As I was preparing this sermon, the thought crossed my mind that I might simply allow the Holy Spirit to speak through me… to not prepare anything myself but to rely on the Spirit to put words in my mouth. After all, that’s how Christ sent the disciples out; that’s how the Spirit worked at Pentecost. Don’t worry, though, I do have a sermon written.
What is this Holy Spirit, though? When we talk about Jesus, we have a pretty good idea of his form while on this earth. There are numerous artists depictions. We know that he was born in Bethlehem. God in the form of Jesus is tactile, substantive. We understand Jesus, at least to some degree, in a way we can relate to. How Jesus was conceived, but there’s the Holy Spirit at work in his conception. How Jesus was baptized, again there is the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. How Jesus died, rose from the dead, and met his disciples… where he breathed on them… yet again, the Holy Spirit is involved.
And God known to Jesus as Father. We have seen Michelangelo’s depiction of God floating in the clouds. Most have God looking like a very old white bearded man. A recent book, The Shack, shows God as a short old black woman. We understand this aspect of God in how God created the world, how God spoke, how God made covenant with Abraham, how God gave the Law to Moses, how God breathed life into Adam… but wait, breathed life? Doesn’t that sound a bit like today’s time with young disciples? Yes, the Spirit shows up in creation, in how the Spirit of God hovered over the waters of the deep. The Spirit shows up in the covenant with Abraham.
If you remember in that story, when God visits Abraham the visit is described as three men coming to visit. What about Moses? What was that bush doing? Burning with a fire that did not consume it. Hmm, sounds a bit like the tongues of fire that danced over the heads of the followers of Christ at Pentecost. And the law was given to Moses on what day? Yes, the Jewish festival of Pentecost or Weeks is the celebration of when the Law was given.
The thing is, we see the Spirit of God show up throughout the Bible but we don’t have a good idea what this power is. We know where it comes from, but is it a personage of God? Is the Spirit equal in power to the Father? Equal in personal relationship to us as the Christ is? Why do prayers often begin Our Father or Lord Jesus but prayers never seem to begin with Holy Spirit?
I think the answer lies in the ineffability of the Spirit. This is the mystical aspect of God. This is where a lot of what we don’t understand comes from. The Holy Spirit is the power that proceeds from both God the Father and Jesus. The Holy Spirit is that aspect of God that we find most difficult to explain; whose interaction with us is most difficult to convey to others; and who has no artistically depicted form other than a dove, or wind, or fire. It’s hard to relate to wind and fire.
Sometimes it is just easier to describe what the Spirit does…
After Christ’s ascension into the heavens, the disciples (not just the 12 apostles) were gathered. We are told that they were all in one accord, in agreement, patiently waiting for whatever was coming, whatever it was that Christ had promised. They were like Tony in West Side Story when he sings,
There’s something’ due any day;
I will know right away
Soon as it shows.
The air is hummin’,
And something’ great is comin’!
Who knows?
It’s only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach.
Maybe tonight.
And then comes Pentecost. One of the highest Holy Days in the Jewish calendar. The town is full, bustling with pilgrims from all over the known world. Still, they are gathered together waiting.
Imagine if you will how they felt when they heard a rushing of wind fill the air, rush around their building, coming in through every open window, then the tongues of fire alighting on each of their heads…. They were filled with the Spirit (as Samuel says when he describes the Spirit) mightily.
They begin speaking, because they cannot contain the good news that has been put inside them. But although they understand what they are saying, it’s coming out in a completely different language… a language that one of those passers-by understands. He turns and is shocked! How do you know my language? You look like a Galileean.
Others who hear all these different languages stand on the sidelines and say, “oh, they are drunk.” But no, the disciples don’t care what people are saying, they are joyfully proclaiming the wonderous works of God… That is how the Spirit works in this wonderful birth of the Church!
Does it still happen today?
A young man once came to his friend, distraught and confused, not knowing whether he wanted to live or die, burdened by the troubles of the life he was living, wondering if there was any way out and pretty pessimistic about the prospects.
He had recently lost his Mother to cancer.
He hated his job and his career was going nowhere. And the night before his fiancé had broken off their engagement. He didn’t blame her.
He knew his problems had had an impact on his behavior. He was drinking a bit more than he should. He wasn’t paying much attention to her.
He was consumed by depression.
Having known each other for years and having been friends from a men’s bible study, his friend gladly met with him;
mostly listening,
sometimes joining the young man in his tears,
but mostly listening.
As he sat quietly, in the ministry of presence, he prayed silently for the young man, to be able to find some words to say that might show him that there is hope.
Then in desperation the young man said, “Why would God do this to me? It’s like he hates me.”
Then the friend began to speak. He did not know what prompted him. He did not know where his words came from. He only felt compelled to begin.
He could feel a strange sensation flowing through his body, more than once he felt his skin alive with goose bumps. His voice became something that was not his own. Passionate, powerful, touching chords in the young man’s soul. It was like his tongue was on auto pilot.
The words were clear, loving, soothing, and relevant. He could feel the Spirit moving through him, surrounding him, empowering him. He put his hand on the young man’s shoulder and he actually felt like the power of God was flowing through his body and out to the troubled man. He was almost shaking the power of God was so intense, building and building in the communion between these two.
