The Spirit is at work - Rev Allister Lane
READING: ACTS 2: 1-13
Sermon on 23 May 2021
Today is Pentecost Sunday. We need to ask the same question those at the first Pentecost asked:
What does this mean? (v12)
This morning I want us to see that the coming of the Spirit means:
Outside Power
Inner Wonder
and a Universal Message.
These relate to the three phenomena associated with the Day of Pentecost.
1) Outside power
from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (v2)
We know wind in Wellington! Right?
As a kid I always remember when going past the airport in Evans Bay, seeing the windsock at Wellington Airport, never limp! And there is the ‘WELLINGTON’ sign on the cliff that vividly bears witness to the force of the wind in this city!
But in the text today it says this was LIKE the rush of a violent wind. Why does this matter…?
They experienced something external. This was an outside phenomenon; not an interior, psychological experience. They all heard it, they all heard it, they all felt it. It was coming from outside – not just them, but outside the world: the text says
from heaven it came.
And therefore, the experience of the Holy Spirit is from outside – not just an internal, emotional experience.
This puts us on a collision course with our culture, and what the culture tells us about our problems and solutions, which is that our problems come from outside of us, and YOU have (inside of you) what it takes to solve them.
Christian faith says that the main problems come from inside you; and ‘out there’, beyond you, is the God who has the power to give you what you need.
The Bible (effectively) says: It’s not you, it’s me.”
Our culture says: “It’s not me it’s YOU.”
If all of your problems are people and situations you don’t have any control over – what a frustrating life. But if your problems start with you, then God can come into your life with real power to make a difference for you - meaningful and trustworthy power.
Frank Skinner’s prayer:
The New Testament redefined humility as a power-source.
My palms, together in prayer, sometimes seem to crackle with energy.
Such reduction of self seems the antithesis of modernity.
It challenges the fundamental concept of the twenty-first century: the cult of the significant individual.
The aim, instead, is to un-me oneself.(A Comedian’s Prayer Book, p13)
So, firstly we see on the Day of Pentecost: outside power.
2) Lives on fire
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. (v3)
God’s presence in the Old Testament is often as fire…
burning bush with Moses
fire and smoke on Mt Sinai
leading the people of Israel through the wilderness at night as a pillar of fire
Do you see how the presence of God, which was (up until then) only to particular people at particular times, for a particular purpose, was on the Day of Pentecost on all of them? Everyone was a ‘burning bush’.
What does it mean? (Just as ‘buzz’? a spiritual ‘high’?)
It means a new experience of the relationship with God.
At the Baptism of Jesus, the voice of God says “this is my son”.
Romans 8:16 “it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God”
Galatians 4:6 “because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”
The Holy Spirit confirms what IS. He takes what we know in our heads, and makes them real in our hearts.
Thomas Goodwin’s Example:
Father and son walking on the street talking. Father bends down and scoops up and hugs the son and the son hugs too.
Was the boy MORE a son of the father when picked up than when walking with his feet on the footpath?
No. The legal relationship is still the same; the same mix of duties and responsibilities exist.
What has changed? The experience.
Held in his father’s arms the boy experiences his father’s love; he experiences his sonship.
The Holy Spirit assures you of God’s love, taking what you know in your head into your heart.
So, we see on the Day of Pentecost: lives on fire – truth being experienced for real, within us: we are children of God.
3) Universal message
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (v4)
At Pentecost, the Spirit enabled the speaking of peoples’ own native languages. No translation was needed; they recognised what was being said as the Spirit enabled this speech.
What were they talking about in these different languages? Although they were full of joy, they weren’t talking about being joyful.
What were they talking about…?
…we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.
They are declaring what God has done; they are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ – his death and resurrection.
If you are experiencing the Holy Spirit in your life, you’re not focused on your own joy (although you ARE joyful), you’re focused on the wonder of the Gospel in your life, and in the lives of those around you. Your joy is IN the Gospel; in what Jesus has done for you.
Finally, why is this list of nationalities/cultures listed by Luke? (bit of a mouthful for the poor Bible Reader!) It emphasises that the Gospel is proclaimed in all these languages at once on the Day of Pentecost. And this shows us at least two things:
The message of hope is for all people – no one is excluded
No language (and therefore culture) is more privileged.
Unlike other religions which have a ‘holy language’, the Bible and the message it contains – right from the start – is translated into other languages.
The priority is on getting the message through – this is what the Day of Pentecost shows us.
Christianity is the most culturally diverse religion in the world. It is accessible to every culture – the Gospel can be heard in every culture/language – and every culture is respected[1], because you aren’t required to change your culture. Instead you become a German Christian, an Indonesian Christian, a Samoan Christian.
So, we see on the Day of Pentecost: a universal message, good news for everyone.
We answer the question, asked on the Day of Pentecost
What does this mean…?
an outside power – greater than you which can help you
truth known deep in your heart – that you are a child of God
a universal message – an inclusive community.
If you’re still not sure what this means, and wonder how Pentecost affects our lives today… stick around to see what the Spirit is doing with us, in community!
We anticipate and welcome the Holy Spirit
in us,
between us,
with us,
through us,
and from us.
Amen.
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[1] The Gospel also critiques every culture – where there are imbalances, excessive and little gods/idols.