Bible Reading: Acts 2:17-18, 38-39
This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy’.
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call."
A Reflection
At the risk of showing my age, I remember the BT adverts back in the 80s where the telephone rings in various obscure situations, followed by the words ‘It’s for Yoo Hoo’.
Around that time our children, then primary school aged, learned a song in church which included the line ‘The promise of the Holy Spirit is for Yoo Hoo’.
In the simplicity of these words we have the truth of what God did at Pentecost: The promise of the Holy Spirit is for you!
In these days of inclusivity the words of Peter, written 2,000 years ago, and the words of Joel, written maybe 600 years before that, seem remarkably up to date. There is no discrimination by God on whom he pours out his Holy Spirit, male and female, young and old, slave and free are all included. A short while later Peter was to discover that there were no distinctions of disability, sexuality or race, as the Holy Spirit was given to a disabled man sitting outside the temple, to an Ethiopian eunuch and to gentiles as well as to Jews. (Acts 3, 8 & 10 respectively)
The only condition to receiving the Holy Spirit, according to Peter, is to turn to God (repent) and be baptised. And the order this happens seems to be flexible; in Acts 10:44 the Holy Spirit was poured out on the gentiles prior to them being baptised.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s good gift to his church. The gift is for everyone, to equip, to encourage, to strengthen and to build his Church. And like the gift of salvation, it is for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, social status, or disability.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is for ‘You Hoo’. Will you take the call?
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, pour your Holy Spirit afresh in my life today.
Equip me and empower me to serve you as you build your church.
Amen
It’s for You Hoo
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