Pentecost Sunday is 28 May in 2023 and we remember how the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. (Read Acts 2). But the Holy Spirit is not just a Pentecost event. The Spirit is an everyday, always and forever, gift of grace that is available to everyone. He empowers us to follow Jesus and brings glory to God.
We met on zoom for a Pentecost Prayer Gathering with people from around the Inspire Movement. Jesus led us and the Holy Spirit was at work in our midst. Robin led us through prayers, songs and reflections. We listened to the Lord, shared together, prayed and went out filled with the Spirit.
Presence
Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God, Keith and Kristyn Getty. LISTEN HERE
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
John O’Donohue Benedictus Bantam Press 2007
Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.
Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.
May anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
Peace
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor, Your word is true
That all my ways are known to YouNo trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to YouAnd oh what peace that I have found
All My Ways Are Known to You, City Alight. LISTEN HERE
Wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You
Hallelujah, they are known to You!
“I put a prayer request on the Inspire Prayer Group about something that seemed trivial in comparison to the other things we have been praying for. But I was reminded by everyone that God is interested in every detail of our lives, the practical and seemingly mundane, as well as the spiritual and big things. Then the Lord pointed me to Philippians 4:7, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When I asked for His peace, I actually felt that peace and a joy in the Lord. Praise God.”
Prophecy
Numbers 11: 26-29 NIV
Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men,said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them!’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!’.
- What are you thankful for in your life now?
- What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
- Do you need to share a word of thanksgiving, encouragement, wisdom or hope, with someone?
“The song ‘Trust and Obey’ comes to mind. Jesus, your presence and power push us on to be more obedient to fast, pray and share; to be more open to your call and to you love. Change the atmosphere around us so that we can grow as your beautiful family of faith.”
“I see two fields. One is prepared for the harvest and one is not yet ready. We pray for workers for the harvest in the places where it is ready to gather. And for workers to be prepared where the harvest is yet to become ready.”
“Lord, we ask for your blessing and provision for your church where it is struggling in different parts of the world.”
“Fasting for a new season has lead me into a new sense of peace and fulfilment in the Lord. It doesn’t make sense when I try to explain how, but I know that I have an experience of God’s presence.”
Practice
“The Holy Spirit opens:
our hearts and casts out fear,
our eyes and reveals more of Jesus,
our minds and fills us with the wonder at the Creator’s creation,
our souls and creates a great hunger for more of God, as we fast and pray.
The Holy Spirit shows us how the impossible can become possible with God.
AMEN”
- Can you think of something that you could have done better this week?
- How could you try and let go of a hurt out sorrow?
- What steps do you need to take to heal a rift in a relationship?
“I am thankful for this moment in this prayer-filled space. I am here for a purpose.”
“I have carried a burden of guilt after a loved one died because I wonder if I could have done more to save them.”
“We confess in order to receive His presence and the gift of entering the gates with thanksgiving. The power of praise and thanksgiving breaks down walls”
“Forgiveness is not really forgiveness when we use it as an illusion to avoid conflict. When David was mourning for his son who had tried to kill him, he was reminded not to dishonour all those who had fought to protect him from his son.”
“Holy Spirit, convict us about our need to forgive and be forgiven for the sake of the healing of our own souls and for the sake of the extension of your Kingdom. Reveal to us the false comfort of unforgiveness. Lead us into forgiving God for the things we held against him, and forgiving ourselves and others because God forgives us.”
“Lord, set us free from the burdens that are not ours to carry. Do not let us hold onto things that we need to let go of. Pour out your Spirit of Truth so that we hear you calling us to the fullness of healing you have for us as you lift our burdens of guilt.”
“Lord, we pray for forgiveness for those who have wronged us. Please pour out your Spirit of grace upon them and upon us so that we can receive your forgiveness and be reconciled to one another and to you.”
“Allow the Lord to change us. Be amenable to the ways the Lord is changing us by his Spirit.”
Power
Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel.
Collect for Pentecost
By the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- How is God leading you out of your comfort zone to build his Kingdom?
- What compelling step might you take to test God’s leading?
- How might you ‘enter the quiet immensity of HIS presence’ and bless those around you?
“Pentecost was not for the believers, it what for the bystanders. The Spirit comes to build a Kingdom.”
“The Lord has been challenging my comfort zone. I want to listen more and see in my life the sovereign themes God has been working on, and be ready to take a step of faith.”
“I know what God wants me to do, I just have not gotten around to doing it! I need to step out of my comfort zone and be obedient.”
“I challenged God, ‘Who are you to think that I can do this?’ He replied “Who are you to think that I can’t?'”
“The power of the Spirit is at work in our new house fellowship. I saw him transforming lives even after a few weeks.”
“Being with other believers is the biggest blessing when I am sharing Jesus with them.”
“Fellowship band and house fellowship helps me to stay close to Jesus even when life is hard. I feel the peace and power of the Spirit.”
If you have been inspired or challenged by the reflections here, you may find it helpful to talk and/or pray with someone. Your fellowship band or house fellowship will be good places to share. And our prayer team are always available: [email protected]
We host an Inspire Prayer Gathering at various points in the year. Everyone is welcome. Details are put in the Inspire e-News. We share more prayer points, prophecy and praises in our monthly Prayer Bowl. The weekly Beacon of Hope provides regular encouragement for your daily life with Jesus. Subscribe to Inspire newsletters here.
The image above is from an original print by Kate Meadows. She designed it for Inspire and prints are available from the Inspire Book Shop in various sizes, and as notecards. So you can add it to your wall, send a postcard, or use a notecard to send an encouragement to someone. Click here to view or order at the Inspire bookshop
