Sermons for the Month
Holy Spirit Initiated "Fixing"
DATE: mAY 11TH, 2008
SERVICE: The Day of Pentecost
TEXT: Acts 2:1-21“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
On Monday and Tuesday of this week I attended the Trinity Lutheran Seminary Board meeting in Columbus. It was my second meeting, and was a model of efficiency and spirituality combined. I felt as if I benefited from interacting with a room full of gifted, committed Christians. One of those people was Bishop James Stuck from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod; he sat in front of me at the meeting and also is on the Committee to which I am assigned. We had the opportunity to visit in the midst of business and he told me an interesting story. While visiting a congregation recently, Bishop Stuck made a stop in the men's restroom only to find a major leak in process. He looked around for assistance, but finding no one to help, was able to shut off the water source himself. (I have an image of him on his knees, under the sink, back side sticking out of the cabinet, looking for a shut off valve.) In any case, when the pastor became aware of what had happened he thought it was a great story and made a big deal to the congregation about the Bishop shutting off the water and stopping the leak. People were smiling, and probably even clapping; but then they heard the Bishop's quick response, which may have stopped them mid-clap. He wisely said that while the leak was stopped, it was not fixed, and whether or not that happens is up to them. He then went on to say that also is true of what is broken in the church; if it is to be fixed, the initiative of the congregation will be required. As I was thinking about that, it occurred to me that fixing the bathroom leak might require "expert assistance"; the people might have to call on a plumber for help. In the same way, the expert assistance of the Holy Spirit will be required if people are to take the initiative to move forward in faith. That fits exactly with what we talked about last week concerning making a Christian Footprint on earth. Doing so requires us to step out in faith, but the impression we make will be lasting only if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. That's why Jesus' disciples had to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit's arrival before following in the footsteps of their ascended Lord. Otherwise they would have tripped and stumbled - perhaps even losing ground - as they attempted to move forward. Today we celebrate the Holy Spirit's arrival, and although there are conflicting details in the two accounts we read, one reality is clear. As the Spirit fell upon them, the followers' fear and hesitancy fell away. Then, they took the initiative. In John's Gospel they proclaim the good news about the risen Lord to Thomas. In Acts, the limitations of language are transcended. Visitors from all over the world are confused in the story NOT because they do not understand what the Galileans are saying, but because they do understand. The mighty acts of God are being proclaimed in their own languages! The connection is made and God's grace is proclaimed. Then, as if that's not amazing enough, Peter - who only seven weeks earlier had denied Jesus three times - is empowered by the Spirit to preach and by the Spirit's power the crowd responds. Can you imagine 3000 people welcoming the message being baptized? And then, even more astounding, is the fact that they are so devoted to the apostles' teaching and prayer that they end up selling their possessions, distributing the proceeds according to their needs, praising God and having goodwill for all. Not surprisingly, the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:41-47) WOW…talk about people being empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the initiative! It brings this question to my mind: Do we believe that measurable transformation like that can happen here at Faith Lutheran Church because we are empowered by the Spirit to take the initiative? If so, exactly how does that happen? Methodist Bishop William Willimon wrote a Pentecost sermon in which he used the theme "the Holy Spirit prevailed" and then listed a number of examples from Christian history to prove the point. Then he writes this: "Over our boundaries, leaping over walls, throbbing, intruding, calling forth, the Holy Spirit prevailed. In our church, in our congregation, time and again, when we have been cold of heart, slow to move, timid and cowering, the Holy Spirit has prevailed." (1) What bold language that is, but it sounds as if the Holy Spirit's work is somehow separate from us, descending upon us and making us act, like puppets responding to pulled strings. I suppose that could happen, but my experience of the Spirit's activity is more subtle; the prevailing of the Holy Spirit happens from the inside out. It happens like this: In baptism we receive the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith. Then, our faith is nurtured as the Holy Spirit communicates through people, through God's Word and in Holy Communion, and faith grows. This is one of the reasons the promises that are made by parents, sponsors and the congregation at Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism are so important. It is because of the Holy Spirit working in us - individually and as a congregation - that faith thrives. Then, low and behold, some "opportunity" enters our lives … an illness, a need, a way to use our gifts… and these questions hang in the air: Will we draw on our faith for strength? Will we live out our faith in our choices? The Holy Spirit is right there to help us to trust, to guide our decisions and to empower us as we choose to take the initiative. In that way the Holy Spirit prevails, from the inside out. It's an on-going process, but it also is one that builds on itself if we are open to it. The more our faith is nurtured, the stronger it becomes and the easier it is to trust and to act. As fear and hesitancy fall away, astounding things happen. Much to our chagrin, the opportunities often present themselves when we are basking in the calm that has finally arrived. Quoting Bishop Willimon again, "Just when we get settled down, comfortable with the present arrangements, our pews bolted securely to the floor, all fixed and immobile, there comes a rush of wind, or a still small voice …and the Holy Spirit prevails."(2) Take a look around and you'll see many examples of the Holy Spirit prevailing. It was clear as our members took the initiative to meet the challenges of Servant Saturday, overwhelmed by the needs, yet able to leave a Christian Footprint behind. It is obvious as people take the initiative to share their time and talent to nurture the faith of others in Christian Education; we gave specific thanks for that today. The Holy Spirit is visible as members initiate offering support to other members during times of distress, even though doing so creates distress. And, of course, the Building Project process in which we have been involved for three years is a significant example of a situation in which the Holy Spirit will prevail. That's why it's so important that we receive information at next Sunday's sessions, talk and pray together in the next month, and pay attention to the Holy Spirit's guiding and empowering presence. Over and over again the reality of Pentecost is repeated in the lives of believers; the Holy Spirit falls upon us, or stirs within us, fear and hesitancy fall away, and the people of God take the initiative to act. They do more than "stop the leak", they fix it. By the power of the Holy Spirit that which is good, healing, true, life-producing - in short, overflowing with grace - prevails. How astounding that is!
AMEN
(1) "The Prevailing Spirit" by William Willimon, Acts 2:1-21, May 31, 1998, pg. 3 www.chapel.duke.edu
(2) Same as above