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

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 11, 2011 2:34 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Happy Holy Spirit Day” or “‘The task
Ahead of Us Is Never as Great as the Power Behind Us.’ (Anonymous)”
and deals with the New Testament lesson (Acts 2: 1-11). Here it is:

Happy Pentecost Sunday!  As you know, Pentecost is one of the most
misunderstood church holidays and also the last Sunday of Easter.
It’s the second most important church holiday- just after Easter in
importance, more important than ChristMass.  We just don’t think much
about it because it isn’t a huge money maker for the stores.  It’s
called the birthday of the church and the feast of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at 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 upper room they had been using all along to
hide from the authorities, receive Holy Communion, and meet with their
risen Lord.  This time was different, because Jesus had ascended, so
he wasn’t going to make a resurrection appearance.  The timing for
what was about to happen was perfect. It was the Jewish holiday that
was almost like our Thanksgiving- a combination harvest festival and
glorious remembering of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount
Sinai, so the streets were packed with Jews from all over (we heard
the list) speaking many languages.  All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit
filled the room.  Their mood changed.  They were “on fire” for the
Lord.  They went from scared disciples-in-hiding to charged-up
apostles (witnesses- sent).  They burst out of that room onto the
street below- proclaiming Jesus as Lord; telling people their sins
were forgiven; and inviting people to learn about Jesus and follow
him.  There was only one problem- do you know what it was?  (Take
answers.)  Most of the pilgrims did not speak Aramaic, the language of
the disciples.  If you were God, what would you do?  How could Jesus’
message be proclaimed to the ends of the earth if the proclaimers only
spoke one language?  Then an amazing miracle occurred.  Out of the
disciples’ mouths came the language of the people who were listening
(so they could understand).  Many of the listeners joined the
disciples in their 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 what the Bible
teaches us about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, lets us check to see
if we are growing in the Holy Spirit.  You know, it wasn’t just in the
old days that the Holy Spirit was active.  The Holy Spirit didn’t just
fill those early Christians; the Holy Spirit fills us today IF we let
him.  The longer we walk with Jesus and follow in his ways, the more
the Holy Spirit will fill our lives- again- IF we let him.  God
doesn’t force himself on anyone.  So-how do 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, but they are not marks of the Holy Spirit.  They are simply
signs of religious excitement, often full of sincerity and devotion,
but they do not show that someone has the Holy Spirit.  Every single
religion has some people who do these things if that is how their
culture shows religious excitement- Moslems, Hindus, Jews, people who
practice witchcraft or voodoo, Satanists, and Christians.  They don’t
show WHAT the person is excited about- and it’s the WHAT that’s
important.  And how many of these same people- when they leave church
or their place of worship, turn right around and misuse other people.
These actions only show someone is excited.  Remember the story I’ve
used many 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 and already lighting
up a cigarette!”  The next thing she heard was a childish voice from
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 and already talking about her neighbor!”  So how DO
you know- how does the Bible say you can tell if you have the Holy
Spirit, or more 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 behaviors listed in Galatians 5: 19-21a (“People’s
desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and
shameful deeds.  They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others,
and are hard to get along with.  People become jealous, angry, and
selfish.  They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are
envious.  They get drunk, 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 and choose- just telling people like them
about the church.  They told EVERYBODY about Jesus and invited them to
be part of the church. Jesus’ church is for everyone - all races, all
ages, male and female, fat and thin, college graduate and people who
never finished elementary school, rich and middle income and poor-
everyone.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross, the ground
should be level at every Bible-believing church, and the ground most
certainly is level here at St. Paul’s.  Our mission statement says it
all: “St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, an inclusive thinking person’s
church where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord!”

I’m going to conclude with a story.  You’ve heard this one before, 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. As she ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please
don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!” As she
was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and 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
began to 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 pushing you to
do?  What are you doing that makes you your own worst enemy?  What
changes is the Holy Spirit inviting you to make- for your own sake and
for the sake of those whom you love and who love you?  You heard the
list of the self-destructive behaviors.  You can see the banner
listing the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  You know who you talk to,
invite to church, avoid, maybe talk about.  Where do you fit in?  More
important, though, is not where you’ve been but where you’re going?
What life-affirming changes are you in process of making this
Pentecost 2011?  May God bless us as we claim the power of His Spirit
in our lives.  Amen.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

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


 
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