Pastor Bill Hayden
It is difficult for me to think that there is a person living today who has never experienced some form of abandonment in life. The word abandon as defined by Webster dictionary is to leave completely and finally, forsake utterly, desert, to give up; withdraw from, discontinue or to give up the control of.
Abandonment can come very early in a person’s life which can shape their outlook on life and their relationships. A child can feel abandoned by the death of a pet, family member, close friend or the failure of parent keeping promises. When my father left, I had to go into foster care and I felt very abandoned. It became hard for me to trust and be affectionate toward others because of the thoughts of being rejected.
As a victim of childhood abandonment, I would often wonder what caused my father to leave my mother and his seven children. In retrospect the 40’s and 50’s, for most minority communities, were especially challenging to secure gainful employment. If you had a large family, every able-bodied person had to help with maintaining family life by finding additional income, unless you were wealthy.
Jesus wanted His followers to never succumb to the feelings of abandonment when they had to endure separation from their loved ones as His witnesses. He had promised to be with them always in Matthew 28:19-20ESV 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
All believers had gathered in Jerusalem from many lands in Celebration of Pentecost which was fifty days after the Jewish Passover Celebration as part of their deliverance in Egypt. At the height of the celebration, the promise of the Comforter filled all the 120 believers who had gathered in an upper room praying and waiting. It was then that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and power to be Jesus Christ’s witnesses.
This Sunday we will celebrate the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence and power in every believer’s life to be a witness for Christ until his return.
Join us this Sunday to celebrate Pentecost. Meet us at the Villages Community Chapel in Cribari Auditorium, every Sunday at 10 a.m. to be encouraged over the Word and enjoy a cup of coffee and cookies with friends. The chapel is a place for needs to be met, faith to be affirmed and new friends to embrace. You can view our worship services on YouTube at Villages Community Chapel San Jose, CA.