Pentecost 2012
Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church – some Churches even have parties, and today we remember the day when the first Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit… Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten litres of petrol for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channelled through the engine of a car in a controlled burn and used to transport a person.
Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect or staying power. The Holy Spirit works in both ways. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit exploded on the scene; His presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3) and dramatically transformed the lives of those early followers of Jesus, as well as the people around them - thousands were affected by one burst of God's power.
But in a more controlled way the Spirit constantly continues to work through the church - the institution God began to use the Holy Spirit's power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
And so today we celebrate the energy that the Holy Spirit gives us… As we look back at the early followers gathered together they waited expectantly for the power Jesus had promised them. Jesus had made a promise to them and they knew he would deliver – they may not have understood what the Holy Spirit would do, but they waited for something to change them, and change others.
Today the Holy Spirit works in the same way, but I sometimes wonder if we do. For the Holy Spirit to work as powerfully as it did back then, we too need to be expectant – expectant that with God’s strength we can do great things together for him. Sadly for many, particularly in the Western Church, the story of Pentecost has become so familiar that we can forget it’s real. And we have become so self-sufficient that we forget about the need to depend on anyone – even God…
There’s a story told of a husband and wife both of whom were doctors - one a doctor of theology and the other a doctor of medicine. One day their daughter answered the front door, and the person at the door asked for ‘the Doctor’. The daughter replied, "Do you want the one who preaches or the one who practices?"
The gift of the Holy Spirit was certainly given to enable us to preach, but it was also given to practice – to go out and be Jesus to others… As we celebrate the birthday of the Church, we celebrate that we are part of the institution that is empowered to do that – we are part of those privileged to be given a chance to serve God and serve others, whilst enjoying the worship and fellowship and support with others.
But one of the problems of the Church over quite a long period now has been that, too often, we’re happy to admit defeat; too often we’re happy to say we can’t do, rather than wondering what God can do through us; too often we’re happy to try and come up with our own ideas which match our abilities and our standards, instead of wondering what God is calling us to do, and God is empowering us to do.
The story of the early Church is incredibly relevant to us today because it’s the story of a small group, not acting in line with the expectations of society, and not constrained by worries over what they could do. It’s the story of a small group outnumbered – but a group who were positive, a group who were ready to try things even when they seemed impossible.
They were a group that would live together and work together, a group that would support and encourage one another, a group sustained and strengthened by prayer, and a group that knew the power of the Holy Spirit to transform.
Today the Church in this country can often seem a marginalised institution, and being a Christian can sometimes be difficult in a society that seems to view any sort of religion with some suspicion, unless that religion is kept very personal and very quiet…
Sometimes we as a Church settle for that, but it was never the way of the early Church, and it was never the way of Jesus. Gospel literally means good news, and good news is something that should be shared. I have recently been re-reading a book I have read a number of times already – a book called ‘Run Baby Run’. It is the story of a man called Nicky Cruz who, in the late50’s and early 60’s became a gang leader in New York. He tells of the time when he first arrived in the City from Puerto Rico – alone and with very little money.
He wrote ‘Moving on down the street I stopped in front of a Church. A heavy iron gate had been pulled across the front doors and it was fastened with a chain and padlock. I stood in front of the gray building, looking up at the steeple which pointed towards the heavens. The cold stone walls and dark stained glass windows huddled for protection behind the iron fence. The statue of a man with a kind face and sad eyes peered through the locked gate. His arms were outstretched and covered with snow. But he was locked in, and I was locked out…’
The story of Pentecost is the story of a day when the Church went out, and every day since, it has gone out – Christians in all corners of the world have faithfully and courageously taken out and shared the gospel message. Through worship, fellowship, prayer and service, the Holy Sprit has empowered people to enjoy God and life to the full.
And that has happened in all kinds of different places and circumstances – it has happened in times when people have struggled and have been hurting, it has happened at times of great celebration, it has happened just in the ordinary every day of life…
And for most of us that is where the Holy Spirit continues to empower us today – if we allow him too… Day by day our lives are continually changed if we allow it – day by day we can feel stronger, more complete and empowered to be Jesus to others…
As part of the Church, we are part of a fellowship of millions; we are part of an organisation with millions of buildings, hundreds of thousands of different organisations and activities; we are part of a huge organisation delivering social responsibility projects, and aid to those who need it; we are part of an organisation with more young people than any other, with more young families, and middle aged couples than any other, with more elderly people than any other…
We are not part of an organisation that is being defeated, but a powerful organisation, doing incredible work, in this country and further afield. Above all, we are part of an organisation that has at its centre the most influential person that has ever walked the face of the earth…
Jesus came to transform lives and he did it – people followed him, he preached, he did miracles, he fought injustice, he cared enough about others to even die for them – and he conquered death for evermore…
When he ascended into heaven, he didn’t leave the church without a plan, or without an energy or power – the Holy Spirit that he promised came, and those small number of followers began the Church, and began to build an organisation that continues to grow 2000 years later – that is what we are part of…
Don’t believe the stories of the demise of the Church – don’t get bogged down with the problems which too often seem to get highlighted – but trust in God, be empowered by the Spirit to live and to love in such a way that the world will take notice…
And let’s always remember that the Holy Spirit is personal – and that we are invited into a personal relationship – a relationship that will change us, a relationship that will strengthen us and allow us to enjoy all of the privileges of being a part of a huge organisation, whilst knowing that we are loved – every single one of us…
So let’s rejoice in that knowledge, celebrate the Church and our part in it, give thanks for the privileges we enjoy in our relationship with God and go out empowered to do his work and glorify his name in all that we do and think and say. AMEN
Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect or staying power. The Holy Spirit works in both ways. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit exploded on the scene; His presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3) and dramatically transformed the lives of those early followers of Jesus, as well as the people around them - thousands were affected by one burst of God's power.
