Occasional thoughts

On Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost and my mind has been thinking around it in recent days, and my thoughts have gone in a number of different directions. I share a few below which you may care to read.

Over the years and centuries it seems that some have discovered the reality of the Holy Spirit as if it is some new revelation and in some cases have felt the need to separate into another denomination. In recent years I have been using some Catholic bible reading notes called Bible Alive. There are times when I read something that I cannot accept but for the most part they are very helpful and challenging. One of the things that has struck me is the emphasis in these notes is the emphasis on the person and work of The Holy Spirit. This should not have surprised me but it did. Most of us will have heard people who speak in tongues either in prayer or prophecy/ministry and for some it will be your personal experience. Have you ever experienced somebody singing in tongues/ singing in the Spirit. I have twice and the person singing in this way was a dyed in the wool Catholic Deacon.

I have never spoken in tongues. Many, many years ago I was part of a house group of about 10 people where I was the only one not blessed with this gift of tongues. One evening I sat in prayer and asked God for this gift. Unusually for me I had Him speak very clearly to me. His response was to ask why I wanted the gift; was it for His glory or mine. I heard very clearly that if I could answer it in the right way I just had to open my mouth and the gift was mine. I didn’t and from that day to this I have never felt the need of it.

This brings me to my third thought. There is in some sections of the Church a great emphasis on the Gifts Of The Spirit as recorded in 1 Corinthians12. They clearly are important and above all is the gift that is majored in in 1 Corinthians 13 and that is Love. Many years ago, a Pastor from the Elim Church was invited to speak at a Methodist Church meeting about The Holy Spirit. I think she surprised us all by speaking on theme that the Fruits of the Spirit set out in Galatian 5 22&23. I would guess that was 25 or more years ago but it stays with me.

My final point for today relates to the above. Four years ago I was asked about Pentecost by a man who had been very confused by a sermon we had heard. We spoke about it and I said that I would try and put some thoughts on paper that he could look at at his leisure. After a few days I wrote the following and have never been sure if it was helpful to him or not.

9.  Gifts & Fruits

1.    Pentecost has been on my mind

But as I try, I cannot find

The words I want, so I’ll step back

And move along a different track

2.    The gifts of the Holy Spirit

Are there for us to inherit

As God determines He will give

To guide us in the lives we live.

3.    First Corinthians and chapter twelve

Is where we find them when we delve

The spirit brings gifts as we know

And he brings fruits that have to grow

4.    God confers His gifts as we need

to share his grace where he will lead.

Without some we may feel losers

But He will give as He chooses

5.    The fruits are there for one and all

who respond to the Saviour’s call,

open their lives to the Spirit,

open their hearts and let Him fill it.

6.    Want to know if they are for you?

Galatians five verse twenty-two

God will nurture, His fruits will grow

His love, joy, peace will start to show

Be blessed in the season of Pentecost and may you receive what God know is right for you.

Tony Richmond