Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1–21 and John 20:19–23
Informed observers point out that there are two great religious currents or movements in the world today. One is the rise of radical Islam, of which we are all aware. The other, much less noticed, is the rapid growth of Pentecostalism. This goes under our radar, and we don’t see it discussed in the media, but there is a great movement of the Holy Spirit across the world today. The Spirit’s fire is currently blazing its way across Africa, South Korea, Latin America, and in other places too, and people’s lives are being transformed.
We, in Western Europe, are so used to hearing about declining numbers, church closures, doubt and loss of faith, that we may miss the fact that we are living in an age of very vital Christian faith. Indeed, this is one of the great ages of Christian evangelism and spiritual revival.
There have been many revivals in history. The Welsh revival of 1904, lasted only for about a year, but 100,000 people were converted. The East African Revival of the 1930s began in an Anglican mission in Rwanda and spread throughout eastern and central Africa during the 40s and 50s. The Pentecostal movement of today traces its origins to 9th April 1906 to a meeting in Azusa Street Los Angeles. A group were praying when suddenly they felt something like a bolt of lightning knocking them all to the floor. They spoke in tongues and praised God. News of this spread quickly, large crowds gathered, and their meetings had to be held outside in the open air. I wonder, does this sound reminiscent of something you have heard before?
Of course it does - on the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples were all together in one place when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in other languages. Crowds gathered, Peter preached and gave the first ever altar call, and about 3,000 people were added to their number that very day.
The details of the Spirit’s presence were different: in Azusa Street it seemed like a bolt of lightning, at Pentecost it was something like the sound of a wind, something like tongues of fire – something like those things, but obviously not quite those things – words were inadequate to describe it. Anyway, the details don’t matter – the Spirit blows where God wills, in the ways God chooses. The important point is that the Spirit’s presence was evidenced by changed lives and not by any particular spiritual fireworks.
God has lost none of his energy since the day of Pentecost. God’s enthusiasm for the task has never waned, His Spirit is alive and active and still transforming souls. So, why are many of our churches in decline, and not thriving? The reasons are complicated and go back a long way and are not the subject of a sermon. What I can do this morning is point you to something Jesus said.
‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water’ (John 7:37–39). He is talking here about the Holy Spirit who brings spiritual refreshment and new life to individuals and to communities. So, the question that needs an answer is: ‘Am I, are we thirsty, are we thirsty for Jesus’ rivers of living water to flow through us?’
If we are thirsty to experience signs and wonders, the whiz bangs of the Spirit, I think we’ll be disappointed. God does not give his Spirit for our own gratification or selfish pride. There’s got to be a better reason. John Stott, Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, who died in 2011, had a profound teaching ministry appreciated the world over. Shortly before he died, he wrote this, ‘I want to share with you where my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth. It is this: God wants his people to become like Christ, for Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God.’
But what would Christ-likeness look like for you or me? For starters it would be a life of costly, loving service to others. A life shorn of conceit and dishonesty, that opposed corruption and falsehood, that affirmed the down-trodden and never used people for its own ends. It would be a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. These are the characteristics that St Paul calls the fruit of the Holy Spirit that the Spirit comes to grow in our lives to make us more like Jesus on our attitudes and actions.
That’s why the Spirit has been given, that’s what we need to be thirsty for. For some that may possibly be accompanied by signs and wonders (who knows, that’s up to God), but for all of us it will mean changed lives – the only authentic mark of the Spirit’s presence. What greater witness to the world could there be than that! What greater hope for the world could there be than that!
In today’s reading Jesus speaks of the Spirit as ‘another Counsellor’ whom the Father will send to be with us, and in us. The Spirit of truth, the Spirit of Jesus, nurturing his fruit in our lives. That makes us all Pentecostalist, whether we like the title or not!
So, why are the churches in the west declining? Perhaps, it’s not so complicated after all – perhaps we are just not thirsty enough to drink of the living water which Jesus offers us all - to transform our lives, revive our churches and bring hope to the world.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
