For May 24

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Sermon: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

Intro: Today is an unusual worship service as a celebration of Pentecost as well as a Memorial Day observance to remember those who died during military service. So, today’s service will be in two parts, the first here in the Sanctuary, focusing on Pentecost, and then at the Cemetery, focusing on a Memorial Day remembrance. Both with different origins, but each with much meaning in our Christian faith.

 

I. Pentecost

A. As far back in recorded Biblical history in Exodus and Deuteronomy, there has been a required celebration of Pentecost, also known as the festival of Shavuot, also referred to as The Feast of Weeks. It was a  thanksgiving sacrifice for the grain harvest, celebrated as a freewill offering. In Greek, Pente- is 50, so Pente-cost was to be celebrated 50 days after Passover. Since Passover was on a Saturday, Pentecost would have been 7 weeks, plus 1 day to allow for the Sabbath, or 50 days. On the Christian calendar that would be exactly 7 weeks after Easter.

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II. Acts 2: 1-13

A. In our NT reading, the Pentecost celebration was taking place as it had every year, with pilgrims bringing the first part of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem as a sacrifice offering. The day began as usual, with Jewish pilgrims coming to the Temple with their sacrifices. It was a longer pilgrimage for some who lived in other countries. After the Babylonian exile, many had chosen not to return to Israel, living in countries that didn’t speak in Hebrew dialects. Those pilgrims would have retained their Jewish religion and practices, but over the centuries most hadn’t learned, or no longer remembered Hebrew. So, traveling from those foreign countries would have been with other pilgrims with their common language. But in Jerusalem, they would have been unable to speak with other Jews speaking Hebrew.  

B. . Luke says the disciples were together when suddenly, around 9 AM, a sound like that of a violent wind came, filling the disciples, and what seemed to be like tongues of fire separated, landing on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples began speaking in other languages that the foreign pilgrims heard and could understand. It must have been like an American traveling in Germany who didn’t speak any German. Finding himself lost, he couldn’t even ask for directions. But, when he sneezed, someonesaid "Gesundheit”. “Oh, thank goodness” the tourist responded, “someone speaks English!”

C. Some observers ridiculed the disciples, saying they were drunk, but Peter defended them saying it was only 9 AM.  (If there is an alcoholic beverage that makes you speak in a foreign language people can understand, I’d like to get my hands on some of that.)

D. But they heard the disciples, who could only speak in Hebrew dialects, like Aramaic, speaking in their own language. testifying about Jesus. They wouldn’t have previously known about the recent events of the Crucifixion, or the Resurrection. But now, hearing of these miraculous events, and His message of salvation, many became believers. Just hearing Peter’s testimony, 3000 became believers.

E. During His ministry, Jesus had harsh criticisms of the corrupted teaching and practices of the religious leaders, who cared more for the show of religion than their love for God. Despite the many prophecies to identify the Messiah, they crucified the One who fulfilled those prophecies but they hadn’t recognized Him because of their false understandings.

F. But on this day of Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came with fresh wind, fresh fire. Fresh Wind, as if blowing away the accumulation of dirt tainting the Jewish religion. Fresh Fire, as if burning away the chaff, the worthless practices the Jewish laws had mandated for righteousness. With all the debris removed, people could now see the Resurrected Jesus as the promised Messiah, their Savior, their true Redeemer. The Holy Spirit had breathed life into this new body of believers as the Church of Jesus Christ, the day that would be known as the birthday of the Church. Through the fresh wind, and fresh fire of the Holy Spirit, the Church would be established in countries throughout the world.

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III. Joel 2:23-32

A. This coming of the Holy Spirit had been prophesied through the prophet Joel, 850 years earlier, promising that the Lord would pour out His Holy Spirit on all people, For context, the book of Joel begins the first of its 3 chapters describing the ruin of the land brought about by God’s plague of locusts for Israel’s sinfulness, and calling for the people to lament over their sins. Chapter 2 continues by calling for the trumpet to sound over the land, warning that the terrible judgement of the Lord was coming. But, then the tone shifts. In His mercy, God calls them to “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” He mercifully promises to restore the land and one day pour out His Spirit on all people.

