Pastoral Message Pentecost Sunday
May 31, 2020

Pastoral Message
(for members and friends of)
Geeseytown and Newry Lutheran Churches

Filled with the Spirit
Pentecost Sunday
May 31, 2020

We begin by remembering:
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the
rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where
they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared
among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of
them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:2-4)
Let us pray:
O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful
people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the
light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all
things and rejoice at all time in your peace, through Jesus
Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 & John 20:19-23
Thoughts from the Pastor:
As I reflect on Acts 2:1-21, I realize that we have all
been blessed with the Holy Spirit in our lives. At our baptisms
God placed the Holy Spirit within our hearts, but the Spirit is
also all around us showing God’s love for us. Several times I
have talked to people who survived terrible automobile
accidents who have told me that the Holy Spirit saved their
lives. Sometimes they tell me they do not know why they are
alive. These experiences can change a person and help
them grow in their faith.
Personally, I believe sometimes God just takes over
our life during these terrible accidents and saves us from
death. Obviously, these God- given saving occurrences
show us that at times God is really in control of our lives, and
in addition; they also shows us the power of God’s love in
our lives. In some of the churches that I have served, I have
encouraged church members to share these Holy Spirit
experiences and how they were saved from certain death by
God in accidents and other ways. It helps church members
grow in their faith realizing that the Holy Spirit is always
within them and around them.
When I was serving in Piqua, Ohio, I was changed by a
man who was in a terrible automobile accident. His name
was Gary and I may have talked about him before in one of

my sermons. Gary was traveling on interstate 75 and hit
some black ice, and his vehicle went totally out of control.
First, he hit a bridge embankment then his car went across
the interstate and hit a truck and trailer. His sister Ruth, one
of my church members, asked me to come down to the
hospital and pray for her brother. Gary attended another
church which was 50 miles away from Piqua and Ruth asked
me for pastoral care for her and her brother. Now as I looked
down at Gary, I could see a man who looked like every bone
in his body was broken. I had no idea how this man survived
until Gary told me what happened during his terrible
accident.
As the accident was happening Gary remembers being
in Jesus’ arms. He felt absolutely no pain until the doctors
started operating on him. Gary had several operations and
his recovery was a blessing and a miracle from God, but
Ruth and I knew he needed some incentives and
encouragements to get through all these operations.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit also guides the pastor in giving
these incentives and encouragements, so I asked Gary if he
would be willing to get up in the pulpit of the church and give
testimony on how the Holy Spirit and Jesus saved his life. 18
months later walking with two hand canes, Gary walked into
the church and got up to the pulpit and gave a testimony on
how God had saved him from death.
You could hear a pin drop in that sanctuary, and
members of the church told me how his testimony helped
them grow with their faith. Sometimes the Holy Spirit works
in our lives and we do not realize it until the experience in
over. The Spirit is always with us guiding and directing us,
and when I was in seminary I had a Roman Catholic sister
teach me one very important lesson about the Spirit. She
told me to let the Spirit lead you. She was right! The Spirit is
always with you and you can thank God for the Spirit’s
presence.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Henry