“They were all together in one place”. So begins the story of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that birthed the church. (Acts 2:1) “They” were 120 women and men, disciples of Jesus, waiting and praying in an upstairs room. In focussing on the work of the Spirit in me, personally, we can overlook the fact that the Spirit first descended upon a community of people gathered in worship and prayer. Not to an ascetic monk in prayerful solitude nor even to a hardcore “up and at em” evangelist champing at the bit to take the world singlehanded for Jesus but to a motley crew of tax collectors and fishermen sharing life together.
Of course, the Spirit in me personally brings life in Christ. Of course, the Spirit works to transform me into Christlikeness and, absolutely, the Spirit upon me empowers me for mission. There is no doubt we each need a personal Pentecost and to go on being immersed in the presence and power of the Spirit.
However, this Pentecost (Sunday 24th) as we are thinking about what it is to be church, I have been reminded of the work of the Spirit amongst us as a community. It’s been a wonderful blessing over the years at Queen’s Park to have experienced the Holy Spirit amongst us leading us into fresh experiences of God and the power of his kingdom. Sometimes it has been the gentle breath of his living presence renewing and restoring whilst at other times it’s been the disturbing, disrupting wind of change and challenge. Yet, we have much to give thanks for!
Our contemporary culture invites us to build our identity based upon our isolated, autonomous self. Our right to self-define apart from all other relationships, perspectives and realities we hold to be sacrosanct – holy! But scripture invites us to define ourselves in relation to others using interpersonal terms for who we are: brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers and above all children of God. We are who we are, and we become what we will be, in and through relationship.
So, the Spirit works to bring each of us into our true identity in union with God and communion with one another. In other words, the Spirit is always working to bind us in good and healthy ways with God and people. So, we must expect to encounter the Holy Spirit, like the 120, in our shared life together, in our prayer and praise, in our care for one another and serving with one another.
For me the New Testament has two standout pictures of church. Firstly, as a body animated and directed by the Spirit. Secondly as a holy temple constructed of living stones in which the most holy God presences himself by his Spirit.
What an astonishing privilege that the Holy God might inhabit our life together. What an amazing thing that God would make himself known through each of us as we contribute to our worship and life together
Let us welcome him amongst us this week and each week as we gather and be responsive knowing that:
“to each of us the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Cor 12:7
And so, we pray this Pentecost:
Come Holy Spirit, fill your church with your glory and grace.