on earth. Jesus tells them of the miracles, his teachings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.
Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after his time on earth. The angels gather around him to learn all that happened during his days on earth. Jesus tells them of the miracles, his teachings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.
When he finishes his story, Michael the Archangel asks Jesus, “But what happens now?” Jesus answers, “I have left behind eleven faithful disciples and a handful of men and women who have faithfully followed me. They will declare my message and express my love. These faithful people will build my church.” “But,” responds Michael, “What if these people fail? What then is your other plan?” And Jesus answers, “I have no other plan!”
As the body of Christ we, like the apostles, are charged with the duty of taking God’s message to the world. It is up to us to bring to today’s world this wonderful, glorious Gospel of love, salvation and redemption that has sustained and comforted people for 2000 years. Jesus is counting on you and me and he has stacked the odds in our favour by sending the Holy Spirit - We are not alone. The Holy Spirit is here to empower us, to change us. For each of us that know Jesus as our personal Lord and saviour the Holy Spirit lives in us. But we can have more.
it doesn’t matter if we refer to it as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the empowering of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirt carries the potential power to change lives and worlds, He can bestow the gifts mention in Joels prophecy and through the new testament - Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Faith, Gifts of healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing between spirits, Speaking in Godly Languages and Interpretation of those tongues. He can give encourage, empower and embolden.
He does this to let us carry this commission to go out in to the whole world and make disciples. He does this because God knows we can’t do this in our own strength.
We started talking about legacies.
Legacies have an impact. The acts and artefacts that we leave behing affect the people that follow us. The things we do no matter their significance at the time have the potential to have significant impact in peoples live.
How many of you have tried to have a conversation with someone about faith or tried to give a person you care about some advice and at the end of the conversation - Nothing.
When Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, he promised a different kind of legacy to his followers. But they were left in Jerusalem with nothing: After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together as they waited.
After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together. Now they were afraid no longer. The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples from fear to confidence
Sometimes what we see as a failed opportunity just needs time and needs faith.
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1 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. 6 When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. 7 They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? 8 How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”
When Jesus of Nazareth left this earth, he bequeathed a different kind of legacy to his followers. He left his Holy Spirit - to comfort, to guide, to empower them to be all that God had called them to be. Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church.
After the crucifixion the disciples had been afraid for their lives and locked the door of the upper room when they met together. Now they were afraid no longer. The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples from fear to confidence. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage to go out into Jerusalem and to declare the resurrection of Jesus to a city whose people had so recently called for his death.
But he was still Peter. The Holy Spirit had not destroyed his essential self and replaced it with something new and alien. His basic personality remained the same, but had been refined and strengthened, so that he became closer not only to what God wanted him to be, but closer also to what he himself wanted to be.
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Peter’s undoubted courage was demonstrated on several occasions in the Gospels, but while Peter trusted in his own strength, it inevitably let him down at the crucial time and led him to deny Jesus. This same courage, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, became infinitely dependable and sure.
The Holy Spirit does not invade us unasked but, if we truly wish to receive it, it is there for each one of us for the asking. And if we truly want the Holy Spirit to enter our lives, it will be because we want to change and will welcome the changes that the Spirit will bring. It will also mean that we have recognised our inability to bring these changes about on our own and have realised our need for God’s grace.
If the Holy Spirit had not come upon the apostles at Pentecost, it is probable that Christianity would never have spread very far. Those who had known Jesus and followed him would have held on to their belief, certainly for a while, maybe to the end of their lives. At best Christianity would have lingered on as a sect of Judaism, which was itself a minority religion not actively seeking converts. Possibly in time Christianity would have merged back into mainstream Judaism.
Today we live in a country where worship of the one true God, is a minority activity. But we see God moving in the church, in the region, amongst the young and the old. What is driving this - I believe a new move of the Holy Spirit.
Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after his time on earth. The angels gather around him to learn all that happened during his days on earth. Jesus tells them of the miracles, his teachings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.
When he finishes his story, Michael the Archangel asks Jesus, “But what happens now?” Jesus answers, “I have left behind eleven faithful disciples and a handful of men and women who have faithfully followed me. They will declare my message and express my love. These faithful people will build my church.” “But,” responds Michael, “What if these people fail? What then is your other plan?” And Jesus answers, “I have no other plan!”
As the body of Christ we, like the apostles, are charged with the duty of preaching the Gospel. It is up to us to bring to today’s world this wonderful, glorious Gospel of love, salvation and redemption that has sustained and comforted people for 2000 years. Jesus is counting on you and me. But the good news is, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is here to melt us, mould us, fill us, and use us.
At Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak in the language their listeners needed in order for them to hear and understand. I don’t know if this was literally the ability to speak in different languages or whether the Holy Spirit was so powerful in them that the need for language was transcended, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak directly to the heart.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us find this language. We have a message to deliver - it is quite literally a life or death message - but for some reason we do not seem to be very effective in delivering it. We need to find the language that will speak to people today, that will reach out and touch their lives and their hearts. We need to do this both as individuals and collectively as a church.
If we try to do it in our own strength, we will almost certainly get it wrong. We may try to hold on to things we ought to change, or change things we ought to hold on to. We may be tempted to tell people what we think they want to hear, rather than what God knows they need to hear.
If we trust in God and let his Holy Spirit guide us, we will be able to give God’s unchanging, eternal message of love in a way that is relevant to this world.
32 This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. 33 Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear.
I know I need More of the Holy Spirit. I know I have run out of my own strength and abilities I know I want to leave a positive Kingdom Legacy - one that God can nurture in people, one that the Holy spirits works are evident in - who knows what He can do.