[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost: “Happy Holy Spirit Day!”

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 8, 2019 5:56 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost: “Happy Holy Spirit Day!”

DearFriends, ThisSunday’s sermon is entitled   “Happy Holy Spirit Day!” and is based on allthe lessons.  Here it is:   Happy PentecostSunday!  As you probably know, Pentecostis one of the most misunderstood church holidays and also the last Sunday ofEaster.  It’s the second most importantchurch holiday- just after Easter in importance, more important thanChristMass.  We just don’t think muchabout 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.    Thedisciples were in the Jerusalem upper room- probably the same upper room theyhad been using all along to hide from the authorities, receive Holy Communion,and meet with their risen Lord.  Thistime was different, because Jesus had ascended, so he wasn’t going to make aresurrection appearance.  The timing forwhat was about to happen was perfect. It was the Jewish holiday that was almostlike our Thanksgiving- a combination harvest festival and glorious rememberingof the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, so the streets werepacked with Jews from all over (we heard the list) speaking many languages.  All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit filled theroom.  Their mood changed.  They were “on fire” for the Lord.  They went from scared disciples-in-hiding tocharged-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 mostly proclaimed it in only onelanguage?  Then an amazing miracleoccurred.  Out of the disciples mouthscame the language of the people who were listening (so they couldunderstand).  About 3,000 people werebaptized, many of the listeners joined the disciples in their worship (Biblereadings and Holy Communion), and the Church was born.  That’s what happened. Now, what’s it tous?  Good question!  Meditating on what the Bible teaches us aboutPentecost and the Holy Spirit, lets us check to see if we are growing in the HolySpirit.  You know, it wasn’t just in theold days that the Holy Spirit was active. The Holy Spirit didn’t just fill those early Christians; the Holy Spiritfills us today IF we let him.  The longerwe walk with Jesus and follow in his ways, the more the Holy Spirit will fillour lives- again- IF we let him.  Goddoesn’t force himself on anyone.  So-howdo you know if you are growing in the Holy Spirit?  Here’s the wrong answer: you sway, you shout,you speak in tongues, you fall out- NO! All of these actions are OK, (in fact, at least one of the writers in ForwardDay by Day speaks in tongues) but they are not marks of the HolySpirit.  They are simply signs ofreligious excitement, often full of sincerity and devotion, but they do notshow that someone has the Holy Spirit. Every single religion has some people who do these things if that is howtheir culture shows religious excitement- Moslems, Hindus, Jews, people whopractice witchcraft or voodoo, Satanists, and Christians.  They don’t show WHAT the person is excitedabout- and it’s the WHAT that’s important. And how many of these same people- when they leave church or their placeof worship, turn right around and misuse other people.  These actions only show someone isexcited.  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!  Howdisgusting!  Not even two blocks awayfrom church and already lighting up a cigarette!”  The next thing she heard was a childish voicefrom the back seat- you see, her son had been listening to the sermon.  “Just listen!” he mimicked.  “How disgusting!  Not even two blocks away from church andalready judging her neighbor!”  So how DOyou know- how does the Bible say you can tell if you have the Holy Spirit, ormore important- how do you know if you are growing in the Holy Spirit?  This is how you can tell.  First of all, you’ve got fewer of the behaviorslisted in Galatians 5: 19-21a (“People’s desires make them give in to immoralways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard toget along with.  People become jealous,angry, and selfish.  They not only argueand cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evilthings.”)  Second, you’ve got fewer ofthose 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 anotherbasic spiritual lesson for us.  Did younotice- the disciples didn’t pick and choose- just telling people like themabout the church.  They told EVERYBODY aboutJesus and invited them to be part of the church. Jesus’ church is for everyone- all nationalities, all ages, sexualities, male and female, fat and thin,college graduate and people who never finished elementary school, rich andmiddle income and poor- everyone.  Theground is level at the foot of the cross, the ground should be level at everyBible-believing church, and the ground most certainly is level here at St.Paul’s.  Our mission statement says itall: “St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, an inclusive thinking person’s church whereeverybody is somebody, where money never determines value or worth, and whereJesus Christ is Lord!   I’m going to concludewith a story.  You’ve heard this onebefore, but I’m using it again because it fits so well.  A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best,was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Sunday school. Asshe ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, pleasedon't let me be late!” As she was running and praying, she tripped on a curband fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her pretty dress. She got up,brushed herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again beganto pray, “Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!  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 2019?  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 web site under“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org. Blessedpreaching,JudyBoliSt.Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw,Michigan-- 
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