The Miracle of Pentecost
Gate Pa – 19th May 2013 – Pentecost Sunday
Readings:
First
Reading: Acts 2:1-21
Psalm: Psalm: 104:24-34,35b
Epistle: Romans 8:4-17
Gospel: John 14:8-17
What I want to say:
miracle
of Pentecost is not that Spirit God came down in power and allowed early followers
to win converts through signs and wonders
miracle
Pentecost
people able worship God in own
language
early followers stopped looking day
when God return and they would be in winners circle
with humility and love
worked among both poorest and wealthiest
living out – loving God with heart, and soul and
mind and strength, and loving neighbour as themselves.
What I want to happen:
what expectations or hopes are we
invited to let go of this Pentecost?
once we let those go, where do we
see Spirit of God at work in those around us?
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
what stood out for you as you listened and read story of what
happened on first Pentecost?
2. Last Pentecost
last Pentecost I attended the ecumenical Pentecost service at
HTT.
at the end sermon, time ministry and prayer, preacher prayed earnestly
throughout it all
what remember praying for – Heaven ripped open and power God
come down
interesting prayer
stayed with me
partly because really unsure what he was actually praying for
as said colleague who helped organise it
I thought Spirit God was present and at work in world now
-
what
more looking for?
3. Islam and the disciples
10 days ago was Ascension Day
remember Luke’s recounting of Jesus ascending into heaven
what interested me in that story is that standing on Mount Olives
after all
happened – crucifixion, resurrection
disciples
still hoping Jesus will now rise up and restore Kingdom of Israel
with
them in winners circle getting power and glory
hoped heaven ripped open and power God unleashed
Jesus must have been so disappointing for them
what do we
do now?
a lot happier with Muhammad
just finished reading a biography of life of Muhammad (His Life
Based on the Earliest Sources)
when faced
opposition and persecution – Archangel Gabriel told the prophet to bear it with
patience and humility
many fled to Abyssinia
once numbers
grew greater
moved from
Mecca to Medina
started
firstly defend themselves
go
attack
soon
became strategic decision for tribes enter Islam
Muhammad
great friend and ally
terrible
enemy
what occurred to me as I read this was
Muhammad was
exactly who disciples looking for
strong person
lead them
throw off
their enemies
lead them to
glory
everything Jesus didn’t do
brings us back to today’s reading from Acts
4. Pentecost
two amazing things happen as result of events heard about
today
first suddenly disciples stop looking for restoration of
Kingdom of Israel
let go
let go need
resist, fight back
let go all
longed for be restore
let go
desire to be important and leaders
let go need
for heaven to be ripped open and for power God unleashed on world
instead got on with living as Jesus did
seeing all as God’s beloved, especially those on edge or
beyond
so that church Rome renowned work among poor and slaves
that was what got them into trouble
how different disciples on Mount Olives
“Is this the
time you will restore the kingdom of Israel”
wonder what we being invited let go of?
what hopes aspirations more about us than God
what gets in our way?
5. Language
second thing struck me about this story is that people heard
gospel in own language
commonly – language of religion is language founder
Judaism –
Hebrew
Islam –
Arabic
language worship conducted in
language a lot teaching occurs in
Official language of that religion
if establishing a new religion as followers Jesus
language
that religion – language Jesus
Hebrew
or Aramaic
so what is happening here?
God is doing a new thing, an amazing thing
God laying
groundwork so that when new religion gradually forms
because
of events of Pentecost
teaching
and worship can happen in people’s native language
such an amazing thing that we in West couldn’t even keep it
up
soon Latin
became the official language
more to this than language we use in worship
these disciples were soon to be scattered across known world.
India,
Armenia, Ethiopia to Rome and beyond
sense for those disciples as left security of Judah,
and travelled to far off places
Risen Christ was already there
already at work
they would never be alone
simply had to join in that work
God is reassuring them
God is inviting them see world very differently
God is at work in every place, and not just this place with
these people
God is not a God of safety and status quo
God is changing the world
invited
those disciples to join in that work
invites us
to join in that work
6. Wondering
wonder in light of all that
what are we invited to let go of this Pentecost
what gets in our way
what hopes or expectations do we need
to quit if we are to be followers Christ
once we let those go, where do we
see Spirit of God at work in those around us?
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