Words by our Priest-in-Charge:

The Promise of the Father

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,” which, “He said, ” you have heard from Me; (Acts 1:4)

Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:33)

As we remember Pentecost today, which according to the Jewish calender, fell on 15 May 2013 this year. Pentecost reminds us of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on man. Many would consider that at Pentecost right after the resurrection of Jesus, the church was birthed. The Holy Spirit was poured out and the evidence was obvious. Significantly, along with that outpour, hearts were convicted of sins, lives were converted towards Jesus. It was clear what man could not do with persuasive words, God did it through His Holy Spirit.

We in the church today welcome the Holy Spirit in our lives along with His power and manifestation. He comes to bring revelation to us and comfort to our souls, strength to our spirits. Although there are different views in respect of the ministry and manifestation of the Holy Spirit, one thing we all would agree – we need the Holy spirit in our lives to help us to walk in righteousness.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is more than just God empowering us for righteous living. It is, as Jesus and Peter described in Acts 1 and 2, the Promise of the Father. It is a gift from the FATHER. It is not so much the value of the gift, but the Giver Himself. The Giver is our Father, a Father who would not give us anything that is undesirable or unnecessary or not good (Luke 11:13). God is the Father who gives out of love for His children. The purpose of giving the Gift of the Holy Spirit is so that we might know the Father’s love, so that we might come into an intimate relationship with Him. It is not primarily to enable us to “do things”, not even “anointed for ministry”, but filled so that we might be full and satisfied by drinking from the Father’s hands.

So, on this day. May we the Children of God through Jesus Christ, ask for the infilling of His Holy Spirit afresh. As we need the Father’s love to envelop us, to sustain us and nourish our spirits, so we need the Holy Spirit constantly working in us and through us.

Blessed Pentecost!