For good or bad, we in the church have sort of disconnected from the meaning and significance of the liturgical seasons; so much so that many don’t even know what liturgical seasons are! As an example, consider this: most people have heard of and celebrate Christmas, but few are familiar with Advent, the liturgical season leading up to Christmas. Many people are familiar with Easter and it’s significance in the life of faith, but few understand the season of Lent. Most people observe Christmas and Easter, but forget that the Christmas and Easter seasons extend for weeks beyond the holiday itself. And then there’s this day called Pentecost, which we celebrate this morning. Of course, compared with Christmas and Easter in our modern culture, Pentecost is “small-potatoes.” Many people who have heard the word do not even associate it with a particular celebration of the church, but instead think it refers to a certain, rather wild “brand” of Christianity. You know, Pentecostalism—which is known for a lot of noise, arm-waving, and of course speaking in tongues.
What we often forget, though, is that all Christians (not only Pentecostals), derive their meaning from the first Pentecost, which we celebrate today. Pentecost began as a Jewish celebration called Shavuot, which was the celebration of the giving of the Torah, and in particular the Ten Commandments. We lose much of the meaning and significance of our Christian Pentecost celebration when we do not make this connection. Just as for the Jews, the Exodus and giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai signals the birth of the chosen people of God, for Christians the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost signals the birth of the church. Indeed, this is a new beginning for God’s people. Whereas, the Law was the source of guidance for the Jewish people in the first covenant, now the Holy Spirit will be the guiding force for God’s people as they begin to live under the new covenant.
And so today, we come to this celebration of what is often referred to as the birthday of the church. As the Day of Pentecost dawns, it seems that Jesus’ twelve disciples, including the newly appointed Matthias, are gathered with many other close followers of Jesus; about 120 in all, we are told. Jesus had given them final instructions and ascended into heaven just a few days before, and we sense that perhaps his followers have come together to try and figure out their next steps, to try and understand how to live out Christ’s commission now that he is gone. We can only imagine the sense of fear that must have engulfed these disciples. They were probably still grieving Jesus’ final departure, and they were likely overwhelmed by the task now before them. Their gathering must have provided some comfort as they shared their experiences and ideas, and offered words of encouragement to one another. Though Jesus had promised them the Holy Spirit, they likely weren’t really expecting anything, much less the events that happened next.
“Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting…They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” And it wasn’t just that they were speaking in many languages, but they were able to understand all that was being said. So it was that the church began, and by the end of the day, the Lord had added 3,000 to their number; from 120 to 3,000 in one day! That’s quite an increase. If there was any trepidation among the gathered disciples that morning, it must have been settled with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, this seemingly overwhelming task of continuing Christ’s work in the world was made much easier by the power of the Holy Spirit. At its very core, Pentecost gives power to the band of Jesus’ followers to speak the languages of the world, and to tell the gospel news in every language. And it was all done through the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God. The same Holy Spirit that is available to us today.
We are called to go out and by the power of the same Holy Spirit, to proclaim the message the Holy Spirit gives us. Yes, we have access to the same Spirit of God. There is no reason why what happened on Pentecost cannot happen right here in Soddy Daisy (Hixson)! It is the Holy Spirit's doing. It is the Holy Spirit who does the convicting. It is the Holy Spirit who gives the understanding. It is the Holy Spirit who provides the confidence. It is the Holy Spirit who brings the message. Are we willing vessels? This can happen today! There is no reason why it shouldn't be happening right now! This church should be full to overflowing. We should have to be having this worship service outside at Chester Frost Park due to the number of people who should be flocking to hear what God is doing and has in plan for the human race!
Believe it or not, that’s just what happened in the First Great Awakening of the 18th century. The movement of the Holy Spirit at this time derived much of its inspiration from the life and teachings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. The Methodist Movement originated as a revival within the 18th Century Church of England and became a worldwide movement of the Holy Spirit. It is estimated that throughout the world today, there are 70 million people whose churches--whether the names of those churches are Methodist, United Methodist, Nazarene, Wesleyan or some other--originated from the Methodist Movement. It was started by the Holy Spirit warming the heart of a young Anglican Priest who was part of a church establishment that had become relatively ineffective and lacked vitality--thus, leaving the common people without a meaningful Christian experience.
The Holy Spirit led John Wesley out into the places where the commoners, the blue-collar types, the working poor lived. He became engaged in something called "field preaching." This was something he hated doing, but which the Spirit led him to do. Wesley wrote in his journal: "What marvel the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I; I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit." But, in his first month of field preaching, it is estimated that Wesley preached to a total of 47,500 people! And the crowds kept coming. But it wasn't just preaching that Wesley and the early Methodists did. They established hospitals, universities, orphanages, soup kitchens. They were characterized as people who loved and helped the poor and the average person. And the result was that thousands of people who never would have heard the gospel message were saved because of the Holy Spirit working through the Methodist movement.
Again, the same Holy Spirit at work on the first Pentecost was at work in the first Great Awakening. And the same Holy Spirit is here and available to us now. We have the same God, the same gospel message, the same risen Lord! Are we willing to pray to God to be filled with, and baptized by his Spirit in order to go out and be used to save this lost, broken world? It can happen today!
A Christian woman involved in a ministry which serves those in need by giving food and clothing and meeting other basic needs wrote the following devotion in the Upper Room for this past Wednesday: "One Saturday as my husband and I were on our way to a business associate's company picnic, my cell phone rang. [Someone] told me, weeping, that she had absolutely nothing to feed her children." The author continues, "My first reaction was, 'This is my day off, and I want to enjoy it with my husband.' But then the Lord reminded me I am a Christian all the time, not just when it is convenient. I jotted down the woman's address, and we headed to the food pantry. We also stopped by our house to get some meat for the family. When we arrived at the [home], two of her children ran out to greet us with loving hugs. As we brought sacks of groceries into the kitchen, the young mother stood crying and gave both of us a thank you hug as well." She finishes by writing, "Sometimes I am tempted not to respond to a call from God that is inconvenient or unpleasant."
I can relate to that statement; how about you? Taking up the cross and following Christ is often not pleasant and convenient, but it is what God calls us to do, and it does give us a peace and satisfaction unmatched by anything else in this world! Those first disciples were most certainly afraid of the road ahead. But they believed, they cared, and they allowed the Holy Spirit to have full reign, and 3,000 people were added to their number that day. It's interesting to note that about an average of 3,000 people were coming to hear John Wesley preach in the fields some 1,700 years after the first Pentecost. When we leave this building, what uncomfortable or not so pleasant places is the Holy Spirit calling us to preach? Rather than waiting for people to find their way into the church, field preaching moved the preaching of the Gospel out to where the people were. This had the effect of catching attention, of meeting people on their home turf. It was missional. Sounds a lot like the first Pentecost. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, it can happen here. It can start with us! May it be so! Amen.
