Pentecost (25th Anniversary of Chaplaincy at IoW NHS Trust)
NB. Talk delivered at 25th Anniversary of Chaplaincy at IoW NHS Trust on 4th June 2017
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1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. ...
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
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Witness
Background
What was Pentecost? Pentecost was a big festival celebrating the giving of the Law (10Comm) 50 days after the exodus from Egypt. It was a BIG festival still celebrated in Jesus time. Acts 2 records that 50 days after, Jesus arose from the dead God chose to give the power of the Spirit (in contrast to the Law)
This is not coincidence. God is Sovereign, at Pentecost with pin point accuracy 50 days after the resurrection when crowds of Jews are in Jerusalem to commemorate the Law the HOLY SPIRIT COMES. God is saying the Law has been impossible to keep without the ‘Helper,’ the Holy Spirit within us.
This is the new day the day of GRACE and the time of the Holy SPIRIT: Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit is like a Sat Nav, an inner spiritual navigation system!
He doesn’t just tell you the road to take, knows the road you are on and knows if there are probs coming up, trouble spots to avoid.
The conditions of your journey may change from day to day, minute by minute but God gives us his HS (in body/soul) to help us. That helper Jn 14 is the HS who as our advocate/counsellor/ comforter who works within us (behind the scenes) to help us.
During his 3 years in ministry on earth Jesus had been their helper guide, counsellor, comforter. Then Jesus promised, as soon as I return to the father in heaven, ‘I will ask the father and he will give another helper another comforter to be with you forever.’
What did he mean by another helper? Let me illustrate it this way by teaching you a bit of Greek and by looking at 3 ducks!
[Illustration 1] 1 duck another duck Heteros duck (different duck)
[Illustration 2] 1 duck another duck Allos duck – (exactly the same duck).
When Jesus says I will send another helper he said allos helper meaning exactly the same as Jesus. This HS is the Spirit of Jesus. Allos paracletos
What exactly does helper/comforter do? Greek word is parakletos
We haven’t really got a modern English word for this Greek word (parakletos). So we say helper, advocate, comforter, guide counsellor.
Illustr] Bayeux Tapestry. Embroidered Battle of Hastings. One section has Bishop Odin ‘comforts his troupes.’ When you look what he is doing, the Bishop is behind the frontline prodding them into battle.
It’s an old meaning of the word comforter. Para = beside Clete to be called. Someone you call alongside you to be with you in battle. Not someone to soothe you and say have a hug but s.one who will come along side you and prod you and say this is a battle, let’s go fwd. together, the paraclete the HS gives us power strength courage when the going gets tough.
We are not expected to do all this on our own we have the helper parakletos
If you want to know the secret of the saints that have gone before us, Peter crucified upside down, Polycarp (burnt at stake) (1980) Archbishop Romero assassinated celebrating Holy Communion, if you want to know their secret, it’s this; they had the helper, the parakletos standing with them, called alongside giving strength and courage. That same HS that is available to you & I in our tough times our battles, (not just our battles but also to share in our joys and our victories).
Jesus said those things Thur before Good Friday & Easter Sunday. Then at Pentecost 50 days after the resurrection. They were in an upper room, waiting and they heard a sound like a violent wind, this is not a natural wind, this is supernatural. Then they saw what seemed like ‘tongues of fire’ (supernatural again) rested on each. It wasn’t something from within (helper was sent)
They’d seen Jesus before, seen him risen, now they were to EXPERIENCE his POWER, v4 All of them were filled with HS (the experience was so powerful they couldn’t help but overflow & the experience of filling was so powerful that it poured over into expression [v4] they began to speak.
What about you this Pentecost day? Do you feel alone in on your battles/struggles. We have a helper, the HS. Let us ask the Lord (for the HS Sat Nav) to help, guide, counsel and comfort us.
