Pentecost

The Church was given birth through the action of the Holy Spirit who energized the disciples as they waited together in worship and prayer. Our birthday sermon can be found here.

The Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon once wrote “Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. As an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted.”

Our direction and our energy are both dependent upon the action of God’s Spirit working in, through and around our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, Christian life degenerates into a hard slog to attain unreachable ideals. Without the action of God’s Spirit inspiring us and renewing us we maintain a graceless existence.

John’s gospel describes the Holy Spirit’s work as being ‘Living Water’. Already this summer here in Long Island we are experiencing high temperatures and our weather broadcasts are issuing warnings to stay hydrated and seek the shade.

If we feel our Christian life has become dry and lifeless, maybe we need to seek a Holy Ghost refreshing! How do we do that? Through prayer. Through meditating on God’s Word. Through worship, alone and in the company of others. Through reminding ourselves that every day we live, we live in the shadow of an Almighty God whose love is for us in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, today we seek the refreshing wind of Your Holy Spirit to blow upon our lives. Remind us that our strength lies not in what we can achieve, but in what Your grace can do in us and through us. Fill us with Your Spirit this day. Amen.