“Power Through the Holy Spirit”

 Scripture:  Acts 2:22-41; Acts 5:27-34, 38-39

Even though this is actually Memorial Day weekend, which we acknowledged during our prayer time - for the message today, we will be considering additional thoughts as an extension to the message of Pentecost that we considered last week. 

 Why am I doing this?  The scriptural significance of Peter’s message to the thousands who gathered outside the disciples house that day is just too wonderful to choose only a portion of those incredible words.  First, he addressed the misunderstanding that some had over the “tongues” that they heard, but apparently did not understand, and instead, attributed their lack of understanding to the assumption that these believers were drunk and inept.

 Have you ever heard people speak disparagingly about the work and faith of Christians and their churches?  I’m not going to repeat the words that they used, but trust me when I say that they are usually anything but complementary!

 So today, we will be considering the power that the Spirit brings to our lives by faith in our risen savior, Jesus Christ.

 Read Acts 2:22-41

 We won’t be considering each and every verse of Peter’s message in detail, but we still must remember that his initial words were in quotation of Joel’s prophecy regarding Jesus as Messiah, and here he continues to explain that all that was prophesied has now come true.  There have been many prophesies offered that we should very carefully listen to and remember, but when they begin to come true, that’s when our lives should always respond immediately to every single thing that they tell us!

 And not only should we be alert to all that are offered for our lives, but when 1 or 2 actually are fulfilled, why would we ever hesitate to believe all of the rest?  Why would folks believe that God’s words exist in a “hit and miss” category?  That’s just not who our Almighty God is!  His prophetic word is both a warning regarding our need to make changes to the life that we are living, and are also words that call us to preparation for the great blessings that will soon be coming into our hearts.

 Notice verse 36 where we read “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”  Even though it is addressed to Israel, these are words of glory for all of humanity.  We may not have driven the nails, but we all are the sinners who drove Jesus to the Cross to be God’s redemption for our sinful and broken lives. 

 Peter also quickly assures us that this Jesus who was crucified to death at Calvary, was also raised into life by God from the same death that would have held fast to anyone else until we decayed into nothingness!  He would also have us know that Jesus is now living the same life that each person who believes in His teaching and life will also receive, including the life He now lives!  Would the true and faithful God we all know so well ever require His Son to die in such a horrid way for nothing?  Jesus died so that all who were created in His image could have the chance to continue in God’s way for eternity!  (Genesis 1:27)

 Peter also quoted the writings of King David who reiterated these same words (Acts 2: 26-28).  Do you see the truth of God being proclaimed in several ways, and at different times?  Why would the Lord do it this way, if we weren’t supposed to believe and accept them?

 And then Peter gladly proclaims that the once crucified Jesus is now the resurrected and living Lord and Messiah.  And these words touched the hearts and souls of many who were there, hearing and absorbing the truth of God that had been given for their lives.  They had heard that even through Jesus was no longer with us in a physical way as He once was, is now living eternally in heaven.  This doesn’t mean that we have been left alone and on our own.  This is what brings the meaning for this day to a glorious promise. 

 The Spirit was working in powerful and mighty ways in the lives of the faithful that morning, and from the moment when those common and uneducated Galileans began speaking in languages that they had never learned, to the Messianic prophesy of Joel that Peter shared with the masses, to the sermon that he preached which grasped the heart felt attention of everyone who was gathered there that day, the people could not turn away from the hope that faith in Jesus was bringing to their own lives.  And they had no choice but to ask Peter what else there was that they could do about all that they were experiencing that day!

 And they were told that if they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, they would be forgiven for their sins, and would receive the same Holy Spirit who had been working so obviously in the lives of others that Pentecostal morning.  And as they believed all that they had heard, 3,000 people stepped forward that very day to receive Christ’s baptism.  And it was then that the “doing” would have really begun!

 Read Acts5:27-34, 38-39

 The disciples had been healing the sick and lame people and were preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to all who would come to listen.  This stood in direct opposition to orders that the Sanhedrin had set down, and the men were all arrested and thrown into jail.  But during the night, the Holy Spirit came and opened the door, releasing them.  This wasn’t to allow them to run away, saving their lives, but to free them so they could return to the temple, and continue to teach the people once again!

