The Spirit Within, The Spirit Without

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21

John 20:19-23

"The Spirit Within, the Spirit Without"

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ’And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’" Acts 2:1-21, RSV.

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."" John 20:19-23, RSV.

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the risen Christ. Amen

Yes, we are welcomed again to the Pentecost event in the Year 2004!!

"It is a time to open up to the mind-blowing, heart-warming,

life-changing power of God.

The power of God can invade the body, inflate the mind,

swell the soul, lift the Spirit and make us more than we ever imagined.

It’ll make you young when you’re old,

and it’ll make you live even when you die.

The power and presence of the Spirit will disturb, delight,

deliver and lift.

When God sends forth the Spirit,

"the whole face of the earth is renewed."

When God sends forth the Spirit

chaos is changed into creation

the Red Sea opens up to a highway of freedom.

When God sends forth the Spirit:

A young woman says "Yes".

Jesus is born and

life is never the same.

When God sends forth the Spirit amazing things happen:

barriers are broken,

communities are formed,

opposites are reconciled,

unity is established,

disease is cured,

addiction is broken,

cities are renewed,

races are reconciled,

hope is established,

people are blessed,

and church happens.

Today the Spirit of God is present

and we’re gonna have church.

So be ready, get ready...God is up to something...

discouraged folks cheer up,

dishonest folks ’fees up,

sour folks sweeten up,

closed folk, open up,

gossipers shut up,

conflicted folks make up,

sleeping folks wake up,

lukewarm folk, fire up,

dry bones shake up,

and pew potatoes stand up!