St. Michael’s Church

In the City of Charleston

Pentecost

MAY 15, 2016

Acts 2:1-11

JOHN 7:37-39

Preacher: Al Zadig, Jr.+

The D-Day of the Holy Spirit

HELP US LORD TO BE SO CONNECTED TO YOU THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE SERVANTS OF OTHERS.

TAKE OUR LIPS AND SPEAK THROUGH THEM,

OUR MINDS AND THINK THROUGH THEM,

AND ON THIS PENTECOST

TAKE OUR HEARTS, AND SET THEM ON FIRE.

++++++++++++++

OUT THE DOOR WE WENT…

PARACHUTING INTO THE INFERNO…

JUST AS WE PEELED OUT, IT SEEMED THE WHOLE WORLD LIT UP RIGHT UNDERNEATH ME-

A TREMENDOUS BALL OF FIRE…

A BUNCH OF BLACK SMOKE MIXED IN WITH RED FIRE, JUST A GREAT FIREBALL.

I SAID TO MYSELF, THE ENEMY IS WAITING FOR ME….

WHILE PARACHUTING DOWN, I PULLED MY LEGS UP AS FAR AS A I COULD-

MY KNEES INTO MY STOMACH TO GET AWAY FROM A STREAM OF FIRE…

I SLAMMED ONTO THE BEACH AND WAS IMMEDIATELY PINNED DOWN BY MACHINE GUN FIRE..

EVERYTIME I TRIED TO MOVE, MACHINE GUN FIRE WOULD OPEN UP…

I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND RETURN FIRE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ANOTHER GROUP OF GERMANS CAME AT US…

WE JUST

  • MOVED,
  • MOVED,
  • MOVED
  • AND NEVER SEEMED TO GET BEYOND THE ENEMY GUNFIRE.

I DID GET OUT OF THERE WITH MY LIFE,

BUT I LOST MY BEST BUDDY,

HIS PARACHUTE GOT STUCK IN A TREE, AND THE GERMANS GOT TO HIM BEFORE I COULD…

THESE ARE THE WORDS OF EDWARD

JEZ-IORSKI…

A PARATROOPER WITH THE 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT…

HE WAS 23 WHEN HE PARACHUTED INTO THE INFERNO ON THAT

D-DAY

OVER NORMANDY.

D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE DAY

U-S AND ALLIED TROOPS LAND ON THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY AND TURNED THE TIDE ON WORLD WAR II AND NAZI GERMANY.

SOMEONE ELSE DESCRIBED HIS D-DAY EXPERIENCE THIS WAY…

AS OUR BOAT TOUCHED SAND AND THE RAMP WENT DOWN,

I BECAME A VISITOR TO HELL!

A TOTAL OF 150,000 MEN WOULD LAND ON THAT BEACH BY SEA AND AIR..

10,000 OF THEM WOULD DIE…

IT WAS THE LARGEST INVASION FORCE EVER ASSEMBLED..

YET, THE WAR AGAINST THE GERMANS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 58 MONTHS PRIOR…

IT WAS A FULL 4 YEARS BEFORE WHEN BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL ISSUED THOSE CHILLING WORDS…

I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER BUT:

  • BLOOD,
  • TOIL,
  • TEARS
  • AND SWEAT!

IT WAS 1940 THAT BEGAN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN AND THE PAINFUL BLITZ OVER LONDON.

EARLY ON, THE BRITISH BEGGED THE AMERICANS TO DO MORE…

SO, IMAGINE THE EMOTION FROM THESE FOLKS AND OTHERS WHEN 150 THOUSAND AMERICANS LITERALLY COME OUT OF THE SKY AND OCEANS!

CAN YOU FEEL WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE FELT AND SEEN?

A GERMAN OFFICER RECOUNTS THE PICTURE:

  • WHEN I GOT TO NORMANDY
  • I SAW AN AMERICAN ARMADA
  • LIKE A PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS…
  • THE NUMBER OF SHIPS UNCOUNTABLE…

D-DAY…

THE HAND OF

  • REFUGE
  • RELIEF
  • AND RESCUE…
  • DELIVERED.

TODAY IS THE CHURCH VERSION OF D-DAY.