 One of the aspects of the Global Methodist church’s Mission Statement is for all their members to “Witness Boldly”, which is exactly what the Spirit called these men to do that same day.  The entire Global Church’s statement of Misson is this - “Worship Passionately, Love Extravagantly, and Witness Boldly”.

 Of course, these witnesses were once again arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin for questioning.  And what was Peter and the others’ response?  “We must obey God rather than men!”    There’s an old question that has been asked of Christians for years – “If you were arrested and accused of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  If you were all asked that same question today, how would you answer? 

 Some Sunday in the not so far future, and since we all are now all members of the Global Methodist Church, we will be considering just what this new Mission Statement means for each of us, as well as for our church.

 And getting back to our Acts passage, Peter continued with words of faith regarding the Lord Jesus, and directed them specifically toward those members of the Council which was accusing them of heresy!  He even accuses this council of  being the ones who “had Jesus killed by hanging Him on a tree.”  And the disciple goes on, explaining to the council that by faith in the Christ, there is repentance and forgiveness of sin - even for them!  Are we that bold in our faith?  If not, why not?  The Holy Spirit will be there for us, just as He was for those disciples.  So why hesitate?

 These learned men of the Sanhedrin wouldn’t take this sitting down, and they were ready to put a permanent end to this sacrilege right then and there!  But saner minds prevailed, and the men were released.  When we are true to what the Lord Jesus Christ places in our call to mission and ministry, there will never be any way that the world will ever be able to bring a halt to the Church’s efforts!

“The Gift of the Spirit”

Scripture     1 Corinthians12:1-11; John 16:7-15; Acts2:1-4. 14-21

The Christian celebration of Pentecost is a remembrance of the day when the Holy Spirit came to earth, to enter the lives of all who call Jesus Christ Lord and Savior, and who began working in powerful and holy ways to advance the glory of God among us.   But initially, the holiday was a time for Israel to give thanks for the first fruits of the annual harvest.  Either way, we can understand that this day is one to acknowledge the work that God is doing on our behalf, to bring newness and refreshing to the world through His faithful people.

 So what does the Holy Spirit actually do for us?  He is known as our Encourager, our Comforter, a Helper who we can always depend upon, a divine Advocate on our behalf, and a Counselor who reminds us of all that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught and did for us when He walked among us.  And while the Holy Spirit guides us into new opportunities in missions and ministry, He will never contradict a single thing that is founded in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.

 God’s Spirit is a gift that comes to us on behalf of Jesus - not to make our life easier, but to make it fuller and more complete as we live and serve as disciples of Christ.

 Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 Paul writes this letter to the Corinthians to emphasize and give thanks for the differences that each person experiences in the Holy Spirit, and to reveal the individual uniqueness that unifies and makes the Church whole and complete.  Later in this chapter, Paul makes the point that no one gift is better or more blessed than any other.  While the gifts of the Spirit are all different, they all work together to bring the church to wholeness in God.

 Verse 1 of this passage seems to imply that questions have arisen regarding the importance of spiritual gifts, and whether there is a hierarchy and privilege that each one bestows on the recipient!  And the Lord’s gifts are never given for the sole benefit of the one who receives.  They are for the betterment and unity of the Church, and for the sharing of God’s will and word with the people of this world.  Paul sees the granting of the various and different gifts as being inspired solely by the Holy Spirit, as an enrichment of the faith community of God.

 The working of God’s spiritual gifts is what distinguishes the Church from the ways that the world works and thinks.  As we read though the list of gifts that Paul includes in this passage, many might even sound like human attributes that anyone might possess.  But truthfully only those gifts that are used to glorify our Lord God Almighty can truly have come from the Spirit of God. 

 Paul writes that only those who have received the Spirit will glorify the Lord, and that they will never curse or demean the name of Jesus.  And this is what differentiates Spiritual gifts from those of worldly purpose.

 Read John 16:7-15

 Even though Jesus has given His disciples plenty of information regarding His leaving – the purpose, the results, what will happen to bring about His leaving, and what will be coming to them after He does leave.  But there is still a lot of confusion on their part as to what it all means for them.  It isn’t that they don’t believe Jesus, or feel that His words must be meant for some other unknown group of people. 

