Contemplation #151
“Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophecy.” Acts 2:18
In quoting Joel to explain the Spirit’s descent on Pentecost, Peter chooses a passage that speaks about “prophecy” and not “tongues.” The emphasis is not on that the disciples were speaking other languages, but what they were saying- “we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own language.” Being “Pentecostal” should be about the message, and not the method. In the tradition of the disciples on Pentecost we become those who explain the world from the viewpoint of faith. We reinterpret the criminal conviction of a peasant carpenter as the divine purpose that won the redemption of humanity. We show how the hand of God is at work in what seems meaningless, and without faith, will remain so.
Contemplation #152
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” Acts 2:33
The descent of the Spirit on the people of God is a gift of the Son to enable us to be what we could never become without this grace. This gift comes with purpose and our responsibility. Our work of receiving the Spirit with all humility is the proper response of thankfulness. But we ask, what will receiving this Spirit mean? Repentance. The first place that the Spirit calls us to is to abandon all that we have been, have trusted in, have hoped for, and how we have thought of ourselves, so to prepare and open us to the ways of God. The Spirit has been poured out on us to make us like God by filling us with God.
Contemplation #153
“Those who accepted his message . . .” Acts 2:41
The message was simple: Jesus is the messiah, and now raised from the dead has poured out the Spirit of God to change us into people of his messianic reign. Those who accepted this message adopted a new lifestyle defined by the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, holy communion, and prayer. We should note that these practices are the very core of spiritual formation. The Spirit shapes us through apostolic teaching, communal life, communion with Christ, and the discipline of prayer. Our persistent participation in these shaping-activities is how we continue in the way of Pentecost.
“Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophecy.” Acts 2:18
In quoting Joel to explain the Spirit’s descent on Pentecost, Peter chooses a passage that speaks about “prophecy” and not “tongues.” The emphasis is not on that the disciples were speaking other languages, but what they were saying- “we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own language.” Being “Pentecostal” should be about the message, and not the method. In the tradition of the disciples on Pentecost we become those who explain the world from the viewpoint of faith. We reinterpret the criminal conviction of a peasant carpenter as the divine purpose that won the redemption of humanity. We show how the hand of God is at work in what seems meaningless, and without faith, will remain so.
Contemplation #152
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” Acts 2:33
The descent of the Spirit on the people of God is a gift of the Son to enable us to be what we could never become without this grace. This gift comes with purpose and our responsibility. Our work of receiving the Spirit with all humility is the proper response of thankfulness. But we ask, what will receiving this Spirit mean? Repentance. The first place that the Spirit calls us to is to abandon all that we have been, have trusted in, have hoped for, and how we have thought of ourselves, so to prepare and open us to the ways of God. The Spirit has been poured out on us to make us like God by filling us with God.
Contemplation #153
“Those who accepted his message . . .” Acts 2:41
The message was simple: Jesus is the messiah, and now raised from the dead has poured out the Spirit of God to change us into people of his messianic reign. Those who accepted this message adopted a new lifestyle defined by the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, holy communion, and prayer. We should note that these practices are the very core of spiritual formation. The Spirit shapes us through apostolic teaching, communal life, communion with Christ, and the discipline of prayer. Our persistent participation in these shaping-activities is how we continue in the way of Pentecost.
posted by Greg at 11:02 AM
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