David Grousnick

A little girl was visiting her grandmother one beautiful spring morning. They walked out into grandmother’s flower garden. As grandmother was inspecting the progress of her flowers the little girl decided to try to open a rosebud with her own two hands. But no luck!

As she would pull the petals open, they would tear or bruise or wilt or break off completely. Finally, in frustration, she said, “Gramma, I just don’t understand it at all. When God opens a flower, it looks so beautiful but when I try, it just comes apart.”

“Well, honey,” Grandmother answered, “There’s a good reason for that. God is able to do it because He works from the inside out!”

God Works From the Inside Out. That is the great message of Pentecost Sunday, isn’t it? This is what the disciples finally came to understand at Pentecost. Jesus had ascended into heaven. And He had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

Here is where the story of Pentecost picks up in Acts 2:1-13.

The disciples are back in the Upper Room waiting and wondering and some of them were probably grumbling impatiently and nervously. What in the world are we doing here? All this waiting around is driving me up the wall!

There’s no use. He’s gone and without Him, we are nothing. It’s over! We’d just as well face it. What is this Holy Spirit business anyway? Maybe we misunderstood Him.

Just then they heard a sound. The breath of God began to blow on that place like the rush of a mighty wind. Images of fire danced around them.

Suddenly, their fear was gone, replaced by peace and confidence, courage and strength and unity and they began to speak and communicate the word of God boldly and amazingly people from all different backgrounds heard and responded and 3,000 people were converted that day.

It’s interesting to note that the three classic symbols for the Holy Spirit in the Bible remind us of how God works through us and how God works from the inside out.

Do you remember what they are?

The three traditional symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible:

Breath: the symbol of Life.

Fire: the symbol of Power.

The descending dove: the symbol of Peace.

I like the story of the shark and the whale. Both were swimming in the sea when the shark swam up to the whale to engage in conversation.

As they swam along, the shark said to the whale, “You are so much older than I, and wiser too. Could you tell me where the ocean is?”

The whale responded, “The ocean is what you are in now.” The shark would not believe it.

“Come on, tell me where the ocean is so I may find it!”

The whale repeated, “The ocean is here, now; you are in it.” Unbelieving, the shark swam away searching for the ocean.

The moral of the story, I believe, is this: don’t spend too much time looking for God because the Spirit of God is here in the now of your life, dwelling within you, within me, within this community. And that truth is nurtured in prayer.

Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment.

In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after His time on earth. The angels gather around Him to learn what all happened during His days on earth. Jesus tells them of the miracles, His teachings, His death on the cross, and His resurrection.

When He finishes his story, Michael the Archangel asks Jesus, “But what happens now?”

Jesus answers, “I have left behind eleven faithful disciples and a handful of men and women who have faithfully followed me. They will declare My message and express My love. These faithful people will build My church.”

“But,” responds Michael, “What if these people fail? What then is Your other plan?”

And Jesus answers, “I have no other plan!”

Jesus is counting on you and you and you and me. But the good news is, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is here to melt us, mold us, fill us, and use us.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Be in church and be in Christ! In other words, be a part of His plan!

Have a great weekend!