Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 NLT
1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. 19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. 21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’
Have you ever talked yourself into something and then regretted it? Most of us have. I am a little afraid of snakes. I have become convinced that black snakes will drive away poisonous snakes. Jane and I lived in the Gilkey parsonage in rural Rutherford Co., and like many older, rural homes there was a shed behind the house. I kept my tools, Christmas decorations, my wild bird seed, and other miscellaneous junk stored there. I was concerned that copper heads would hide close to the bird seed. So, a few years ago I started telling people that I wished I had a black snake to keep the copper heads out of my shed.
One day I was at the Gilboa church when I saw a fairly long black snake. I had parked my beat-up old pickup nearby. After having convinced myself that I wanted a black snake, I decided to try to catch this one. I took a long stick and flipped it toward my truck. I did this a couple of times until the snake lay just behind it. Then I went around, rolled up the windows, put the key in the ignition, then with one more flip I tossed the snake into the bed of my truck. I jumped in, raced home, and backed up to the shed. When I got out I was surprised that the snake was still in the truck bed. I am sure the snake didn’t want to come toward me or the open yard, and when it saw my shed it went over the tail gate and under the crack of the door like it was going home.
I was pleased with myself. Now I didn’t have to worry that a poisonous snake might be in my shed. On the other hand, I knew the blacksnake was there somewhere, and I was scared of it too. Every time I started to go in the shed I stopped at the door and eased it open. I looked carefully around, then stuck my hand in to turn on the light. Then, I would open the door all the way and look all around before going in, and I stayed anxious because I might step on it or uncover it curled around my tools. Eventually I wished I had never put the snake in my shed.
Christians, there is a snake in the shed.
When neighbors argue in Caldwell Co. and an 8 year-old girl is shot in the back with a shotgun, there is a snake in the shed. When there are children in our local elementary school that don’t have enough food to eat on weekends, there is a snake in the shed. When alcohol abuse causes people to loose jobs and families to break-up, there is a snake in the shed. When people in Caldwell Co. spend money on drugs then that money goes straight to drug lords and the dealers who kill and maim people, then there is a snake in the shed. When many of our Christian homes have magazines that are nothing but lightly camouflaged pornography then there is a snake in the shed. Pornography degrades our women and girls. Unfaithful spouses undercut our family structure. When the morals of the Christian community suffers, then there is a snake in the shed.
I don’t know what you believe about the existence of evil in this world, but I am convinced that evil exists in a way that brings harm to good people. I would encourage each of us to take some time to decide what we each believe about evil. Perhaps each of us will take time to look up Scripture, and read an article in a book or magazine, or at least talk to other Christians about evil. I doubt any of us knows all there is to know about the subject, but I think it is wise to keep our eyes open, be caution, and learn more.
I’ll tell you what I think about Satan. I do not believe in a little, bright red colored man with a pointy tale and pitchfork. But I do believe that evil is orchestrated in a way that brings difficulty and death to our lives. It is convenient for me to refer to the orchestrator of evil as Satan. I believe there is an intentional, malicious evil in the world that brings harm to good people and damages families.
After Adam and Eve were forced out of the perfect life and had to live in this world of difficulty and death, if I could talk with them, they would agree that there is a snake in the shed. When the disciples saw Jesus die on the cross they would agree with the sentiment that there is a snake in the shed.
Think about the situation of the disciples during the weeks after the death and Resurrection of our Lord. They did not live in a democracy the way we do in America. They were under authoritarian rule. The religious and political powers had executed Jesus. On some level they had to be wondering if they would be next. To some extent the very first followers of Jesus gathered at the Temple, frightened, without an earthly leader, with no clear direction and no plan. They worshiped, they prayed, and they wondered what would happen.
The disciples did what we all do in times of difficulty. They gathered together. When there is a death in a family, one question funeral homes always ask is, “where will the family gather?” We come together in times of grief and in times of danger. In the SS lesson that some of you had today, there is an example of Roman soldiers going into battle with their shields together. The disciples were meeting together in one place.
We come together, not only in difficult times but we also come together to support and help each other. We study the Bible together, teach our children, and have various support groups that help us grow in faith help us make a difference in the world around us.
It is important that we Christians gather together. We need to be part of a community of faith. An isolated ember grows cold and dark. Without being part of the church community we cut ourselves off from Gods power. Being part of any group, even church requires effort—it is similar to the old adage, that “to have a friend, you must be a friend.” The idea is that it takes some effort, some work to have a friend. You have to give up time watching tv to talk to or be with your friend. You have to give up a nap and go fishing or play golf together. Most of you have heard me talk about my life-long, best friend, Steve. We were friends all through school. But after college we lived in different states, and didn’t see each other as much. We had a conversation that changed the direction of our lives. We agreed that if we were going to keep on being friends, we were going to have to plan to do something together. So, we started having annual camping trips. Our friendship has lasted almost 50 years, and later this summer he and his wife will go with Jane and me on vacation. In church we have to make specific plans to spend time at church to be a part of the congregation.
The Disciples, after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus gathered together. I mentioned earlier that I think that gathered partially because they were worried about what the authorities might do to them. I think they gathered for a variety of reasons: Jesus told them to, they could support and help each other, and they worshiped together.
I think their worship was filled with joy because they had met the resurrected Christ. They understood that even in frightening times, that Christ had power over death. They understood that even when they weren’t sure what was going to happen next, that Christ held their ultimate future in His hands.
The Disciples knew what was later written in 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.” They had heard of the power and wonder of God all their lives, but during the 40 days that Jesus walked with them after the Resurrection they developed a new understanding of the lessons of the Psalms. Try to imagine what it was like for those early Disciples when they read these Psalms after talking with the resurrected Christ:
Ps. 89 (NLT) 8 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD? You are entirely faithful. 9 You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves… 11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all. 12 You created north and south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name. 13 Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength…
Psalm 91 (NLT) 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 14 The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
I want us all to understand that those early Disciples were ready when the Spirit was poured out on them. They had seen Jesus die on the cross—they knew about the snake in the shed. But they had talked directly to the risen Christ. They had a personal relationship with him. Then the Scripture tells us they were meeting together in one place. That is they were putting effort into being part of a community of faith. So, when the Holy Spirit came like rushing wind and fire they were ready to receive the power. Do we understand the way this occurred: 1) they recognized the danger of this world, 2) they had a personal relationship with Christ, 3) they were in church, and 4) they received the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know what happened next? Just moments later, Peter preached and 3,000 were saved.
‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy… 21 everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’
Congregation, we understand this. We know there is a snake in the shed. There are many among us today who have faced the evils of disease. There are several among us, and I am one, who have suffered heartbreak due to the death of a child. But many of you know Christ the way I do—I know that I know that I know that Christ is greater than death. I know that I will see my son again. Our presence in the house of God demonstrates that we know the importance of gathering together. I am convinced that the power of God has been poured out on our Christian faith. Our faith is worth dying for, but more important our faith is worth living for, because our faith can bring salvation to people everywhere.
There is a snake in the shed, but greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. In these days, now, God is pouring his spirit on young and old, on men and women, and everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Glory Hallelujah, God is good. Let us all praise Him. Let us praise Him.
Today, as always, the altar is open for prayer. Today may be a good day to come to the alter to praise God and to receive His power.
Amen
