“May The Lord Put His Spirit On All His People Today!”

“May The Lord Put His Spirit On All His People Today!”
Two expressions about a candle that challenges us on this Pentecost Sunday. “A candle loses none of its brightness when it lights another.” “To blow off another person’s candle-light does not make your own to shine any brighter.”
We belong to each other. The burdens of life weigh heavily upon us when we carry them alone, but when we share our burdens with others, they become lighter. Moses considered the burden of leadership to be too much for him to bear. He complained to God. The Lord told him: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people…I will come down…and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.”
Moses did as God ordered and God took the Spirit from Moses and put on the seventy elders. When it happened they prophesied.
Nobody can do it alone! We need others who will share our burdens, but they too need portions of the Spirit from us. Only in this way can we achieve together.
The intriguing part of the story is the jealousy of Joshua against Eldad and Medad. These two had not joined the seventy, but they too received the Spirit where they were. When the news got to Moses, “Joshua who had been Moses’ aide since youth spoke up and ssid, ‘Moses, my lord, stop them!'”
Moses’ reply to Joshua is a reply to any Joshua of today: “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”(Num.11:11-12&14-17&24-29).
What a wish! A wish that was fulfilled on Pentecost on the condition which Jesus gave during his earthly ministry. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever – the Spirit of truth…”(Jn.14:15-21).
The Spirit of Moses was given to seventy elders known to Moses as leaders and officials. Jesus promises the Spirit to those who love him and obey his commands. God does not waste his Spirit on those who will not use it for the general good.
When we are led by the Holy Spirit we can boldly declare that *”Jesus is Lord!” Unlike those who curse Jesus because they are still influenced by mute idols.
The Holy Spirit has endowed us with different kinds of gifts. The gifts are distributed without distinction of social status, colour, tribe or race. Children of God are one unit just as the body is one unit (I Cor.12:1-13).
My friend, you have a special gift from the Holy Spirit. Use it freely and reverentially for the service of others. Allow God to ease your burden by taking your Spirit and giving to others. Do not be an overzealous aide like Joshua. Rather pray like Moses that all should come to know the Lord and also become receipients of the Holy Spirit!
Pentecost prayer: Holy Spirit guide me as I put my spiritual gifts at the service of others, and let me not be jealous of your gifts to others. Amen!
Happy and blessed Pentecost Sunday! Peace be with you!