By Revd. Fr. Udo J. M. Iwuji, SDV
Preamble
Before the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost, there is usually the celebration of the Solemnity of the Asension of the Lord {Jesus’ return to the Father}. And when Jesus was about to go to the Father, He told His disciples that He would not leave them orphans. He would send another Advocate to be with them. It was the Holy Spirit that He promised them. “Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.” {John 16:7} Jesus saw it necessary for the Holy Spirit to come and live in followers. The need to be sealed with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it is important because, “…unless the human mind drinks in the gift of the Spirit by Faith, it will have the nature for understanding God but it will not have the light of knowledge. {St. Hilary}. It is the Holy Spirit that will lead us into the truth. ‘You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free’
This Solemnity, as we celebrate it, marks the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles {Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2}. This day marks 50 days after Easter Sunday. In the early Church, Pentecost covered the whole period of 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. During this period no fasting was allowed. Prayers and songs were offered standing. Alleluia was very often sung. The name Pentecost, was originally given to the Jewish “festival of weeks”, which fell on the 50th day after the Passover when the first fruits of harvests of the year were offered to the Lord {Deuteronomy. 16:9}. Later on, in the practice of Judaism {religion of the Jews}, the feast was celebrated to mark the anniversary of the giving of the Law to Moses. For the Jews, the Pentecost was primarily agricultural, social and religious national festival of thanksgiving and of petition for the blessings from God.
It was on that day of the Jewish festival that the Disciples of Christ gathered in Jerusalem when suddenly the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the visible and audible signs of heavenly gifts. The disciples who had been in fear then burst out of their hiding place in courage and boldness. They spoke and were understood in languages diverse from their own native Galelian Aramaic. Convinced by the power of Peter’s proclamation, the hearers showed remorse for their sins. And they become converted thus the first generation of Christians – 3000 of them being then baptized. With this the firs, Christian Church was born in Jerusalem about the year 35 A.D.
Commemorating the Solemnity of the Holy Spirt {the Pentecost} we invoke that same spirit to vivify us {to animate us, etc}. we call to mind that, Vivify means to bring new life, energy, or excitement to something. It is a verb derived from the Latin root vivus {meaning “alive”}
Spirit of the living God fall afresh on US AND Revive us
There is this popular song attributed to Daniel Iverson {1890-1977}. It is believed that he wrote this chorus after hearing a sermon at an evangelistic revival meeting in Florida, USA. History has it that Iverson was a Presbyterian minister serving congregations in several Southern states. Then song is: –
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
If we allow the spirit of the living God to fall afresh on us, to melt us, to mold us and to use us it will be crystal clear even to the blind because that same spirit will Empower and commissions us to be witnesses of Jesus; helps to pray and makes us able to worship God. The Holy Spirit will give ss supernatural gifts; bound us as a family; anoints and empowers us for a Mission. Indeed, to Live Holy Life, we Need the Holy Spirit. Indeed, we all need the Holy Spirit because: –
I. The Holy Spirit Empowers And Commissions us to be Witnesses of Jesus
In the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” {John 20:19-22}
One of the reasons the Holy Spirit came is to give us power and supernatural boldness to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ. This supernatural boldness will enable the believer to have overcome fear and timidity. The person will be very courageous to speak out about Christ without fear. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses …” {Acts 1:8} Many people are afraid to speak about Jesus. They often believe they are unqualified. But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. {John 15: 26-27} If we ignore the Holy Spirit, then how can we possibly be good witnesses for Jesus?
II. The Holy Spirit Helps to Pray And Makes Us Able to Worship God
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. {Romans 8:21}
As Christians, we have the privilege of being able to enter into the presence of God through worship. Sadly, many people get easily bored or are not interested in worshipping God. True worship is supernatural so it can only be accomplished with the help of the Holy Spirit. “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.” {John 4:23} If you want to have true communion with God, feel His presence and be lost in worship, ask the Holy Spirit to help you worship.
III. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Supernatural Gifts
No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. {Corinthians 12:3}. The Christian life is supernatural. Every believer has been given a supernatural gift by the Holy Spirit. Think about it! The Holy Spirit has given you a spiritual, supernatural manifestation ranging from the unique abilities to serve, heal, prophesy, and teach effectively. And even providing internal strength to face persecution, trials, and cultural opposition. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” {I Corinthians 12:4-11}. Unfortunately, most Christians never use their gifts. Which gift do you have? If you don’t know, ask God to activate the gifts in you and to provide circumstances where your gifting will come out. you need to, “bloom where you are planted”. You need the Holy Spirit to work effectively because it is in discovering your gift and vocation that you can live a fulfilled life.
IV. The Holy Spirit Will bound Us As a Family
We need the Holy Spirit as to remove ourselves from neo paganism {Osu/Nwafo Issue}, For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit {I Corinthians 12:12-13}.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. {I Corinthians 12:14-26} How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live in unity {Ps. 133: 1-2}
V. The Holy Spirit Anoints And Empowers Us For a Mission
One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to anoint and empower us for a Mission {purpose}. The anointing is a supernatural empowerment to do the will of God. And it comes in various forms. That is why it is called Charisima – “GIFT OF GRACE”. It can be a grace for business, for service, for vision, for prayer, for social or religious ministry, for scientific ministry, for any area in life. The anointing and empowerment guarantee success. Remember the challenges of Apostles of the Lord during their early ministry. They suffered many things and even went to stand for queries before the Sanhedrin. Herein, the intervention and advice of the Pharisee man who doubles as a teacher of the law by name Gamaliel merits our, “For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him {Acts 5: 39-40}.
Jesus’ ministry was empowered by the anointing of the Spirit. Indeed, He was the anointed of the Lord. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…” {Isiah 61:1} have you ever asked yourself the question, am I set aside like Jesus? If you answer yes then still ask for what purpose/ for what mission? Do you know what God has anointed you for? When you find your purpose, you will find your anointing. Remember, “In the absence of purpose, life becomes an endless journey to nowhere”- Seneca the Young.
It is time that we stop ignoring the Holy Spirit and ask Him to actively participate in our lives. Jesus sent Him because we need Him. Let us ask for forgiveness and pray that the Spirit of God lead us to all truth.
VI. To Live Holy Life, we Need the Holy Spirit
It is a statement of fact that, living a holy life requires the Holy Spirit because human strength alone cannot overcome sinful desires. The Spirit transforms believers by giving them the power to resist temptation, guiding them into truth, and producing the righteous character of Christ in their daily lives. There is no gainsaying that the Holy Spirit empowers and sustains a consecrated lifestyle in several distinct ways: Power over Sin: The Spirit infuses divine strength into our human weaknesses, enabling us to walk in victory and turn away from sinful habits; Conviction and Guidance: He convicts the heart of wrongdoing and reminds believers of God’s truth, helping you make decisions that honor God; Spiritual Fruit: As you yield to Him, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control within you; Inner Transformation: True holiness is an inside-out work. The Spirit changes your desires so that pursuing God’s will becomes a joyful response rather than a burden. Indeed, relying on human willpower alone often leads to burnout and frustration. By actively relying on the Spirit through prayer and daily surrender, you open your life to His divine energy and direction. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. {Galatians 5: 16-25}
Finally
We conclude with this hymn of the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey: –
Come, Holy Spirit, live in us
With God the Father and the Son,
And grant us your abundant grace
To sanctify and make us one.
May mind and tongue made strong in love
Your praise throughout the world proclaim,
And may that love within our hearts
Set fire to others with its flame.
Most blessèd Trinity of love,
For whom the heart of man was made,
To you be praise in timeless song,
And everlasting homage paid.
As “The brilliant spring rains helped to vivify the parched garden.” We pray that the outpouring power of the Holy Spirit which Jesus sent to us through His father will renew us, rejuvenate us, and animate us, Amen
Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us.