Pentecost / Whitsunday (Year A)

In today's reading, Acts 2:14-15; the Apostle Peter introduces readers to the Pentecost event, as the spiritual awakening and empowerment of believers, the body of the risen Christ in the world. Believers have again become living souls, through the activity of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:16-21, Peter uses the Old Testament quotation from Joel 2:28-32, to explain how God will restore His kingdom and kingdom living by pouring out his Holy Spirit on all flesh. Joel assures us that there will be supernatural signs and wonders within and among all humankind in Christ.

This divine recovery and fulfillment of God's promises are facilitated through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Peter assured his listeners that everyone who calls upon the name of the indwelling Christ as Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, will experience salvation from spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness and spiritual death [Acts 2:21]. Spirit-based crucifixion of the mind of the flesh and the full incarnation and manifestation of the indwelling Christ will not only be seen and completed in Jesus Christ as a person. It is now being seen and completed in those believers who are being transformed and united in Christ-centered Spiritual mindedness.

The Apostle Paul in today's Epistle 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 assure readers that in the body of the risen Christ, there is one Lord, the indwelling and incarnate Christ. Paul also affirms that Christ is the individualized presence, image and likeness of God within the spiritual core of Jesus Christ and each person [Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27]. Christ is the mystery, which Jesus of Nazareth revealed about the hidden presence, attributes and character of God within all men, and women, which had been hidden for ages and generations. The body of the risen Christ is built on the foundation of the incarnation, reign and manifestation of the presence, attributes and character of Christ in all who believe [Matthew 16:15-19, John 17:20-21].

Christ-centered, Spirit-based gifts and spiritual fruit are given to believers for creative transformation, effective witness, kingdom living and kingdom building through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. God controls the numerous workings and operations of Spiritual gifts and Spiritual fruit in the body of the risen Christ. The Triune God works in believers individually and collectively to perform great and marvelous signs, wonders and miracles. Believers working together, portray Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, as they unite in faith, under the same Lord and steadfastly following Jesus Christ.

The Spiritual gifts include the intellectual gifts of wisdom, knowledge and faith for instruction in the body of Christ. The volitional gifts of healing and miracles produce visible signs and wonders, which manifest God’s transforming works within believers, the church and in the world. The gift of prophecy is the supernatural proclamation of truth not yet given in final and written form. The emotional gifts include the discernment to know God's will and also to separate truth from error. Speaking in supernatural tongues is often the believer’s language of praise, thanksgiving, worship and supernatural utterances in the Spirit. The gift of interpretation of tongues gives the meaning of these supernatural messages in the common language of the people.

The fruit of the Spirit are manifestations of Christ's character through faith and God's grace in the believer life. They manifest through the channels of human intellect and human works as the body of the risen Christ. They include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. With God's help, those who embrace the reign of the indwelling Christ seek and serve Christ in themselves and all persons by crucifying the old sinful nature and the mind of the flesh. They embrace new birth, new life and Christ-centered, Spirit-based living.

The Holy Spirit empowers the members of the Church as body of Christ, to express and fully manifest the nature, attributes and character of the indwelling, risen Christ through kingdom living. Spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit are activated and empowered by the same Holy Spirit. Today's scripture readings help to explain the continuing role of the Holy Spirit in enabling and empowering effective witness, healthy growth and vital unity in body of the risen Christ, in our world today.

Virtue of the Week: Unity

Prayer of the Week: Spirit Is Already Within You