Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
May/June 2005

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Pentecostal Reflections

by Graham Pulham

It was the gift that marked the birth of the Church. The gift that was the launching pad of the Church's worldwide mission. The Father's gift of the Holy Spirit – also identified as 'the Spirit of Jesus'. It was a gift received by all who gathered in the upper room (Acts 2: 3-4). His presence came upon and filled each of the twelve apostles including Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, John the beloved, Matthias – who had only recently been added to their number – and Andrew, the first whom Jesus had called. He came and filled Mary the mother of Jesus and all the other women gathered together in that place. He came and filled Jesus' brothers who themselves – prior to His resurrection – had not believed in Him (John 7:5). There were no exceptions. The Holy Spirit, 'the Spirit of Jesus', came and filled all who now believed in Him.

"In the last days," God had promised, "I will pour out my spirit on all people." This pouring out and filling, this 'circumcision of the heart', (Romans 2:29) would be the new identity mark of God's people and it began at Pentecost.

And Jesus' promise to His followers 2000 years ago remains valid for each and every follower today. Then as now there are no exceptions to the promise that He will come into each and every believer's life. A promise, as Peter proclaimed, that "is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call," (Acts 2:39). To every follower of Jesus Christ God gives His promised gift, the Holy Spirit, 'Christ in you'.

On that first Pentecost He came in dramatic fashion, "with a sound like the blowing of a violent wind" with the appearance of "what seemed to be like tongues of fire", (Acts 2:2-3). He came in such a way as to declare unmistakably that God was doing a new and wondrous thing. Even today an individual's receiving or filling may be dramatic, even alarming. But for most it seems God is content to work in quieter more subtle ways. The reasons for this lie in the wisdom and sovereignty of God and not in the spiritual (or other) merit of the individual. Our confidence and assurance as Christians is to rest upon His promise that, "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Acts 2:21). It's the changed, Christ-like life, the fruit that we bear, that is the true witness to the fact of salvation – not the kind or quality of our 'conversion experience'.

But let's not throw the baby out with the bath water! The dramatic does happen. It's very scriptural and God be praised if it's happened to you! Such was the experience that first Pentecost and the world would never be the same again as the followers of Jesus were empowered also to be the proclaimers of Jesus. Proclaimers in life, word and deed. And that remains the commission of each and every follower of Jesus; to go into the world (even Barnes!) for God; to go that all may have the opportunity to hear of and accept His forgiveness and love; to go that others too may receive His life-giving, life-changing Holy Spirit.

"I will pour out my spirit on all people" says the Lord, "and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Could not the gift that marked the birth of the Church in Jerusalem 2000 years ago also be the gift that marks an on-going, Christ-centred, Christian witness in Barnes? God is willing. Are we?

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