[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost

Sat Jun 7 23:22:50 EDT 2014

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 7, 2014 2:11 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost

Dear Friends,

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Happy Holy Spirit Day” and deals withall the lessons.  Here it is:

Happy Pentecost Sunday! As you know, Pentecost is one of the most misunderstood church holidaysand also the last Sunday of Easter.  It’sthe second most important church holiday- just after Easter in importance, moreimportant than ChristMass.  We just don’tthink much about it because it isn’t a huge money maker for the stores.  It’s called the birthday of the church andthe feast of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s lookat what happened and what it means in our lives today.

This is what happened. The disciples were in the Jerusalem upper room- probably the same upperroom they had been using all along to hide from the authorities, receive HolyCommunion, and meet with their risen Lord. This time was different, because Jesus had ascended, so he wasn’t goingto make a resurrection appearance.  Thetiming for what was about to happen was perfect. It was the Jewish holiday thatwas almost like our Thanksgiving- a combination harvest festival and gloriousremembering of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, so thestreets were packed with Jews from all over (we heard the list) speaking manylanguages.  All of a sudden, the HolySpirit filled the room.  Their moodchanged.  They were “on fire” for theLord.  They went from scared disciples-in-hidingto charged-up apostles (witnesses- sent). They burst out of that room onto the street below- proclaiming Jesus asLord; telling people their sins were forgiven; and inviting people to learnabout Jesus and follow him.  There wasonly one problem- do you know what it was? (Take answers.)  Most of thepilgrims did not speak Aramaic, the language of the disciples.  If you were God, what would you do?  How could Jesus’ message be proclaimed to theends of the earth if the proclaimers only spoke one language?  Then an amazing miracle occurred.  Out of the disciples’ mouths came thelanguage of the people who were listening (so they could understand).  Many of the listeners joined the disciples intheir worship (Bible readings and Holy Communion), and the Church was born.  That’s what happened.

Now, what’s it to us? Good question!  Meditating on whatthe Bible teaches us about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, lets us check to seeif we are growing in the Holy Spirit. You know, it wasn’t just in the old days that the Holy Spirit wasactive.  The Holy Spirit didn’t just fillthose early Christians; the Holy Spirit fills us today IF we let him.  The longer we walk with Jesus and follow inhis ways, the more the Holy Spirit will fill our lives- again- IF we lethim.  God doesn’t force himself onanyone.  So-how do you know if you aregrowing in the Holy Spirit?  Here’s thewrong answer: you sway, you shout, you speak in tongues, you fall out- NO!  All of these actions are OK, but they are notmarks of the Holy Spirit.  They aresimply signs of religious excitement, often full of sincerity and devotion, butthey do not show that someone has the Holy Spirit.  Every single religion has some people who dothese things if that is how their culture shows religious excitement- Moslems,Hindus, Jews, people who practice witchcraft or voodoo, Satanists, andChristians.  They don’t show WHAT theperson is excited about- and it’s the WHAT that’s important.  And how many of these same people- when theyleave church or their place of worship, turn right around and misuse otherpeople.  These actions only show someoneis excited.  Remember the story I’ve usedmany times of the family driving home from church?  As the mother looked out of the car window,she exclaimed, “Just look!  How disgusting!  Not even two blocks away from church andalready lighting up a cigarette!”  Thenext thing she heard was a childish voice from the back seat- you see, her sonhad been listening to the sermon.  “Justlisten!” he mimicked.  “Howdisgusting!  Not even two blocks awayfrom church and already talking about her neighbor!”  So how DO you know- how does the Bible sayyou can tell if you have the Holy Spirit, or more important- how do you know ifyou are growing in the Holy Spirit?  Thisis how you can tell.  First of all,you’ve got fewer of the behaviors listed in Galatians 5: 19-21a (“People’sdesires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shamefuldeeds.  They worship idols, practicewitchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with.  People become jealous, angry, andselfish.  They not only argue and causetrouble, but they are envious.  They getdrunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things.”)  Second, you’ve got fewer of those behaviors,but you’re growing in the behaviors listed in Galatians 5: 22-23.  (See Pentecost banner: love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.)

Pentecost has another basic spiritual lesson for us.  Did you notice- the disciples didn’t pick andchoose- just telling people like them about the church.  They told EVERYBODY about Jesus and invitedthem to be part of the church. Jesus’ church is for everyone - all races, allages, male and female, fat and thin, college graduate and people who neverfinished elementary school, rich and middle income and poor- everyone.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross,the ground should be level in every Bible-believing church, and the ground mostcertainly is level here at St. Paul’s. Our mission statement says it all: “St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, aninclusive thinking person’s church where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christis Lord!”

I’m going to conclude with a story.  You’ve heard this one before, but I’m usingit again because it fits so well.  A littlegirl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying notto be late for Sunday school. As she ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please don'tlet me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!” As she was running andpraying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearingher pretty dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again.As she ran she once again began to pray, “Dear Lord, please don't let me belate!  But don't push me either.”  So my question to you is: what is God pushingyou to do?  What are you doing that makesyou your own worst enemy?  What changesis the Holy Spirit inviting you to make- for your own sake and for the sake ofthose whom you love and who love you? You heard the list of the self-destructive behaviors.  You can see the banner listing the fruits ofthe Holy Spirit.  You know who you talkto, invite to church, avoid, maybe talk about. Where do you fit in?  Moreimportant, though, is not where you’ve been but where you’re going?  What life-affirming changes are you inprocess of making this Pentecost 2014?  MayGod bless us as we claim the power of His Spirit in our lives.  Amen.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITEunder “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .

Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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