Calvin Synod Herald, 1998 (98. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1998-05-01 / 3. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 6 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTÜSOK LAPJA The Holy Spirit is a special power and really holy By Rev. Alexander Jalsó Scripture reading: Acts of Apostles * 2:1-8, 11-13. “And be-C\ k\ft hold, I (said Jesus to V \ \ his disciples before his ascension) send V. the promise of my *Father upon you; a! but stay in the city (in Jerusalem) until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:29, also “and when he (the risen Lord), he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” John 20:22. Two statements made by the resurrected Lord should bring us closer to the mystery and gift of Pentecost, that is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There are so many questions: “How come...?” How come the Holy Spirit was so powerful at the first Pentecost and today we do not experience the same spiritual energy? How come so many people can live - seemingly happy - without having anything to do with the spiritual life? How come the true believers cannot possess more spiritual power? How come the spiritual power does not work so many miracles today? How come now, when there are more Christians numerically than ever before, the church cannot help the people to improve themselves with the help of the Holy Spirit? You may add to these you own question: how come... The Holy Spirit is power from on high? We know that there is power because somebody is either strong or weak. Power appears in many forms (physical, mental, psychic (extrasensory perception) financial, political) but for most of us, the most obvious form of power is brutal force. Why do we like sports so much? There are also undiscovered, (like atomic energy before 1945), unused, well-used, misused and abused power. Which of these cases occurs most and least frequently? Most of the energies need a “mechanism” to become usable; for the atomic power the atomic reactor, for the gasoline for the engine, for the wind or windmill, for the coal the steam engine or turbine, for electricity the motor, light bulb, or microwave oven. What do you think, what mechanism or channel would be needed for the spiritual power to become effective? What kind of spiritual power would we prefer? One with unlimited, unconditional, unrestricted, and unreciproca-ted features. But this may fall under the misused and abused categories. How do we use our available forces? The Holy Spirit is really holy. What does, in short, ‘holy’ mean? To set apart, preserved for specific needs or use, usually related to or connected with God. A housewife will not scrub the floor in a fur coat even in the winter time. IN MEMÓRIÁM STEPHEN F. SZIARTO 1 941-1998 Stephen Francis Sziarto, 57, of Cleveland, Georgia, died Friday, February 6th, 1998, at his residence following an extended cancer illness. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Atlantic Ocean on March 22, the date of his Good Friday birthdate in 1940! A memorial service was held at the Lutheran Church in Roswell, GA. He was an IBM Systems Engineer, past president of the IBM Club of Washington, D.C. He was the son of our well-known and respected Rev. & Mrs. Stephen Sziarto of Slansville, W.V. His survivors include his wife, Rosalie S. Sziarto, their two daughters and relatives. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Sziarto family with Rom. 8:28: “All things work out for the good of those, who love God!" At closing time, we received the shocking news that Rev. Stephen Sziarto, (the father), also passed away a month later. His necrology will appear in our next Issue. “God gave - God has taken away. Blessed be his name forever!” □QQ Because the Holy Spirit is holy, therefore the Holy Spirit is: unlike (unique), different from any other power. We may receive it, but we can use it only for the purpose it was given, like a special instrument. Uneven, that is, its intensity varies according to times, places and people. Think of the wind, it can mean breeze as well as hurricane. Uncontrollable by us. The Holy Spirit’s direction is one way and not two way. This means God can use the Holy Spirit for his purpose freely, but we cannot use it against his will. God is sovereign - unselfish. The more we can subdue ourselves, the easier we can become the mechanism (see above) or channel for the Holy Spirit. How did Jesus pray? “...nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39. How can we chart the function of the Holy Spirit in a descending order? This is not a dictatorial chain of command but a gentle chain reaction; the Holy Spirit, and it may appear as a directing force, and it may appear as inspired guidance, and it may appear as repentant heart, and it may appear as refreshed conscience, and it may appear as renewed dedication, and it may appear as refined action. In short, all these simply mean; the reborn sinner and the regenerated self. Please read Luke 15:7, and John 3:5, and Ephesians 4:22-24. IN MEMÓRIÁM E.R ELLIOT, Sr. 1914-1998 Edwin Powers Elliott, Sr., died February 26 in Manassas, Virginia, after a short illness. He was born November 8, 1914, in Pueblo, Colorado. Until his sight failed, Mr. Elliot was an active participant in the Western Prince William Ministerial Association. His two sons are Dr. Edwin P Elliott, Jr., a Presbyterian minister, and Francis Moxom Elliott, publisher of the Christian Observer. In the great loss our Synod Herald wholeheartedly joins the immediate Elliott family and the family of the Christian Observer, the closest sister-publication of our Calvinistic Household of Faith.
