Northwood United Church

Empowering, Enlivening, Engaging Spirit

Acts 2: 1-21
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
May 11, 2008
Rev. Cindy Terry

The day was electric! The city of Jerusalem was overflowing with people, men women, children, free and slaves…all the Jewish people from the surrounding twenty miles were in the city to celebrate Pentecost! This was one of the three big festivals of the year. It was a requirement that every Jew must attend. Pentecost was a festival to celebrate the harvest. It means fiftieth. It fell on the fiftieth day after Passover, a week of weeks. In some places it is called the Festival of Weeks. The Lord's followers are in Jerusalem all gathered in one place.

What actually happened that day we will never know. It is hard to put into words a new and breath-taking experience. We can be sure that the disciples had an experience of the power of the Holy Spirit which flooded their beings such as they had never had before. For the first time in their lives people heard the Word of God in a way that struck straight home to their hearts. (William Barclay) They could truly understand in a very deep way what was said. The Spirit came with a message that touched every heart, touched the core of each being. One can imagine bewilderment mixed with joy and electric excitement. What is happening to us?

Then Peter stands up and gives one of the first sermons, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. He recalls the words of the prophet Joel who said that one day God would pour out God's Spirit upon young and old, slaves and free, women and men. I love the image of the Holy Spirit being poured out. It reminds me of baptism when we pour water on the person's head and lay our hands on them asking for the Holy Spirit to enter them, guide and bless them their whole life long. Imagine opening yourself to the in pouring of the Holy Spirit filling you with divine energy and new life! How would you describe that?

The gift of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest gifts that God gives us. We were given the gift of creation, the gift of Jesus the Christ who led us to the sovereign God and then the gift of God's power. We have everything we need to live abundant lives filled with joy and hopeful anticipation. I am awestruck and marvel the work of the Holy Spirit not only as was experienced on Pentecost but as has been recorded through history and as we witness today. It is the encounters with the Holy Spirit which make life electric, filled with potential and vitality. When I have had an encounter with the Holy Spirit I feel fully alive and I know that I am never alone. God's Spirit is within us always. Do you remember a time when you heard the word of God in a whole new way? God touched your heart like never before. You were excited and amazed to hear the Word of God in a language and in such a way that you knew deeply the presence of the Holy. This is a Pentecost moment. In my experience Pentecost moments come when you most need them…out of blue…comes a voice, a message, warmth that enlivens my heart.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians some of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. He names wisdom, knowledge, faith, power to heal the sick, power to work mighty miracles. Some are speakers such as prophets who can deliver the Word of God, some have the ability to discern the presence of God's Spirit, some can speak in different languages and some can interpret different languages. God did not design us alike. We are each given different gifts so that we can work together to build a strong and vibrant community of faith. The gifts are not given to us for self promotion but rather for the good of the community. There is no ranking to these gifts; one is not better than the other. We need them all. The same Spirit gives each of the gifts.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we could never do on our own, takes away our fear and replaces it with trust in God. The Holy Spirit helps us say yes to God's various calls on our lives. For me, living with or with out the Spirit is like being alive or dead. The Spirit enlivens us, enables us to feel the wind of God, to take in the breath of God, to be refined by the fire of God. It is the Holy Spirit which engages us in life…calls us out…supports our actions…gives us the words to speak just at the right moment…gives us wisdom and knowledge to carry out the task set before us.

At the Healing Service on Wednesday night we talked about the spiritual gift of healing. Our Healing Ministry Team is empowered by God's Spirit to offer healing and wholeness to others. We have witnessed healing happen on many levels. God has given them the gift of healing and they have taken further training and practice so they can offer God's healing. They open themselves up to be channels for God's Spirit to work through them.

There are many other gifts, administration, hospitality, teaching, compassion, gifts of the hands such as those who can make things, cook and so on. These gifts are given to individuals to be used to build up the community of faith. Sometimes we don't recognize the God given gifts that we have, yet others can discern them for us. Remember when you are asked to share your spiritual gift you do not do it alone. The Holy Spirit empowers you to do the work to which you are called. Today three young women joined the Church. They have made a decision to give their lives to follow in the way of Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit which draws us close to God, which helps us to want to follow Christ. Hands have been laid upon them and we prayed that the power of the Holy Spirit would continue to work within them. I rejoice and give thanks for the work of the Spirit in Meris, Elisa and Eva. May they be empowered forever to do the work and ministry of Jesus Christ.

If you remember anything from this day, remember that you are never alone. The Spirit of God is within you to empower you to be a disciple of Christ, to enliven you with enthusiasm and zest for life and to engage you in the work and ministry of Christ. Thanks be to God!

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