On Sunday 24th May we celebrate the Birthday of the Church. Not an anniversary of Christ Church, Strabane, but the birthday of the World Wide Church. We all are members of an historic organisation which is almost 2000 years old, and it all started in Jerusalem.
In the Book of Acts chapter 2 we read about the day of Pentecost, where the disciples where all gathered together in the Upper Room. Suddenly something remarkable and transforming happened. A sound like the blowing of a violent wind filled the whole house and what seemed to be tongues of fire came to rest upon each of the disciples. They where filled with the Holy Spirit and each of them were equipped with gifts which enabled them to work for God.
On this same day, Peter stood up in Jerusalem and preached a sermon which lead to 3000 people placing their trust in the Lord Jesus. Luke, the writer of Acts, goes on to describe how the new believers met together for prayer, fellowship and teaching, to break bread (share in the Holy Communion), and to worship God. Everyday since, the Church has continued to grow - ‘the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved’.
The wonders of the Holy Spirit did not begin and end on the Day of Pentecost, and was not a one off move of God. The Holy Spirit continues to move and work among the members of the Church, equipping us with the gifts necessary to work for God. Everyone, who like the 3000 people in Jerusalem, who places their trust in the Lord Jesus, has a role to play. We all have gifts which are given to us by God and the Holy Spirit enables us to use them.
The old Latin Hymn Veni Creator, which is usually sung at ordinations, contains a prayer. This prayer invites the Holy Spirit to enter into each of us and give us the gifts which we need to work for God. Let me encourage you to make this hymn your own personal prayer, so that each of us can work for the Glory of God and the good of His church.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
In the Book of Acts chapter 2 we read about the day of Pentecost, where the disciples where all gathered together in the Upper Room. Suddenly something remarkable and transforming happened. A sound like the blowing of a violent wind filled the whole house and what seemed to be tongues of fire came to rest upon each of the disciples. They where filled with the Holy Spirit and each of them were equipped with gifts which enabled them to work for God.
On this same day, Peter stood up in Jerusalem and preached a sermon which lead to 3000 people placing their trust in the Lord Jesus. Luke, the writer of Acts, goes on to describe how the new believers met together for prayer, fellowship and teaching, to break bread (share in the Holy Communion), and to worship God. Everyday since, the Church has continued to grow - ‘the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved’.
The wonders of the Holy Spirit did not begin and end on the Day of Pentecost, and was not a one off move of God. The Holy Spirit continues to move and work among the members of the Church, equipping us with the gifts necessary to work for God. Everyone, who like the 3000 people in Jerusalem, who places their trust in the Lord Jesus, has a role to play. We all have gifts which are given to us by God and the Holy Spirit enables us to use them.
The old Latin Hymn Veni Creator, which is usually sung at ordinations, contains a prayer. This prayer invites the Holy Spirit to enter into each of us and give us the gifts which we need to work for God. Let me encourage you to make this hymn your own personal prayer, so that each of us can work for the Glory of God and the good of His church.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
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