 Even after 3 years or so of listening to the teaching and explanations that their Master brought to them, these new ways that are being opened up to them are strange and totally different from anything that they had ever heard before!  And who is this Advocate who Jesus is going to send to help them?  And regarding this Spirit of truth – is this the same person as the Advocate, or is he someone different?  And if Jesus is leaving, where is He going?  And if He is gone, how will He be able to instruct this Spirit with what He wants him to say?  And above all, why does the Lord have to leave in order for these other “people” to come?  Can’t they all work together?

 Is it any wonder why the faithful are so confused?  Just as with any gift, we seldom can appreciate it until it is opened, and we begin to use it in our lives!  And they will never understand the Holy Spirit until the day when he finally appears to them, to work within and through each one in the way of Jesus.  And it will be then, that the truth the Spirit brings will begin to become perfectly clear, for it all hinges on trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Read Acts 2:1-4, 14-21

 As Luke writes about this incredible God inspired moment, we need to appreciate the fact that the Lord was going to make sure that no one was going to miss out on the arrival of the Holy Spirit!  Not the 100 or so believers who were gathered in that house (Acts1:15-16), and definitely not the Jewish crowds who had come to the city to celebrate their own Pentecost, otherwise known as the “Feast of Weeks”.

 The Spirit’s coming sounded like a rushing wind, and appeared like tongues of fire.  But the truth is that it was intended to reveal the power of God at work through His people!  And not surprisingly, some accepted God’s gift, while others tried to assign human reasoning to the entire event.  But the bottom line is that people of a multitude of nationalities, 15 were actually mentioned, would be able to understand each and every word that Peter spoke - not through a translator, but in their own language!

 And Peter begins his sermon with the prophecy of Joel.  Of course, Joel’s proclamation had been offered well over 800 years before, and these Jews were primarily from other nations and many were unlikely to be well versed with the words of the prophets or with the teachings of Jesus!  So he couldn’t simply ask them to remember what the prophets said about an outpouring of this magnitude.  They may have had some knowledge of what Messianic tradition had proclaimed about His coming, but they would know little else.

 But regardless, the people were being introduced to the significance of this “new” Pentecost.  They were hearing that gifts of the Spirit were available for all people, and that the signs and miracles of Messiah’s return were no longer theoretical, but were true signs that they would see.

 What a wonderful lead in for Peter’s message of salvation!  Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to continue with his message for today, but check in next week, and we should have enough time to consider the remainder of Peter’s Pentecostal words of hope.

“The Legacy of Mothers”

 Scripture     Matthew 12:46-50; John 2:1-5; John 19:25-27

In Jesus’ day, women held a lowly position within the family structure, and a widow’ survival was based on the mercy of any male relatives that she might have had.  Consider the story of Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah.  Naomi’s husband and both of her sons died, leaving her and the two younger women alone with a very uncertain future.  At Naomi’s urging, Orpah returned to her parent’s home, but Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, following her back to Israel.  We aren’t told how the two women survived the trek, but it appears that God had a plan for them, as Ruth would become the great-grandmother of King David! (Matthew 1:5-6)

 Throughout scripture, the Lord’s plan, in many instances, includes reference to a woman, and many other times, scripture actually identifies a person’s mother by name, which leads us to understand that even in those days, women held an important influence in the life of their family.  For today, as we consider 3 passages that refer to mothers, we will also be looking for the implied impact that close relationships in faith should also bring to light in our lives.

 Read Matthew 12:46-50

 Members of Jesus’ family had come to see Him for some unspecified purpose.  Unfortunately, they were unable to get close to Him because of the large crowd that had gathered around Him.  But Jesus was going to use this moment to expand the people’s understanding of what “family” should, or soon would, mean to them.  The word, in a worldly sense, has always been seen as someone who holds a direct physical relationship to you.  But Jesus, as He so often did, took the meaning of “Mother” to a new and much higher purpose.

