Posts tagged ‘Filled’
ABC Extra – Filled with the Spirit
Recently, I have had some very full days. Many appointments, tasks, and some added duties have kept me plenty busy. My MacBook calendar is filled and my to-do list is long. Of course, seasons like these come and go. From time to time, we all get busy and our days get full.
In ABC this past weekend, we kicked off a brand new series called “STAINED! Windows Into Our Heritage.” In this series, we are reflecting on the stained glass windows which grace the front of our sanctuary and study that biblical stories which they portray. We began our series with our Pentecost window, pictured here.
The festival of Pentecost is as old as Moses. Originally, it was a harvest festival known as the Feast of Weeks, celebrated fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits – hence, it’s Greek name “Pentecost,” meaning” fifty. In latter days, however, it also became associated with the giving of the Divine Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Thus, Pentecost was a day to celebrate the gift of God’s Law. But on a Pentecost day in Acts 2, it became a day to celebrate another gift of God.
The story of Pentecost begins thusly: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). The Greek word for “came” is symplero’o, meaning, “to fill up completely.” Apparently, this Pentecost day was a full one. It was a day that didn’t just arrive on a calendar, but “filled up completely” a moment in history. But it didn’t fill this moment in history with appointments, tasks, and duties. No, the fullness which this Pentecost day brought was much more profound and transcendent.
The story continues: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4). Some 1600 years earlier on Pentecost day, God has filled His people’s souls by giving them His Law through Moses. Now, once again, He has filled His people’s souls by giving them His Spirit through a rushing wind and tongues of fire.
One of the many precious promises from our God is that He loves to fill His people with His good gifts. As Jesus Himself says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). And unlike the things of this world, which, though they might fill our lives with their demands and stresses, steal our souls, the things with which God fills us always bless us and keep us in Him. And so we rejoice that Christ fills our days and our lives with His good gifts.
Are you feeling empty? Pray that God would fill your days and life with what you need. May He fill your heart with His love, your concerns with His comfort, your doubts with His truth, your sin with His forgiveness, and your soul with His Spirit. May you be full in, with, and through God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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