On this fourth Sunday the hymn asks the Holy Spirit to descend upon our heart, to wean us from the earth, to make us love God as we ought, to take the dimness of our souls away, and to let us seek and find God. It also requests that the Holy Spirit teach us to feel God’s presence, to have strength in struggles, to have patience in our praying, and to love as God would have us love.

The following scripture readings tell about Jesus when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him after he was baptized by John the Baptist.

Scripture:

Luke 3:22  And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!
Luke 4:1  Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in the Spirit                                                                                                             Luke 4:14  Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
Luke 10:21   In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure.

Song:  “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart” by Frederick C. Atkinson (Music, 1870) and George Croly (Words, 1867) The United Methodist Hymnal Number 500

1)Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth; through all its pulses move; stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art, and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

2)I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of clay, no angel visitant, no opening of the skies; but take the dimness of my soul away.

3)Has Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King? All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind. I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling. O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.

4)Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear. To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh, teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

5)Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, one holy passion filling all my frame; the kindling of the heaven-descended Dove, my heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.