 Unfortunately, in today’s society, family members tend to live in many different places!  My family, including my brothers, are spread all over the country – from New Hampshire to Texas to California, and many places in between!  We still try to have a family reunion every few years, but there are always some who are unable to attend, and they are missed.

 But Jesus, in our passage, asks the most important question of the day – “Who is my mother and brothers?”, or more specifically, who is really part of my family, and who should I be able to depend upon when I need help?  Of course, the Lord isn’t asking about the human family, but rather about His spiritual family.  And who are they?  Folks we worship with?  Folks who believe exactly in the same way that we do?   Or is there a deeper meaning to family through Jesus?  The Lord clarifies it for us – it is all who love, follow and obey in the way of our Almighty God!  It is that vast, and that simple!

  So what does this say about mothers?

 Read John 2:1-5

 So, is this actually about a miracle that occurred at a wedding celebration?  Or is there more going on through Jesus’ mother that we need to be aware of?  Mary, of course, knows exactly who her Son is, and she knows that He can resolve the problem that has arisen.  But Jesus tells her that the time isn’t right yet for Him to begin revealing His glory to the people of the earth.  But His mother, by faith, doesn’t want the wedding host to be embarrassed, and her Son is the only one who can do something about it!

 And without revealing the truth within Jesus, she simply and quietly instructs the servants to “Do whatever He tells you.”  As one who knows and trusts Jesus to do what is right, His mother leaves the final act up to Him.  This is what the family of God does!  We can ask Jesus for anything, but should never tell Him how to accomplish the request!  In John 14:9-14, the Passover feast is just about finished, and Jesus is prepared to soon experience the Cross at Calvary.  But in this one last teaching opportunity, Jesus offers some thoughts about the family of God.  Philip had asked the Lord to show them the Father, and Jesus says that when we see Him (Jesus), we have already seen the Father! 

 Jesus’ mother already knew this, didn’t she!  At the end of that passage from John 14, Jesus tells us that “... I will do whatever you ask in My name …” and He will do that to bring glory to the Father.  Faith is about believing before the evidence is presented, and when we do what the Lord asks of us, it is also done to the glory of the Father!

That was where Mary was on that day at the wedding celebration.  She had backed right out of the experience, and was leaving everything, including the final decision regarding what was to be done, up to Jesus.   For her, it was about asking, but never demanding a process or even the final result.  She had left it totally up to Jesus.

 That’s what family is all about, and Mary, as a member of the family of God, did precisely what she was supposed to do – ask, and then let Jesus do as He knows best.

 Read John 19:25-27

 In offering this final act of love to His mother and His friend, No one had to ask a single thing of the Lord Jesus, He knew what their every need was on that day of  agony.  They knew Him intimately, and He knew them in the same perfect way.  That’s what God’s family is about - intimacy!  Jesus knew that His mother Mary needed a son to help her through the rest of her life, and that His brother John had enough love to not only carry out the ministry that awaited him, but to also share the love that he had for Mary’s Son, with the one who had received the prophecy of Simeon at the time of her child’s circumcision.  She was, I believe, remembering the words that were uttered that day, certainly the ones of glory, but also the ones that were now “piercing her soul.” (Luke 2:25-35)

 Mary’s life as a mother for her human sons and daughters, as well as that for her divine Son, was, I expect, a life that saw faith in her God grow daily through joy, struggle, and brokenness, as well as fear and an overwhelming sense of love and blessing, just as most mothers do throughout their lives.  And the passionate gifts that they all try to give to their children, make them a worthy example of what every Christian should know about being welcomed into God’s family – that it is a holy honor, as well as an extraordinary blessing to be part of such a loving and exceptional experience.

 Happy Mothers’ Day. Moms!  And thank you for all that you do for our families!

“Fishing With Jesus”

 Scripture     John 21:1-14

Today, we consider our final reported sighting of the Resurrected Christ.  Of course, this wouldn’t be the last sighting, since we read in 1 Corinthians15:3-9, “⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.”