And then, like a powerful summer rain suddenly falls into a calm mist, leaving the sweet smell of wet grass and a soothing peace, the words stopped. Both men had tears coming down their faces. God had invaded the space between them and empowered them both with the Spirit.
Full of the Holy Spirit, the friend asked if he could pray with the young man. Yes! Of course! Again, the words were not his own but this was a softer sound, a prayer of intercession from one brother for another. Finally, they hugged each other, the way guys do, with some hard pats on the back and a laugh catching back the last of the lumps in their throats… as brothers in Christ.
Well, the night was late and the young man had to be getting home. They said their goodbyes. After he left, the friend thought and thought but could not remember one word he had spoken. He wanted to write it down because as it was coming out, he thought… wow, this is not from me… this is truth from the Source of Truth… truth from the Spirit.
But the words, like the great wonders of God the disciples told, were not able to be written down. They had found their destination in the heart of the young troubled man. There was no record of exactly what was said…But there was hope. There was peace. And there was joy! This is another example of how the Spirit works.
In Acts, we see the Spirit being poured out upon all those who were gathered as followers of the risen Christ. And the Romans reading describes how the Holy Spirit empowers us to pray when we don’t have the words or means to pray ourselves. This is another way that the Spirit works.
Our Gospel reading today in John tells the story of how Jesus promises his disciples that he will send the Spirit to guide them, to reveal truth that they could not bear without the Spirit’s help, and to give them the gift of discernment to see things they could never see before but also the strength to live out the truth in their daily lives. This is another way that the Spirit works.
When I consider the disciples gathered together after Christ’s ascension, I think about how although they know they are to make disciples of all nations, they aren’t sure exactly how to go about this. And then it comes, the Spirit is poured out and without knowing how, they begin to speak and prophesy, and preach the good news. The power of the Holy Spirit, in some mystical miraculous way, enables them to follow Christ’s commission. Yes, this is the amazing mystical powerful way that the Spirit works.
These days, when we embark on a new venture, the start of a new job, the opening of a new business, or the beginning of a new mission or ministry in the church, we try to prepare for it. Or also, when a business is stalled or a workout has reached a plateau or a relationship seems to be going nowhere or when a church seems to be growing smaller, we seek out experts to help us move forward, often in the form of books or seminars.
There are myriad examples of books like 7 habits of highly effective people, the One Minute Manager, or How to Win Friends & Influence People. The bookstore shelves are full of these tools. At school or work we hear terms like six sigma quality. Quality enhancement programs; quality assurance; efficiency, effectiveness. These are ways that we seek to take control of our lives, to bring about a positive change. Ministers and lay leaders often find great insights and strategies for improving the church’s ministries by turning to such resources.
But what are we doing in the church now or in our lives personally that goes beyond our own strength, knowledge, and adherence to advice from books? Where is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit clearly seen in our lives and churches?
Is it possible that we Americans are so full of the ideals of self-reliance and independence that we block the Spirit’s leadership? What would have happened if that young man’s friend had not released control to the Spirit’s guidance?
I’m not suggesting that we should throw out all the management books and the quality improvement programs. I’m not suggesting that we ignore the wisdom of leaders in management and business. All truth comes from God. This is not an either/or sermon.
But clearly God has a certain way of acting that is contrary to modern management theory. For example, the greatest King of Israel was…. David. Right. And before he was a King, he was a…. shepherd.
Not a very well prepared lad for ruling over a people and providing good government, would you say? Not really properly vetted. Even after he was King he was a huge failure at being a good law abiding leader. What was the key to his success? David was a man after God’s own heart. The Spirit of God was able to come upon him mightily. He had a radical reliance on God. He was fully in Love with the Lord and sought out the Spirits guidance.
So where do we see that now? How do we find that supernatural reliance on God these days?
In the story about the young troubled man, I found out that months later, the friend of that troubled young man got a card from him in the mail. It was one of those blank-inside cards. It had a nice picture of a calm sea on the front and on the inside it had a short note, “Thank you for being Christ to me. Thank you for letting God work through you. Thank you for being the voice for the Holy Spirit to bring me back from the brink. You saved my life.” He could have referred his friend to a book or said nothing. But he opened himself up to the Spirit’s guidance. This is how the Holy Spirit works.
Radical reliance on God, supernatural intervention, or whatever you want to call it happens! Ask the young man who was kept from potential suicide. Ask your friends and family. Ask the person next to you in the pew. The stories are out there. The stories are plentiful. The problem is that we keep forgetting them. You can even ask our own church treasurer and she can tell you… how time and again the ministries and necessities of this church are provided for through what can only be called pennies from heaven… well, more than pennies. The Spirit of God moving people to share out of their abundance for the glory of God.
Go into the world and remember the church at Pentecost, how a group of fishermen were able to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit to be used to start a movement, a revolution of God’s grace, love, and hope. Search for opportunities to continue that revolution in your daily lives; opportunities to surrender to the Spirit’s leading; and the Holy Spirit will provide the strength, courage, and the words.
Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit. Amen
