Holy Spirit On Pentecost

Pentecost is a Greek name for Shavuot,the spring harvest festival of the Israelites,which was going on when the Holy spirit came.The disciples were together in Jerusalem after Jesus Resurrection and return to haven,fearful because he had left them. Pentecost which is celebrated on the seventh sunday (50 days) after Easter,commemorates the descent of the Holy spirit upon the twelve Apostles in the presence of mother Mary and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of weeks,as described in the Acts of Apostles.

The coming of the Holy Spirit,Acts.2:1-4 " When the day of pentecost had come,they were all together in one place.And suddenly from heaven there came a sound  like the rush of a violent wind,and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.Divided tongues,as of fire,appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages,as the Spirit gave them ability."

There are three instances described in the Bible where people received the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost " they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Whereas others wondered what happened Peter knew what happened. He said " this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel where God said "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." No one had to tell him that he had received the Holy Spirit.

In Acts.10:44-46 " While peter was still speaking,the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God." In 19:6 "When Paul had laid his hands on them,the Holy Spirit came upon them,and they spoke in tongues and prophesied." 

In the liturgical services of the feast of pentecost,the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated together with the full revelation of the divine Trinity: Father,Son,and the Holy Spirit. The fulness of the Godhead is manifested with the spirit's coming to man.

Who gets the Holy Spirit?. Anyone can ask for and receive Holy Spirit into their heart as their helper and guide to the truth. God willingly gives to all who obey Him,who seek to be disciples of Jesus and follow him on the way He opened through the flesh by the power of Holy Spirit.Acts.5:32 " And we are witness to these things,and so it is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." But it is what you do through the spirit once He dwells in you that changes your life.

Rom.6:16 " Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,you are slaves of the one whom you obey,either of sin,which leads to death,or of obedience,which leads to righteousness?. The role of the Holy Spirit is to show you truth-the sin in your flesh that needs to be eradicated, and give you the power you need to overcome sin." Again Rom.8:12-13 

"So then,brothers and sisters,we are debtors,not to the flesh,to live according to the flesh,you will die;but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,you will live."

The great vespers of pentecost features three long prayers at which the faithful kneel for the first time since Easter.To receive Holy Spirit,Trinity is one and the same. Father is the creator and not the created;Son is the created and not the creator. Holy spirit start from the Father,taken from the Son and at the same time equal to the Father.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Devotional happiness jesus Our God

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Selfless Love And Peace

In the Christian way of life, peace comes through fellowship with God and daily growth, advancement in spiritual things which brings stability. A relaxed mental attitude, orientation to plan of God, occupation with Christ,and the ability to employ.

Jn.14:27 " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." There are 429 times the word used in The Holy Bible.

  

We all want peace: peace of mind, peace of the family and community, between countries, peace with our environment.  There is scarcely any one who does not yearn for peace. But how many of us are prepared to pay the price of peace, Love.

Love for Enemies: Mtt.5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said. 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I  say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

We need to love each other; have compassion and be prepared to sacrifice for one another and work for togetherness and peace. Love and peace will see all people united by the bonds of brotherhood, moving onward, forward, Godward. 

Godward,I say.For God and religion cannot and ought not to be kept out of this vision, even though people tend to discredit religion these days.  It is not religion that has failed us, it is we who have failed religion. We only speak religion, we don't bear witness to it in deeds of daily living, to the teachings of the great prophets. It is life that is needed, not words.

Eph. 4:2-3 " With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." It shows the unity in the body of Christ.

You may recite prayers, chant hymns and sing songs of praise; you may read from the scriptures and frequent places of worship but if you do not imbibe at least some of the wisdom, are you may write wonderful commentaries on the Bible or any other world scriptures, but if you do not reflect the wisdom of those scriptures in word and action,how are you any better than a desktop printer.

Jesus says,Mtt.5:9 " Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." he does not tell us how to become a son of God. He simply says that sons of God are in fact peacemakers. People who are peacemakers will be recognised as the sons of God at the judgment and they will be called what they are and welcomed into the Father's house.

The world today needs peacemakers, not those who merely talk of peace but those who carry peace within and transmit it to those around them. 

Selfless love is prepared to sacrifice and selfless is love is that when other person's happiness is more than yours. Let me share with you a story of selfless love. A businessman came out of his office in a high race commercial centre and crossed the street to get into his mercedes car. His driver was holding the door open for him.The man was about to get in when he saw a little boy gazing wistfully at the gleaming automobile.

Moved, the man said to the boy, "Would you like to come for a drive with me" The child's eyes lit up with excitement and he said: Thank you sir, I would love nothing better. And off they went, the man and the boy,seated comfortably at the rear and the driver at the wheel, unable to believe what was happening.

The boy ask "How much did this car cost." the boy blurted out, his eyes wide open with wonder. I don't know, said the man,flushed with embarrassment. "You see, it was a gift from my older brother". exclaimed the boy.

Where would you like to go? asked the man,after a while. I will get dropped home,said the boy eagerly. We live close by, in a hutment near the station.

Soon they reached the station. The car stopped in front of the sprawling slum. The boy turned to the man eagerly and said, Sir,could you wait here for just a few minutes. The man nodded. The boy got down from the car and vanished into the slum. But he was back in a few minutes and in his arms he carried a severely disabled child."

Look my younger brother, look this is the big beautiful car that sahib's brother gifted him" the boy told the child. "I wish to be like that brother! Then I could buy you such a car when you grow up.

The boy waved goodbye and the car moved away. Inside the plush car the rich businessman sat in stupefied silence. At long last he said to the driver, "He did not want a car like this for himself. He wanted to give it to his brother".

Build love among us.True love is selfless. And such love can bring about lasting peace.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Devotional Good Thoughts happiness jesus Motivation Perfection

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