“Shared Responsibility Through The Holy Spirit!”

“Shared Responsibility Through The Holy Spirit!”(Num.11:11-17&24-29).
For the administration of the sacrament of baptism or the rite of confirmation, we call on the Holy Spirit upon the candidates. For the authorisation of assistant pastors, the ordination of pastors and the induction and institution of pastors we call on the Holy Spirit on them. For the dedication of elders and recognition of group leaders, we call on the Holy Spirit upon them.
Summarily, the Holy Spirit drives the life of Christians and directs the church in the mission of God.
The invocation of the Holy Spirit is not only for spiritual empowerment within ecclesiastical circles; it involves empowering secular leaders as well. Back in the days, Popes were the ones who crowned the monarchs of Europe. Such coronation was also to empower the monarchs with spiritual strengthening that sanctioned their divine rule.
Leadership requires spiritual empowerment. It is the absence of spiritual empowerment at the investiture of rulers that breeds corrupt leaderships.
When the burden of leadership became too much for Moses to bear, he raised a prayer of distress and complaint to the LORD. This was especially so when the people were on his throat that they wanted meat to accompany the Manna they picked.
In response the LORD told Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people…I will come and speak with you there, 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.”
The LORD came down “and took of the Spirit that was on Moses and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied…”
An interesting incident that happened after this was that at that moment, two elders who were listed but were not present also received the Spirit and they too prophesied where they were. When news of this was brought to Moses, Joshua, Moses’ aide since youth said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
Moses replied, “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!”
It is not worth rejoicing that the Spirit should be taken from one person to the other.
Moses’ wish that all the LORD’S people should receive the Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost. The priesthood of all believers is rooted in the Spirit of God in them who empowers them to believe in Christ and be his witness in word and deed.
The Holy Spirit in all of us eases our burdens in shared responsibility as we tend the sheep and feed the lamb.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide us as you empower us for shared responsibility. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
10/06/2025.