Day 73 | Sunday, 31 May 2020 The Day of Pentecost

Day 73  |  Sunday, 31 May 2020             
The Day of Pentecost

 The assigned scriptures for Pentecost Sunday are: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 and John 7:37-39.

 This is it.  This is the day Jesus promised his disciples at his ascension.  The day has come when the promised counselor has arrived.  God – the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Trinity has arrived and filled the disciples with the power to continue the ministry and mission Jesus began.  How is the Holy Spirit working in your life?

Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost
2 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. 5 There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. 7 They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? 8 How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” 12 They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” 13 Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”                                   
14 Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! 15 These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! 16 Rather, this is what was spoken through 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 will see visions.
    Your elders will dream dreams.
18     Even upon my servants, men and women,
        I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
        and they will prophesy.
19 I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed into darkness,
    and the moon will be changed into blood,
        before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 “Spirit of the living God fall afresh on your people.  May the world know your desire for all people to praise and give thanks. In our differences, bring unity; in our lethargy, bring life; in our despair, bring hope! Surprising God, generous God, your Spirit is among us, sending us into new adventures, opening new doors, exploring possibility beyond our dreams.  May we be a people filled with the desire to respond, with the energy for your purpose, for the centeredness that only your Spirit can bring. Grant us new life in the Spirit this very day, we pray! Amen.” (Sourcebook of Worship Resources Vol 3. Page 187)
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 Today: Thank God for the gift of His Holy Spirit; pray for calmness and justice in our country.