LET ME PUT IT IN CONTEXT FOR YOU.

IN OUR GOSPEL FOR TODAY,

JESUS SAYS THOSE UNFORGETTABLE WORDS…

“THEY WHO BELIEVE IN ME, AS THE SCRIPTURES HAVE SAID, STREAMS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN.

THIS JESUS SAID ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT THEY WERE ABOUT TO RECEIVE…”

JESUS HERE IS TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND COMING D-DAY, THE FIRING DOWN FROM THE SKIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

FAST FORWARD..

AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION,

THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS HAD BEEN OVERWELMED WITH SORROW, CONFUSION AND UNBELIEF…

HOW COULD THEIR SAVIOR DIE?

BUT THEN, EVEN AFTER THE RESURRECTION,

EVEN AFTER JESUS CAME BACK TO LIFE AND APPREARED TO THEM..

THE BIBLE SAYS THERE WERE STILL DOUBTERS!

MATTHEW 28:17; THEY SAW JESUS, SOME WORSHIPED HIM, SOME DOUBTED.

LIKE THE BRITISH PRIOR TO D-DAY,

THERE WAS DISCOURAGMENT IN THE RANKS OF THE EARLIEST FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.

BUT THEN JESUS IN LUKE 24 SAYS YOU ARE MY WITNESSES, GO TO JERUSALEM, DON’T TARRY, THERE YOU WILL RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SO OFF THEY GO AND LISTEN THROUGH ACTS 2 AS TO WHAT HAPPENS---

AND AS YOU DO,

PICTURE WHAT YOU HEAR IN THAT UPPER ROOM AS THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY!

HERE WE GO:

  • WITHOUT WARNING
  • A SOUND LIKE A STRONG WIND
  • A GALE FORCE-
  • NO ONE CAN TELL WHERE IT’S COMING FROM!
  • IT FILLS THE WHOLE SPACE…
  • THE SIGHTS
  • THE SOUNDS
  • GLORIOUSLY INTENSE!
  • JUST THEN,
  • A LARGE FLAME APPEARS,
  • IT STARTS OUT FULL
  • THEN SEPARATES, AND DIVIDES
  • AND COMES TO REST ON EACH OF THEM!
  • ANDSTARTS BURNING IN EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY.
  • BY THE WAY, THIS TELLS US THAT NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE CAN HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
  • THE DISCIPLES ARE THUNDERSTRUCK.
  • OVERWHELMED THEY BEGIN SPEAKING IN TONGUES
  • GOD’S D-DAY!
  • DARKNESS
  • DISILLUSIONMENT
  • DESPAIR
  • DISSIPATES INTO: JOY!
  • PENTECOST:
  • THE D-DAY OF THE SOUL!

IF YOU’RE STILL DOUBTING..

IT WAS JUST 3 YEARS AGO SOME OF YOU WERE WITH ME IN JERUSALEM, AND WE VISITED THE SIGHT OF THIS UPPER ROOM, OR AT LEAST WHERE THEY THOUGHT THE UPPER ROOM WAS.

AND I’LL NEVER FORGET WALKING IN,

JUST A ROUTINE DAY, AND THE PLACE WAS PACKED WITH PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT ON THIS DAY, A GROUP OF CHINESE PILGRIMS, SINGING:

SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD!

++++++

ALL RIGHT, WHY?

WHY THIS SPIRITUAL D-DAY?

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

  • THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO THE PERSON
  • WHAT THE ELECTRIC OUTLET AND POWER CORD IS TO A COMPUTER!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR POWER SOURCE!

SO, LET’S BACK UP,

GOD THE FATHER CREATED US…

JESUS CHRIST REDEEMS US FROM SIN…

AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO EM-POWERS US..

  • CREATER
  • REDEEMER
  • EMPOWER-ER

THERE IS NO OTHER RELIGION ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH THAT PROMISES THAT ITS PEOPLE WILL BE EMPOWERED BY A SUPERNATURAL FORCE AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE SAVIOR.

EMPOWERMENT IS THE PURPOSE OF D-DAY.

