Pentecost

May 31 - Rev. Susan Salo

What an adventure! To preach about the coming of the Holy Spirit at this time in St. Aidan's history is to identify ourselves with Jesus' disciples anxiously waiting in the Upper Room for soldiers who will take them away to be crucified like Jesus, or for the promised "power from on high."
At this time in our church's history, when we are seeking God's direction for the future, when we are waiting for word on our pastor's health, and when our world seems heading for more moral decline than ever - we know how very much we need Jesus.
The Bible tells us that no one can see the face of God and live - until we see him in the face of his son, Jesus. We can't even imagine what the Father in heaven looks like - until we see him in the face of Jesus. Likewise, we can't see the Holy Spirit, or imagine what he (she, it) looks like until we see him in the face of Jesus, as Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Jesus.
Every day at the Feast of Tabernacles water would be poured out as a symbol of thanks for God's provision. Jesus said that those who believe in him will have "streams of living water" flow from within them, referring to the Holy Spirit (John 7.37-39).
*Describe how the Spirit flows through you like Living Water?  Does he flow like a trickle, like a stream, or like a mighty gush? What seems to determine  this?
*What is the relationship between believing the promises of Christ and experiencing the Holy Spirit?
Later, after Jesus' death, the disciples were gathered in fear of being arrested. (John 20.19-23)
*Why does John record "peace be with you" 3 times? How does this relate to their fears?
*Where could you use Jesus' peace right now?
*How has receiving the Holy Spirit changed you?