Changes God Brings

The Rev. Kirk Baker

Pub. 06/04/2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Happy birthday! Anyone know why I am saying that? Whose birthday is it today, anyway?

Today is Pentecost, or “fifty days,” marking fifty days after the Resurrection. This is not truly a Christian holy day; it is a Jewish holy day, the term “pentecost” comes from the Greek name for a festival fifty days after Passover known as the Festival of Weeks. The Festival of Weeks celebrated a number of weeks after the grain harvest, when Temple Priests would pass loaves of bread before the altar of God, symbolically giving God the first bite of the product that came through God's beneficence. Then bread would be broken and shared among those present. In Judaism, Pentecost is a time to give generously to the poor, because this season reminds people to be thankful for God's generous provision. Christians, of course, associate Pentecost with Communion! In the Last Supper, Jesus made clear He was God, and that He was God's provision, offering His body as God's bread from heaven. And Christians are supposed to care for the poor all the time, one reason Christianity spread so quickly around the world.

The first Christian Pentecost was just read aloud from Acts Two, when what happened? Yes! God's provision was made complete through the descension of God's Spirit, falling upon the Apostles! And we see this was the fulfillment of God's plan from way back in the days of Moses, when the Spirit fell on Moses' lieutenants, who then “prophesied” which meant interpreted God's Law in specific ways that helped God's people. The falling of the Holy Spirit marked God's direct initiation of Christian ministry through the Apostles, so it is often called “the birth of the Christian Church.” But don't take my word for it - here is a short introduction to Pentecost that lays out the groundwork for us.

Now, do you remember how you felt as a young child on your birthday? What was that like? I have two brothers, so we competed in everything; but on your birthday, you got to have everything your way. Older siblings didn't get to choose what game you played and always choose one they knew they'd win. Younger siblings didn't cry to Mom because they never won at anything. Birthdays conferred power on the one who was born! Everything from what friends came to the party to what food was eaten was the provenance of the birthday child. Birthdays were special.

That is how we can feel ALL THE TIME, because God gave us access to the Holy Spirit! Pentecost means the Gospel is not shared by the chosen few, but is available to all. Pentecost means God empowers EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES to carry the Gospel to others, all the time! We know that after the Spirit fell, Peter and the other Apostles shared their personal stories of Jesus. The men who had been so afraid, who locked themselves away in secret locations for fear of crucifixion, were suddenly emboldened! They went to a central street in Jerusalem during one of the busiest times of the year, and they shouted to the world, “JESUS IS THE MESSIAH! Repent and accept God's free gift of grace.”

Do we feel empowered? Do we speak of God's grace to others? I do not mean as street-corner preachers; we live in different times, we move in a different culture, than the Apostles did so long ago. But do we share our stories? Do we let others know how God has changed our lives for the better? Some people tell me, they've never thought about sharing their faith stories, they've just always believed and God has always been there. But for us twice-borns, the difference between life without God and life with God is night and day. It's kind of like being a small child; without God, it seems like every day is everyone's birthday except yours, while with God, every day is your special day!

What stories of grace do you have to tell? We all have at least a few. There are the times when someone stepped into your life powerfully, perhaps without realizing how they “saved” you from something. There are the times you struggled with something terrible, turned to God in desperation, and knew your heavenly Parent walked beside you in Christ. There are the times you were blessed beyond anything you deserved, and felt it. These are your personal stories of God's grace, but they do not belong to you alone. One reason they were given is so that you can share them with others, so that others' faith might be strengthened, or even so they might come to believe.

If we wonder why so much of the world seems opposed to God's ways, then remember, WE are the Body of Christ, WE are God's witness to the world. That can be a real challenge for Presbyterians, we who may do great things for God's Kingdom yet seldom speak of our beliefs. It's like the story of the Presbyterian who married a Jehovah's Witness; they had a daughter who felt compelled to knock on people's doors, but when they answered she wouldn't say anything! What fear holds us back? What imagined rejection freezes our tongues? We need fear nothing; the very Spirit of God is ours, will guide us and inspire us and comfort us when others' fears color those conversations of undeserved grace. Besides, we aren't asking people to live our stories; we are simply sharing what we know, our own experiences of God. That is okay, even in our culture today.

Think back, to how it felt as a small child when you woke up on your birthday! Think about the excitement, the irrepressible joy, how you ran from your bedroom to greet the whole world, how you smiled as people said “happy birthday.” God's church is born, Hallelujah! God's people are reborn, every moment of every day, praise God. Grab hold of that feeling, let that joyful, energizing Spirit wash over you again! We are all chosen, we are each empowered by God. Go, share the good news, and know Christ is with you, even unto the close of the age. Amen.

17-06-04 1 Acts 2