B. Throughout the OT, the Spirit had come upon people, giving them power for a particular purpose, before withdrawing from them. Prophets would see visions and deliver messages. Samson was given, then lost, his strength, in the power of the Holy Spirit. But Joel’s prophecy was that God would pour out His Holy Spirit on all people. Jesus reiterated that when He told His disciples that when He left, He would send His Holy Spirit to be our Advocate, our Comforter, our Counselor.  And on that day of Pentecost, God poured out His Holy Spirit that would not just to come upon people, but to dwell within us, and remain.  

C. Jesus had envisioned His Church even during His ministry. He told the disciples He would build His Church on Peter’s Holy Spirit inspired confession that He was the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of the Living God. Before His Ascension to heaven, Jesus gathered the disciples and told them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would come to them, giving them power. And now, ten days later, Jesus’ promise had come to fruition. The Holy Spirit breathed life into His Church, and gave the disciples power to lead His Church. Power that had added over 3000 converts to His Church that very day, and would continue to grow, despite persecutions.

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IV. Today’s Church

A. The Book of Acts is actually titled the Acts of the Apostles, but it would be more appropriately titled the Acts of the Holy Spirit, because it shows the Spirit filling people with passion, like enabling Paul to do the powerful works to establish so many new churches. And empowering others, like Stephen, to witness even while being martyred. But, the Spirit would also discipline those who disobeyed Him.

B. We might conclude that today the Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and as strong as ever,  But The Book of Revelation begins with Jesus in His divine appearance talking to seven churches. Depending on your interpretation, they were actual churches, a panorama of Church history from the early Church to the Second Coming, or each church representing a specific characteristic of the Church. The first church He addresses is the Church of Ephesus, commending it, saying he knew their deeds, their hard work, and perseverance. But He criticizes that they had fallen from their first love, telling them to repent, do the things they did at first, or He would remove their church from His Presence. He later harshly criticizes the Church of Laodicea that they were neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, making Him want to spit them out of His mouth.

C. So, what’s the State of His Church today? I believe these two churches present a serious message. The early church, responding to the Holy Spirit, was a passionate, growing church. But the two later churches exemplified in Revelation, even before the Tribulation, had lost their first love, their passion for Jesus, despite their good works. Or had become lukewarm so that Jesus wanted to spit them out of His mouth. Today the Church in third world countries like Africa and Southeast Asia is growing rapidly, while overall, church attendance in so called Christian countries, like America, England, and France continues to decline. Interestingly, churches embracing liberal doctrines, such as abortion, and homosexuality are the ones in great decline, while the flourishing churches are the ones trying to maintain their focus on the Word of God. We might make the observation that failing churches are those most conforming to the world’s view. Is it because they have fallen from their first love of Jesus? Have they become lukewarm in their faith, seemingly distasteful to Him? 

 

Conclusion: Now, more than ever, the  Church of Jesus needs the fresh wind, fresh fire of His Holy Spirit. Fresh Wind, refreshing us with the Breath of Life from the Holy Spirit, filling us to again become an alive, blessed Church in love with its Lord Jesus. Fresh Fire, igniting all we come in contact with the burning Fire of His Love, burning off the debris of sin that entangles us, passionate for the Word of our Lord Jesus. We, the Church, must  each evaluate how far we may have fallen from our first love for Him, when we first came to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It may be then that we will know how much we need the  Fresh Wind and Fresh Fire of His Holy Spirit to restore us to our first love for our Lord Jesus who died in our place because of His passionate love for us, which will never fade or become lukewarm. On this day to celebrate Pentecost, may we open our lives to His Fresh Wind and Fresh Fire breathing Life into His Church. Amen.