The Work of the Holy Spirit

   When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

     5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.       6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

     13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls  on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]

Do You Hear What I Hear?

     Today the church celebrates Pentecost. On Pentecost we remember how the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and followers of Jesus. What was surprising to the people was that the disciples could understand people who were talking various languages. And they could respond in different languages. The religious people thought they were drunk. They couldn't believe that the disciples, ordinary and on the fringes of society people, could actually understand and talk in various languages.  They had to be drunk.

     And at the end of it all, there were thousands of people who began to believe in Jesus and what he taught.  It also surprises us that the disciple who became the first leader of the church was the one who in fear, betrayed Jesus – denying knowing Jesus not just once, but three times.

     There are so many ways to look at what this story tells us. First, we see that the Holy Spirit is present in this story.  It's the Holy Spirit that comes to us today to help us understand God's word – God's will and God's ways........just as it was the Holy Spirit that helped those at Pentecost understand God's word.

     We see in this story that God sends the Holy Spirit to help Peter as he begins to lead the church.  Why would God choose Peter, someone who was uneducated and had betrayed Jesus?  Because God sees our potential, God sees who we are and who we can become. Because God believes in us. 

     There are so many times that we are like Peter and the other disciples. After the crucifixion, the disciples hid in a room, fearing the Roman soldiers would arrest them. Jesus even walked with two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were discouraged and feeling pretty low, telling Jesus about what had happened......but they never recognized who Jesus was.

            Sometimes we betray God with our words and actions.

            Sometimes we don't understand what God's will and way are for us.

            And sometimes we don't even recognize God in our lives.

     On Pentecost we see the fulfillment of Jesus promise; that God would send the Holy Spirit to help all people understand God......an Advocate to help us grow in the values that Jesus taught us.

     Another metaphor for this story, is that with everyone being able to understand and speak with each other, God is reversing the divisions that cause so much pain in the world. The Christian church is based on inclusion, not exclusions.  We certainly see divisions and exclusion in the world, and too often we see exclusion within the churches today. The tongues of fire that came upon the heads of all who were gathered were the visible sign of the Holy Spirit that comes to unite us. God's desire is for everyone to be included in God's grace and mercy.

     The symbol of the United Methodist Church is the cross and the flame. The cross represents Jesus sacrifice for us and the flame represents the Holy Spirit. The cross is empty and tells us that the worst is never the last and that there is hope. It symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit and the message that all are included in our church. 

SO HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN OUR LIVES ?

It begins with Prevenient Grace

     Prevenient grace isn't something we ask for or work to get. It is the Holy Spirit at work in our lives before we are even aware of God in our lives. God says yes to us before we say yes to God. 

The Holy Spirit works through Sanctifying Grace

     Sanctifying grace is God's present activity in the world through us. The Holy Spirit leads us, challenges us, supports us and comforts us. When we choose to follow God, the Holy Spirit helps us grow in that relationship. And as we grow closer to God, the Holy Spirit helps us develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit

We find the list of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23

     But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

     The fruits of the Holy Spirit help us live out God's will for the world. When the world sees kindness and goodness in us, they see the kindness and goodness of God. When we seek love and peace, the world knows that peace and love is God's desire.

When others see joy in our lives in the midst of conflict and darkness, they see God's light. 

     The Holy Spirit infuses our lives with these fruits and we use them to help us understand, accept and support each other. The Holy Spirit helps us develop these values in our lives and as we live these values out, we show the world who God is.  As the Holy Spirit helps us grow these fruits in our lives we see God's will come alive in the world.

     We often say that Pentecost is the birth of the church. The first church was called The Way – because it followed the way of Jesus teachings. Today, the Holy Spirit continues to guide us, the church, if we will only listen. 

     I'm not talking about any one church/denomination. I am talking about the church as us, the people of God, who choose to live out the teachings of Jesus.

The fruits that grow in our lives are the outgrowth of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. They empower us to minister to the world and fulfill God's purpose for our lives and for the world.

     In our humanity we are all part of God's creation.

            We all experience accomplishments – and make mistakes

            We experience love and beauty as well a darkness and despair.

            There is the worst and the best in each of us.

            We are no better and no worse than anyone else.

            We all have battles to fight, when we feel defeated;

                        we have times of victory

            We are creative and we are destructive.

            But these are all part of our humanity.

     The Holy Spirit enables us to grow and reflect God's perfect love and grace. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost reminds us that we are all part of God's creation; and God does not exclude anyone. Together we are the body of Christ.  As we walk through our journey of life, let's walk together through the worst and best of our humanity.  

     Especially during this difficult time with COVID19 let us join hands with all of God's creation and become instruments to help spread and grow God's love and peace throughout our communities. 

PRAYER:

     Spirit of wind and fire, blow open the doors of our shut up hearts. We long to be set free from the fears that jail us and to be released from chains that bind us. We yearn to draw near to your source of living waters, and to drink deeply from its well. We want to be cleansed in your holy fire and be driven into the streets by your winds of grace. Come to us and heal us once more, Mighty spirit that we may embrace your gifts in service to a world in need.

BENEDICTION

     As we go forth in the reopening of our communities and the road ahead of us is uncertain and the path changing, we know that some things are for sure. We know God is love. We know Christ's light is forever. We know the Holy Spirit is here among and within us, closer than our next breath, binding us together.

Go in peace,

Pastor Rosemary