“Is the Holy Spirit still active today as it was on the day of Pentecost?”
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Recently, my Christian friend asked me, “Is the Holy Spirit still active today as it was on the day of Pentecost?” My confident answer was “YES.” My friend said but “HOW and WHY?”
These are the few thoughts I shared with her: after the resurrection, Jesus Christ spent forty days delivering the key message to all believers, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, then he was taken up. Before Ascension, Jesus set a tone in order to guide the Christians’ life, and highlighted the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit: “ … But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part on the earth” (Acts 1:8). We all know that this promise came to the truth on the day of Pentecost, ten days after Jesus’ ascension. The power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary, it also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The first disciples (and all today’s followers) of Jesus Christ would need and receive all these gifts to fulfil God’s mission. However, it is all about in which perspective we consider the work of Holy Spirit.
By faith, we are not to limit our understanding of the Holy Spirit as it goes far beyond what we can imagine. For instance, Acts 3:6-7, says: “Then Peter said, silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up: and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” The Holy Spirit’s work is huge, wide and goes far beyond what we see with our eyes and touch with our hands. Also, “In the name of Jesus Christ” means by authority of Jesus Christ. As the first apostles were doing this healing through the Holy Spirit’s power, it is still the same today.
By the Holy Spirit, the Gospel was to be preached geographically from Jerusalem, into Judea and Samaria and finally to the whole world. It would begin with the devout Jews in Jerusalem and Samaria, spread to the mixed race in Samaria and finally be offered to the Gentiles in the uttermost parts of the earth. Therefore, God’s Gospel has not reached its final destination if someone from one of the groups using our church, our families, our workplace, our schools, and our diverse communities where we live has not heard about Jesus Christ.
Friends, we are to contribute in some way to the ever-widening circle of God’s love for all and we can’t do it on our own, except through and by the power of Holy Spirit who continuously comes upon us and gives us different gifts, talents, abilities, confidence, boldness, courage, insight, grace, and more wisdom to better serve God’s people. Then, after sharing thoughts with my friend, I could confidently, say: “YES” the Holy Spirit is still active the same way it was on the day of Pentecost. He/she never changes, and he/she is never defeated.
May the power of the Holy Spirit continuously work through and in each one of us for God’s glory. Amen. Yours in his service,
Probationer Minister, Deacon Marcianne Uwimana