 In those days, an actual count of believers was still an unknown quantity, but we could probably assume that it was close to becoming a few thousand if not even more, and the Church would continue to grow in amazing ways.  The word regarding Jesus Christ spread far beyond Judaism, even though, initially, gentile believers were expected to follow Hebrew law.  But as we know from the books of Galatians and Acts, a few years later, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, legalism for the gentiles began to be lifted until Judaism and faith in Jesus went their separate ways in the late 1^st century AD.

 For today, though, we take a glimpse at what there was for the earliest believers that led them to reach out to others in faith, and to testify to their experiences with those who had yet to know Jesus.

 Read John 21:1-3

 As in our reading last week, this revealing of the Risen Lord not only occurred outside of the city of Jerusalem, but in the Northern most part of Israel, in the region of Galilee.  Why were the disciples there, when they had previously been hiding in Jerusalem?  In Matthew 28, we read that the Risen Christ had told the women who had come to the tomb to go the disciples, and tell them that they would meet with the Lord after they go to the Galilee.  Apparently, the time had come when their days of hiding from the world’s hatred had come to end!

The men’s decision to go fishing almost seems so personal that it was a way to relax and to let the world go by for at least a few hours!  But it seems that this just wasn’t the time that the Lord had established for them to meet with Him, so they head for the lake to let down and do what had been such an important part of their former life.  And the others followed.

 So why was Jesus waiting so long to meet with His followers?  We know that the Lord never did, or didn’t do, anything without a reason.  Could the lesson that was being prepared for the men have something to do with “fishing”?  Or was it that fishing without Jesus was to be shown to be a worthless endeavor!  Remember the time when Jesus called the fishermen to follow Him?  What did He tell them?  “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-22)  The lesson for anyone who would follow Jesus, is that we will never accomplish a single worthwhile thing, unless we invite Jesus to lead and guide our efforts!

 Read John 21:4-6

 Even after Jesus revealed Himself to the fishermen, there were still no fish until they received the Lord’s instruction, and then did what He told them to do!  This is a lesson that is, all too often, ignored by some in the Church who believe that if they simply claim to be going in the name of Jesus, that this will be enough!

 The point that Jesus is making is that mentioning the name of Jesus will never be enough, and it will certainly never gain us anything of value! But when we turn the leadership of our missions, and ministry, and various works over to our Lord God Almighty, there will be no limit to the success that can come from it!

 These words remind us of the time when the Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well of Jacob.  The Lord asked the woman to give Him a drink from the water that she had drawn from the well.  He then told her that the water that she had to give would satisfy thirst for only a limited amount of time, but that the “living water” that He would give her “will become … a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:7-15)  It was a matter of which water we are seeking – whether it will be the water of the world, or the refreshment of God!

 When we can’t, Jesus always will – when we allow Him to do it in His way!

 Read John 21: 7-14

 With the magnitude of their catch, it was then that the identity of the stranger on the beach began to become apparent.  First John, then Peter, and then the rest of the disciples began to realize that this stranger was the Lord Himself!  And the net wasn’t filled with small, or even moderately sized fish – they were 153 large fish who, by worldly standards, should have torn the net apart, allowing all of the fish to escape!  But while Jesus was leading, the catch was larger than any of the men could ever have imagined, and nothing would be able to overturn the miraculous victory!

 And one more lesson that we need to learn, is that it wasn’t the fishermen who provided nourishment to Jesus - it was the Christ who fed them!  The breakfast of bread and fish were already cooking before the men reached shore!  But one additional, and important point is that while the Lord could certainly have gathered all of those fish, and far more, all by Himself, the truth is that our God in Christ wants His disciples to be included in His ministry to the world. 

 And as we prepare to receive and celebrate Communion today, will we give the leadership for our lives over to our Lord Jesus, or will we decide to keep some of the decision making for ourselves?  There will always be some things that we can choose for our self, but when it comes to the depth and substance of our faith, the only authority that has any right to guide us is God Himself.  Why?  Because our human understanding of what faith should entail is totally insufficient to make informed and accurate decisions when it comes to understanding the ways of God.  In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read (and I have offered this passage several times in the recent past!) – “⁸ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

 And yet, God wants us to follow those higher ways by stepping out in the true way of Jesus and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  This will be the only way that we will ever be able to “go fishing with Jesus”, and experience the most miraculous catch of all time!