IT LED THAT GREAT EVANGELIST DWIGHT MOODY TO SAY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL TRY TO

HEAR WITHOUT EARS,

OR

BREATHE WITHOUT LUNGS,

AS TRY TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD RELEASED IN YOUR HEART.

THIS EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN I CAN COMMUNICATE IN ONE SERMON-

WHICH IS WHY WE SPEND A WEEKEND ON HIM DURING ALPHA..

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US BY:

  • GIVING US GIFTS FOR MINISTRY
  • ASSURING US OF GOD’S LOVE
  • LEADING US TO MISSION FIELDS BEYOND OUR OWN
  • THE HOLY SPIRIT EXISTS TO CONVICT US OF OUR SIN AND LEAD US TO REPENTANCE!
  • AND TO GIVE DEEPEST JOY.

THERE IS ANOTHER SERMON IN EACH OF THOSE POINTS, BUT JUST FOR TODAY ON THIS D-DAY OF THE SOUL….

THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW:

  • YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EMPOWER ANYONE ELSE
  • UNTIL YOU ARE FIRST SUPERNATURALLY EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

WHENEVER SOMEONE IS FILLED AND EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,

SOMETHING HAPPENS.

  • EMPOWERED LEADERS
  • EXPRESS GOD’S POWER
  • AND EMPOWER OTHERS.

IN FACT, IF YOU HAVE EVER SAID ONE OF THE FOLLOWING,

THIS D-DAY MESSAGE IS FOR YOU!

IF YOU HAVE EVER SAID:

  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO DO SUCH AND SUCH.

IT’S NOT IN ME TO:

  • BE THAT LEADER
  • TO LIVE OUT MY CHRISTIAN LIFE AT WORK
  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO FORGIVE SO AND SO FOR WHAT HE DID TO ME
  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO DO MISSION WORK IN
  • AFRICA
  • INDIA
  • THE EAST SIDE OF CHARLESTON

IT’S JUST NOT IN ME..

  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO BE ORGANIZED
  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO BE GENTLE
  • IT'S NOT IN ME TO BE COMPASSIONATE
  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO BE PATIENT
  • IT’S NOT IN ME TO BE KIND
  • IT’S NOT MY WIRING,
  • IT’S JUST NOT MY NATURE

YOU’RE A THOUSAND % RIGHT!

IT IS NOT IN YOU

AND THAT’S THE PURPOSE OF BEING EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

TO FILL AND EMPOWER YOU TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE MISSION JESUS DIED TO GIVE YOU!

I THINK OF THE TRACK STAR WHOSE COACH SAID TO HER AFTER A GREAT PERFORMANCE IN A SPRINT…

  • I DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD IT IN YOU!
  • THE STAR REPLIES, I DIDN’T,
  • I WAS PICKED UP AND CARRIED BY SOMETHING GREATER THAN MYSELF!

D-DAY.

CRAIG KEENER, PROFESSOR AT EASTERN SEMINARY IN PENNSYLVANIA WRITES THAT:

“THE ENTIRE POINT OF PENTECOST IS GOD SHOWING HIS POWER THROUGH US.

  • HIS STRENGTH
  • HIS POWER
  • WHICH ALLOWS US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN LIFE AND MINISTRY!

+++++

ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR RESTORATION CONFERENCE LAST WEEK

WAS THE NEED FOR THE LEADERS OF THIS CHURCH TO DO A BETTER JOB AT EMPOWERING YOU FOR MINISTRY!

SPEAKER RUSS

PARKER TOLD HOW HE ASKED A CONGREGATION IN ENGLAND:

“WILL THE LEADERS OF THIS CHURCH COME FORWARD FOR PRAYER.”

THE CONGREGATION OF 500 PEOPLE ALL CAME FORWARD BECAUSE THEY SAW THEMSELVES AS EMPOWERED LEADERS!

WOW!

++++

OF THE MANY THINGS WE HEARD DURING OUR RESTORATION CONFERENCE,

THE MOST EXCITING WAS THIS:

WHEN WE ASKED YOU THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN CELEBRATE AT ST. MICHAEL’S..

YOU COLLECTIVELY SAID:

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN THIS PLACE!

FELT AT EVERY SERVICE!

