On Sunday, 31 May 2009, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday – the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Pentecost’ is the Greek word for ’50′ and Pentecost Sunday or Whit Sunday comes 50 days after Easter.
In the following 2 passages of Scripture, we can learn about 2 of the many important ministries of the Holy Spirit.
1) John 14 : 15 – 18
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”.
Jesus promises that, when he goes back to his Father in heaven, he will not leave his disciples as orphans. The Holy Spirit will come and live in them, just as today he lives in the lives of all who believe in Jesus Christ.
2) Romans 8 : 15 – 16
‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him, we cry, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.’
‘Abba’ is the Aramaic word for ‘Father’. Every member of the human family is God’s child BY CREATION. When we believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children BY ADOPTION. Now we can call God ‘Father’. We have become members of the family of God (or the family of believers) – the church.
As we have a heavenly Father, we shall never be orphans!
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
