The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”                 Acts 2:1-4 NIV

On May 27 we celebrate the day of Pentecost. On Pentecost, the Lord fulfilled his promise to send his Spirit, the Comforter. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus began a new era in the Christian Church. That Spirit equipped them to boldly share their faith with others. They were given all they needed to fulfill the Lord’s command to make disciples of all nations.

Between Jesus' resurrection and Pentecost, everything started to come together for the disciples. They began to see what God had been doing and was still doing in their midst. Each disciple had been guilty of deserting the Lord of life. They had failed to stand by him during his trial. But after his resurrection, he appeared to them and pronounced his forgiveness which he had won on the cross. His acceptance and love, even in the face of their sin, was almost unbelievable.

Then came the day of Pentecost. There was the "sound of a mighty wind" and all heaven broke loose! They experienced the breaking through of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit gave to each disciple a deep understanding of their own forgiveness by Jesus. They went on to boldly proclaim this good news to people everywhere.

That day of Pentecost is still on us. In our Baptism, through the Word, and in the Lord’s Supper we are richly equipped with God’s Holy Spirit to know Jesus’ forgiveness and renewal in our own life. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God gives us the will and the desire to share this good news of Jesus with others. I see that happening in many ways, every week, by the members of our congregation and our Preschool staff. People are coming to know Jesus through you. And that is because God’s Holy Spirit is working in you. All heaven is breaking loose at Our Savior, too!

-- Pastor Rob