TODAY WE SAY

  • MORE JESUS!
  • MORE JESUS,
  • COME FROM OUT THERE
  • AND INTO HERE.

+++++++++++++

SO IF THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO EMPOWER,

HOW IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD KEPT ALIVE IN THIS PLACE AND IN OUR HEARTS?

IT’S INTERESTING..

WE KEEP D-DAY AND WORLD WAR 2 ALIVE BY MONUMENTS MADE OF GRANITE AND STEEL…

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT D-DAY OF THE SOUL.

IS A DAILY INVITATION FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIGHT OUR LIVES ON FIRE!

AND WHAT I FIND IS THAT WHEN I COME TO CHURCH, I COME SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OTHERS,

AND LIKE ONE FLAME SPREADING TO ANOTHER IT JUST SPREADS!

MEANING:

  • THE MORE WE ISOLATE,
  • THE MORE WE EVEN MISS CHURCH,
  • THE MORE WE MISS THAT SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TIME,

& THE SPIRIT BEGINS TO DIE AND WITHER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE VESTRY AND STAFF WILL BE WORKING ON THIS SUMMER WILL BE DEVELOPING WAYS FOR US AS A CONGREGATION TO HAVE MORE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TIME,

MORE PRAYERFUL HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT.

SO, REMEMBER,

ASKING TO BE FILLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME REQUEST,

IT’S A DAILY INVITATION.

COME

HOLY SPIRIT, FILL ME

EMPOWER ME TODAY!

  • BURN THROUGH MY
  • DOUBT
  • MY INADEQUACIES..

++++

ANA-TOLE FRANCE, THAT NOBEL LAUREATE IN LITERATURE OF THE 1920’S, WRITES:

MY FRIENDS, YOU WERE GIVEN THE HARDWARE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT BAPTISM,

WILL YOU NOW PRAY

FOR THE CONTINUED RELEASE OF THAT SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE?

ISN’T THIS WHAT WE WANT FOR:

  • MICAH TIMOTHY BOOMAN?
  • ELIAS LEIGH DEEB, JR.
  • MAC ANDREW DEEB
  • AND THOMAS MIDDLETON DRAYTON, JR.?

ALL BEING BAPTIZED TODAY?

FROM THE EARLIEST AGE..

GIVEN THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE EMPOWERED FOR A LIFETIME.

COME HOLY GHOST OUR SOULS INSPIRE, ENLIGHTEN US WITH YOUR CELESTIAL FIRE.

++++++++++++

THE GREEKS HAD A RACE IN THEIR OLYMPIC GAMES THAT WAS UNIQUE.

THE WINNER WAS NOT THE RUNNER WHO FINISHED FIRST,

IT WAS THE RUNNER WHO FINISHED

WITH HIS TORCH STILL LIT.

DON’T WE AS A CONGREGATION WANT TO RUN ALL THE WAY WITH THE FLAME OF OUR TORCHES NOT JUST LIT

BUT WITH A RAGING FIRE?

EMPOWERING US TO

EMPOWER THE WORLD.

SO, AS WE LOOK UP WE DON’T SEE THOUSANDS OF PARACHUTES,

BUT WE DO SEE THIS CHANDELIER,

LIKE THE HOLY SPIRIT ABOVE US FULL,

BUT THEN,

IMAGINE EACH BULB BEING THE FLAME OF THE SPIRIT COMING DOWN…

ON YOU INDIVIDUALLY!

AND ON ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY!

WHAT THAT TELLS ME ST. MICHAEL’S

IS THAT IT’S TIME TO LOOK INTO THE SKY AND SAY FATHER:

“RAIN DOWN UPON ME;

RAIN DOWN UPON US..

EMPOWER EACH ONE OF US!

+++++

D-DAY…

THIS IS PENTECOST MY FRIENDS!

COME HOLY GHOST OUR SOULS INSPIRE,

FILL US WITH YOUR CELESTIAL FIRE.

RAIN DOWN AND EMPOWER WITH JOY ST. MICHAELS CHURCH,

RAIN DOWN AND EMPOWER WITH JOY EACH ONE OF US.

AMEN.

1. The D-Day of the Soul