Pentecost this Weekend! Two most significant events in the history and foundation of the Christian faith are remembered at Christmas and Easter.

The former focuses upon the virgin birth of Jesus, the divine son of God, and the latter upon Jesus’s atoning work for the sins of all humanity through his death on the cross and his glorious resurrection three days later.

A third very significant event occurred 50 days after Jesus’s crucifixion. This was the outpouring by God of his divine Holy Spirit – which historical event is known as Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit into the world and into the life of every believer in the work of Jesus is vital to the life of faith of every such believer. The Holy Spirit is God himself taking up residence in a human being.

One major consequence of this is that the Spirit enables the believer to live a new life. This is a life characterised by a right relationship with all people, an inner peace and freedom from turmoil, and a deep joy, whatever the circumstances of life. A second major consequence is that the indwelling Holy Spirit shapes the believer into the moral likeness of Jesus, the integrity of whose life morals is beyond question.

These two major consequences have brought about powerful change for good in the lives of many individuals and even whole communities.

 

BY GEORGE JARVIS
Airedale Church