But in a more controlled way the Spirit constantly continues to work through the church - the institution God began to use the Holy Spirit's power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
And so today we celebrate the energy that the Holy Spirit gives us… As we look back at the early followers gathered together they waited expectantly for the power Jesus had promised them. Jesus had made a promise to them and they knew he would deliver – they may not have understood what the Holy Spirit would do, but they waited for something to change them, and change others.
Today the Holy Spirit works in the same way, but I sometimes wonder if we do. For the Holy Spirit to work as powerfully as it did back then, we too need to be expectant – expectant that with God’s strength we can do great things together for him. Sadly for many, particularly in the Western Church, the story of Pentecost has become so familiar that we can forget it’s real. And we have become so self-sufficient that we forget about the need to depend on anyone – even God…
There’s a story told of a husband and wife both of whom were doctors - one a doctor of theology and the other a doctor of medicine. One day their daughter answered the front door, and the person at the door asked for ‘the Doctor’. The daughter replied, "Do you want the one who preaches or the one who practices?"
The gift of the Holy Spirit was certainly given to enable us to preach, but it was also given to practice – to go out and be Jesus to others… As we celebrate the birthday of the Church, we celebrate that we are part of the institution that is empowered to do that – we are part of those privileged to be given a chance to serve God and serve others, whilst enjoying the worship and fellowship and support with others.
But one of the problems of the Church over quite a long period now has been that, too often, we’re happy to admit defeat; too often we’re happy to say we can’t do, rather than wondering what God can do through us; too often we’re happy to try and come up with our own ideas which match our abilities and our standards, instead of wondering what God is calling us to do, and God is empowering us to do.
The story of the early Church is incredibly relevant to us today because it’s the story of a small group, not acting in line with the expectations of society, and not constrained by worries over what they could do. It’s the story of a small group outnumbered – but a group who were positive, a group who were ready to try things even when they seemed impossible.
They were a group that would live together and work together, a group that would support and encourage one another, a group sustained and strengthened by prayer, and a group that knew the power of the Holy Spirit to transform.
Today the Church in this country can often seem a marginalised institution, and being a Christian can sometimes be difficult in a society that seems to view any sort of religion with some suspicion, unless that religion is kept very personal and very quiet…
Sometimes we as a Church settle for that, but it was never the way of the early Church, and it was never the way of Jesus. Gospel literally means good news, and good news is something that should be shared. I have recently been re-reading a book I have read a number of times already – a book called ‘Run Baby Run’. It is the story of a man called Nicky Cruz who, in the late50’s and early 60’s became a gang leader in New York. He tells of the time when he first arrived in the City from Puerto Rico – alone and with very little money.
He wrote ‘Moving on down the street I stopped in front of a Church. A heavy iron gate had been pulled across the front doors and it was fastened with a chain and padlock. I stood in front of the gray building, looking up at the steeple which pointed towards the heavens. The cold stone walls and dark stained glass windows huddled for protection behind the iron fence. The statue of a man with a kind face and sad eyes peered through the locked gate. His arms were outstretched and covered with snow. But he was locked in, and I was locked out…’
The story of Pentecost is the story of a day when the Church went out, and every day since, it has gone out – Christians in all corners of the world have faithfully and courageously taken out and shared the gospel message. Through worship, fellowship, prayer and service, the Holy Sprit has empowered people to enjoy God and life to the full.
And that has happened in all kinds of different places and circumstances – it has happened in times when people have struggled and have been hurting, it has happened at times of great celebration, it has happened just in the ordinary every day of life…
And for most of us that is where the Holy Spirit continues to empower us today – if we allow him too… Day by day our lives are continually changed if we allow it – day by day we can feel stronger, more complete and empowered to be Jesus to others…
As part of the Church, we are part of a fellowship of millions; we are part of an organisation with millions of buildings, hundreds of thousands of different organisations and activities; we are part of a huge organisation delivering social responsibility projects, and aid to those who need it; we are part of an organisation with more young people than any other, with more young families, and middle aged couples than any other, with more elderly people than any other…
We are not part of an organisation that is being defeated, but a powerful organisation, doing incredible work, in this country and further afield. Above all, we are part of an organisation that has at its centre the most influential person that has ever walked the face of the earth…
Jesus came to transform lives and he did it – people followed him, he preached, he did miracles, he fought injustice, he cared enough about others to even die for them – and he conquered death for evermore…
When he ascended into heaven, he didn’t leave the church without a plan, or without an energy or power – the Holy Spirit that he promised came, and those small number of followers began the Church, and began to build an organisation that continues to grow 2000 years later – that is what we are part of…
Don’t believe the stories of the demise of the Church – don’t get bogged down with the problems which too often seem to get highlighted – but trust in God, be empowered by the Spirit to live and to love in such a way that the world will take notice…
And let’s always remember that the Holy Spirit is personal – and that we are invited into a personal relationship – a relationship that will change us, a relationship that will strengthen us and allow us to enjoy all of the privileges of being a part of a huge organisation, whilst knowing that we are loved – every single one of us…
So let’s rejoice in that knowledge, celebrate the Church and our part in it, give thanks for the privileges we enjoy in our relationship with God and go out empowered to do his work and glorify his name in all that we do and think and say. AMEN
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