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Gospel centred sermons, based on the lectionary often in advance.

May 27, 2020

Acts 2:18 (NRSV): 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

Acts 2 18

Inspiration. You heard that the Holy Spirit brings Unity (Tuesday), new life and renewal (Monday) and today we hear that the Spirit brings Inspiration. Peter quotes the Prophet Joel to explain how it is that Galileans (Jews from the remote North) could be speaking so powerfully in such a way that people of many different languages and cultures could understand them. The disciples gathered in those days included men and women of different backgrounds. All of them were filled with the Spirit. All of them began to speak in other languages by the power of the Spirit. All of them spoke of “God’s deeds of power.”

 

Peter picks up on this neatly quoting Joel who says, “Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:18, NRSV) We often used think of prophesy as being telling the future, but really it is just proclaiming the word of God, speaking the word that God has given. It may be a call to repent. It may be a word of comfort or encouragement. It may be a strange and powerful vision. On this day it was the proclaiming of “God’s deeds of power” which included the deeds, the death and the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of salvation. This word is always for the time, and sometimes (as with Isaiah, Hannah, Mary or Paul) it is also timeless.

 

This Spirit has been poured out not just on people in Biblical times but on all believers. At times we all have a message from God which needs to be proclaimed. What is the word that God is giving you to share in this time? Perhaps it is a word of comfort or hope? Perhaps a word of challenge?

 

Lord in my time of prayer help me listen for your word through the Spirit’s witness and give me courage to share and test that word with others. In Jesus Name. Amen

 

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