SUMMER REBOOT – this podcast was originally published in “Prayer Week”, on 9 November 2018.
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Hi, it’s Mick here and welcome to today’s Podcast on this Friday of our Prayer Week here at STC. I do so hope your week has gone well and these short podcasts have blessed your week. As we end this week we now see the fruit of all the persistent prayer of those early disciples in Acts 1. Today, the Holy Spirit breaks in on the day of Pentecost!
Acts 2:1-4:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
REFLECTION:
Today’s Bible reading is one of the most dramatic passages in the whole Bible, Acts 2:1-4, the birth of the church! Lots of imagery here! Rushing winds and tongues of fire … Luke, the writer, is trying to describe what in some ways is indescribable.
STC is a very exciting church to be part of in so many ways but there are times when I find it especially exciting; not the times of testimony or healings or salvations which are great; not even the fantastic worship or teaching which are truly amazing – as someone once said ‘it’s like being at a Christian conference every Sunday!’ The really exciting times for me, and Tricia, is when new babies are born! – we love babies at STC and thankfully they arrive on a regular basis. Babies are a picture of our future potential; babies are an expression of God’s love to his world; not all are called to have babies but as community we are all called to care for babies. Babies are amazing and a great way to grow the church!
Question: how do you describe the birth of a baby? You can state the facts – midwife, birthing pools, etc. – but they just don’t capture the real heart of what’s going on at a birth. The emotion, the energy, the noise, the mess(!), the miracle – hard to describe isn’t it! You will also get different versions of the birth. I was present at the birth of all of our three children (all grown up now with children of their own) but my version of events will be somewhat different to that of Tricia my wife. Now, to be clear, I wasn’t just spectating, I was involved – basically holding Tricia’s hand and reciting breathing exercises, but my ‘involvement’ was nothing compared to that of my wonderful wife. But I did get tea and toast afterwards!
At such dramatic and emotional times you often hear people say this: ‘it’s hard to fully describe what was happening at the birth – it was just so amazing!’ Well, that’s exactly what’s happening here in Acts2:1-4! At the heart of this Bible passage is our key verse for today ‘all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v4) It’s the Holy Spirit again … He is around in every one of this week’s Bible readings – he is the divine thread running through this story of the beginning of the early church. He is still the divine thread we need in our lives and churches today.
This coming Sunday is Vision Sunday here at STC Sheffield. It is one of the GREAT Sundays in our church year. It’s a time when as individuals and as a church community we hear the vision for next year – Join us and Grow; our Godly Purpose for 2019. We then make our commitment to that Godly purpose with our time, talents and money – but more than these, we commit our whole being as best we can to see this vision come to reality. To stand up for what is right and good. To live generous lives putting others before ourselves. To invite others to join us, as his church in this great adventure called the Kingdom of God, and that our ordinary lives would make a difference in this world – a world which so needs the love of Christ.
It is possible to see change in our society. I believe that change is not primarily political or economic or social or cultural but spiritual. For this to happen we need the Holy Spirit to challenge the status quo in the world and the church as he did 2000 years ago; to release new birth and to bring us close to Jesus every day. This Sunday at STC at our three church Gatherings we will invite the Holy Spirit to meet with us afresh, to inspire us to achieve even greater things for him in our day, to leave a lasting Godly legacy for our children and grandchildren and to live each day in his peace and with his passion as we ask our family and friends, our colleagues and neighbours to Join Us and Grow in 2019 – exciting days ahead!
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your worldwide church. Thank you that after 2000 years it’s still here worshipping you and serving the world. Thank you for our amazing church family here at STC. Today, I receive you afresh into my life; fill me now with your Holy Spirit that I may love you more dearly and follow you more nearly in the days to come. Amen
READING: Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.