We are called to mission

Sermon given at Sydenstricker UMC 5/20/18

Click here for audio

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5: 22-23; Acts 2: 1-24

^NIV Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

^NIV Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues 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, 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: ¹⁷ "'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. ¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. ²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' ²² "Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

We come to this place celebrating the choice a number of our youth are making by opening their hearts to Jesus. I want to share that this is never an easy decision and they have been in preparation for this moment for a year of their lives. We will celebrate with them. Many in this congregation have taken that same step in one place or another and in one way or another. Some of us simply came to the rail and professed our faith while others when through a process of discernment to get there. However you got there, you came in that moment to share your life with Christ. What does that mean? What does it ask of you? This sermon is maybe after the fact but maybe we need reminded of what we committed to be.

I love this story of Pentecost. The disciples have been spending their time in prayer since the ascension of Jesus. They have been opening themselves to what God has in store for them without really knowing what that means. Isn’t that how it worked for us? How could we know what is in store when we give our lives to Christ? For the disciples, it meant being patient while the Holy Spirit began its work on them. It meant preparing for that moment when God would call them without knowing what or where or how. It meant that they put themselves in a place where they could pray unceasingly for God to direct and guide them. What if we did the same thing? What if we took time to listen to the voice of God in our own lives through the power of prayer? What might we learn? What might we see? Who might we become? The power of the Holy Spirit that fills us discerns wisdom for us and ultimately guides us into new and different realities of life.   

We share in this story that moment when the Holy Spirit whipped through them like a strong wind, even bringing the image of fire to tap their brains into a new reality. All of this because they were willing to let the spirit fill them. Scary stuff you know! Letting someone or something else control your thoughts, your future and your lives. They were willing because they had total trust in God. Do you? You have come to this moment in time professing your faith in Christ. Do you really believe and trust in God so much that you would open your hearts and let Jesus in? That is what you have just told me. That is what you have shared with this congregation and God. All the rest of you did it again, in the agreement of the when you said you believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Do you? Really? Are you willing to take on this spirit as part of your lives every moment of every day?

Almost right away, the sceptics, the non-believers, those who want to find fault or doubt begin to attack the very character of God. They may not be so bold as to attack God directly but they do it through the disciples. They must be drunk to do what they are doing, they say. They must be out of their minds to follow around like this. They must be delirious to speak in other languages and to talk about dying and rising again. Here is important news for you. They will attack you too! They might do so in subtle ways or for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the attack is outright and physical. Some of you may be called to places in the world where practicing your faith is subject to great persecution. Will you go if called and will you persevere? It is that trust thing again. Are you willing to be different in the face of culture and society? Are you willing to love one another regardless even when the world declares you are the people you love unlovable? See that is what we are saying when we declare that we believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and we want to have that spirit come into our hearts. This whole Jesus thing can be rather disruptive and scary.

So what lesson do we glean from the disciples? They faced the ridicule of those around them and in that day and time, even the chance to be beaten or put to death for their faith. Yet, they did not run away, rather they stood firm in their faith. They responded to the ridicule. No, we are not drunk unless you could say we are filled to overflowing of the spirit of God. No, they said, they are the fulfillment of what God intended from the beginning and had spoken about through the ancient prophets of what was to be. We are called to witness, bravely, proudly and boldly. Just like the disciples at Pentecost we are called to trust God, to invite the power of the Holy Spirit within our own minds, hearts and bodies and then to go forth in bold proclamation of the Word of God. Disciples who no longer are students of the order only but now Apostles leading the way for others. Are you ready? Have you shared this love for Christ with your classmates, your friends and your families? Have they called you nuts yet? I love being a fool for Christ, it means I can live my life in love regardless of what the world around me is saying or doing. My life then becomes a witness to that love by showing other people what the message of God is really all about. We are called to witness our faith through our actions, those things we do, our deeds, those things are remembered for and our words when necessary, those things we say. As new or not as new Christians we are called to share the message of God throughout the world. So I ask you, do you know the message? Hint - Four letters, begins with l. Are you willing to share that message through your actions, deeds and sometimes using words with the world? You see that is what you just agreed to do.

So how do we do that? Great question, glad you asked! Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament and who has set the framework for much of what we do in the church, says it this way. ^NIV Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. In simpler words maybe, we are called to be in mission to the world through the power of love. We have given our lives to Christ and through the willingness of being obedient to the power of the Holy Spirit, we are transformed. What did you hope for? Being transformed into a super hero maybe? I think you have been and here is the thing. This transformation will continue to change you today, tomorrow, next year and every moment of your life……if you let it! The world around you will begin to see a more peaceful, more loving and gentler person than the you before this moment. A person who loves kindness and goodness. A person who finds self-control a little easier each and every day. You also become a person concerned about the people around you, especially the ones who are hurting through illness or life struggle, the homeless and the hungry. All of these because we are called to mission through this thing called faith. You will spend the rest of your lives on a journey of relationship with God who will call you at times to the tough places to make a difference in lives you may not even know. Will you be faithful to that call? Each of us who have given our lives to Christ will face these challenges. God is faithful and God is with us every step of the way. Congratulations confirmands! Remember this day for the rest of your lives. Congregation, remember your day and be thankful for it. Now go out into the world, making disciples of Jesus Christ through your actions, deeds and words, baptizing them in the power of Pentecost through the Holy Spirit and teach them to love one another. We are called to mission.