Life in and Through the Spirit

Same Spirit

Today is Pentecost Sunday. The day we remember how the work of the church began. It wasn’t a move of Peter, or any of the other 12. It was, and still is, a move of God through the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit has been at work in God’s creation since the beginning.

Genesis 1:2 NLT

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The Hebrew word for Spirit is Ruach. It’s translates as Spirit, Breath or WInd. That same ruach makes dry bones come to life. That same spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism. That same Spirit raised Jesus Christ from the dead. That same Spirit blew like a mighty windstorm into the upper room and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit is at work in and through the church.

Today as we come to the waters of Baptism, may the Spirit of God hover over these waters. May the Spirit of God breathe new life into our dry bones. May the wind that blew at Pentecost blow in our lives today, and may we continue the work of the Spirit empowered church.

Life in and Through the Spirit.

How did the disciples get to the Acts 2 scene? Acts 1 tells us what they were doing. There were 120 of them gathered together for a prayer meeting.

Luke 3:16 NRSV

16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises his disciples they will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The life of the church is life in and through the Holy Spirit.

I see similarities from our Acts 2 passage today and Ezekiel 37. Both have a roaring or rattling sound caused by a rushing mighty wind. Both, the dead dry bones, and the lives of the 120 people in the upper room, rose to new life in and through the Holy Spirit.

Peter stepped forward and delivered the first Spirit empowered sermon of the church. A group that numbered 120 at the beginning of Acts 2 grew through the work of the Spirit to 3,120.

Peter’s sermon pierced the hearts of those who heard. They ask Peter and the other disciples, “what must we do?”.

Acts 2:38–39 NLT

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

What had appeared to others as a collection of 120 drunk people. All of them speaking different languages so everybody could understand the good news. Was actually the work of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation. The same Spirit that descended on Christ at baptism. The same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. That same Spirit is at work today in and through the church.

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

What then should we do?

What must we do to live life in and through the Holy Spirit? Repent and be baptized, then you will receive the Holy Spirit.

An entirely sanctified, spirit filled life is a life lived in and through the Holy Spirit.

Today we come to the waters of baptism and join with Brad and Cathy as they embrace life in Christ, and rise to new life empowered by the same Spirit.

The same Spirit that brought light to the darkness of creation, is still bringing light to the darkness of our world in and through the church the people of God.

As we come to the waters lets remember our baptism together and allow the Spirit of God to blow new life into our dry bones.