<div style="color:black;font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, serif;">Forwarded:<br>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Jun 8, 2019 5:56 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost: “Happy Holy Spirit Day!”<br>
<br>
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<div style="line-height:normal;">Dear
Friends,</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled <span> </span><span> </span>“Happy Holy Spirit Day!” and is based on all
the lessons.<span> </span>Here it is: <span> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Happy Pentecost
Sunday!<span> </span>As you probably know, Pentecost
is one of the most misunderstood church holidays and also the last Sunday of
Easter.<span> </span>It’s the second most important
church holiday- just after Easter in importance, more important than
ChristMass.<span> </span>We just don’t think much
about it because it isn’t a huge money maker for the stores.<span> </span>It’s called the birthday of the church and
the feast of the Holy Spirit.<span> </span>Let’s look
at what happened and what it means in our lives today.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">This is what happened.<span> </span><span> </span>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.<span> </span>This
time was different, because Jesus had ascended, so he wasn’t going to make a
resurrection appearance.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit filled the
room.<span> </span>Their mood changed.<span> </span>They were “on fire” for the Lord.<span> </span>They went from scared disciples-in-hiding to
charged-up apostles (witnesses- sent).<span>
</span>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.<span> </span>There was
only one problem- do you know what it was?<span>
</span>(Take answers.)<span> </span>Most of the
pilgrims did not speak Aramaic, the language of the disciples.<span> </span>If you were God, what would you do?<span> </span>How could Jesus’ message be proclaimed to the
ends of the earth if the proclaimers mostly proclaimed it in only one
language?<span> </span>Then an amazing miracle
occurred.<span> </span>Out of the disciples mouths
came the language of the people who were listening (so they could
understand).<span> </span>About 3,000 people were
baptized, many of the listeners joined the disciples in their worship (Bible
readings and Holy Communion), and the Church was born.<span> </span>That’s what happened.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Now, what’s it to
us?<span> </span>Good question!<span> </span>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.<span> </span>You know, it wasn’t just in the
old days that the Holy Spirit was active.<span>
</span>The Holy Spirit didn’t just fill those early Christians; the Holy Spirit
fills us today IF we let him.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>God
doesn’t force himself on anyone.<span> </span>So-how
do you know if you are growing in the Holy Spirit?<span> </span>Here’s the wrong answer: you sway, you shout,
you speak in tongues, you fall out- NO!<span>
</span>All of these actions are OK, (in fact, at least one of the writers in <i>Forward
Day by Day</i> speaks in tongues) but they are not marks of the Holy
Spirit.<span> </span>They are simply signs of
religious excitement, often full of sincerity and devotion, but they do not
show that someone has the Holy Spirit.<span>
</span>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.<span> </span>They don’t show WHAT the person is excited
about- and it’s the WHAT that’s important.<span>
</span>And how many of these same people- when they leave church or their place
of worship, turn right around and misuse other people.<span> </span>These actions only show someone is
excited.<span> </span>Remember the story I’ve used
many times of the family driving home from church?<span> </span>As the mother looked out of the car window,
she exclaimed, “Just look!<span> </span>How
disgusting!<span> </span>Not even two blocks away
from church and already lighting up a cigarette!”<span> </span>The next thing she heard was a childish voice
from the back seat- you see, her son had been listening to the sermon.<span> </span>“Just listen!” he mimicked.<span> </span>“How disgusting!<span> </span>Not even two blocks away from church and
already judging her neighbor!”<span> </span>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?<span> </span>This is how you can tell.<span> </span>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.<span>
</span>They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to
get along with.<span> </span>People become jealous,
angry, and selfish.<span> </span>They not only argue
and cause trouble, but they are envious.<span>
</span>They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil
things.”)<span> </span>Second, you’ve got fewer of
those behaviors, but you’re growing in the behaviors listed in Galatians 5:
22-23.<span> </span>(See Pentecost banner: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.)</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Pentecost has another
basic spiritual lesson for us.<span> </span>Did you
notice- the disciples didn’t pick and choose- just telling people like them
about the church.<span> </span>They told EVERYBODY about
Jesus 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 and
middle income and poor- everyone.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>Our mission statement says it
all: “St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, an inclusive thinking person’s church where
everybody is somebody, where money never determines value or worth, and where
Jesus Christ is Lord!<span> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">I’m going to conclude
with a story.<span> </span>You’ve heard this one
before, but I’m using it again because it fits so well.<span> </span>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!<span> </span>But don't push me either.”<span> </span>So my question to you is: what is God pushing
you to do?<span> </span>What are you doing that makes
you your own worst enemy?<span> </span>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?<span>
</span>You heard the list of the self-destructive behaviors.<span> </span>You can see the banner listing the fruits of
the Holy Spirit.<span> </span>You know who you talk
to, invite to church, avoid, maybe talk about.<span>
</span>Where do you fit in?<span> </span>More
important, though, is not where you’ve been but where you’re going?<span> </span>What life-affirming changes are you in
process of making this Pentecost 2019?<span> </span>May
God bless us as we claim the power of His Spirit in our lives.<span> </span>Amen.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated
African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under
“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a>
.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Blessed
preaching,</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Judy
Boli</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Saginaw,
Michigan</div>
</div>
<div></div>
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