On Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter addressed a crowd of Jews gathered as the result of the mind-boggling signs that accompanied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' disciples. "The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost" by Cochin 12:3b-13, drawing on commentary from various sources including "The Bible Expository Commentary" (Warren Wiersbe) and "The New Bible Commentary" (Bruce Winter). 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.This sermon addresses 1 Cor. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 10ģ1 He who comes from above is above all. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness-look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).Ģ5 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. Paul’s challenge to each of us is this: “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NIV).Ģ2 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. He counted what you needed as of greater significance than His own comfort-even than His own life. Praise God for them now, and pray that you will see how you can follow their example-and, supremely, follow the example of Christ Himself. You likely know people who exhibit this kind of godly humility. In so doing, we can truly be unified within the body of Christ. But when we learn to put others first, we will be far more ready to care for their concerns before our own. When we think of ourselves first, it is difficult-impossible, in fact-to put God’s word into action. For Christ did not please himself” (Romans 15:2-3). It is instead “the nothingness that makes room for God to prove his power.” It is a trait, Paul tells us, that Jesus Himself exhibited: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Genuine humility doesn’t take the front seat or begin with “me” all the time. Instead, we need to “count others more significant than ourselves.” This means that we remind ourselves of the best in others before thinking of ourselves, that we are quicker to ask what would be best for others than what would be most convenient for ourselves, and that we are willing to enter into the lives and struggles of others rather than standing aloof. If we are to be unified in Christ, we cannot insist on our own way. Even our good deeds often have tainted motives. One of our greatest stumbling blocks is not so much hate as self-love: we are inclined toward an attitude of conceit, which runs completely counter to the character of our Lord, and our lack of humility becomes an obstacle that prevents us from experiencing harmony with those around us. Part of our mental battle is rooted in our old, selfish, human nature. When we train our minds to think correctly, we will then learn to love properly and serve together in one spirit and purpose. The Bible has so much to say about our minds because as we think, so we are. Without that unity, we will instead be driven by our own selfish and competing desires and agendas. Our minds must first be united in the gospel if the church is truly going to be under Christ’s headship. While it is of course beneficial for church members to take initiative in ministry, a healthy body of believers will not be driven by individual ideas and agendas.
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