Spirit-filled living provides numerous blessings and benefits
to us as individuals and as the Church. It produces a qualitative influence
in the Church and in the world. Spirit-filled living brings stimulation and
guidance in a surrendered and growing life. Spirit-filled living assists us
in recovery from past wounds and times of failure.
The Pentecost Day sermon is by Norman Moore. Dr. Moore is a
tenured evangelist in the Church of the Nazarene. This sermon first appeared
in the Pentecost 2004 issue of Preacher’s Magazine.
Jesus coached His disciples regarding the coming of the Holy
Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor
to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept
Him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives
with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).
Before He ascended back to heaven, Jesus also instructed His
disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father
promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4b-5).
Following the coming of the Holy Spirit, the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:1-4), and Peter’s sermon (Acts 2:14-41), Luke observed the results
of the Spirit-filled life in the young Church. Changed priorities, unity,
and material generosity are among the qualitative differences between life
before and after the Spirit.
These impressive beginnings flavored the ongoing expansion and
development of the Church. The quality of the early Christians’ lives
affected the quality of their impact on their community and world. Luke concludes,
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”
(Acts 2:47b).
A closer look at this scripture passage presses a question:
Is there a gap between where the Early Church was and where we are today?
The threat of apathy, complacency, and stagnation in many churches seems continual.
The scripture provides evidence of the Holy Spirit’s activity
and gives us a gauge by which we can measure local church health.
The in-filling of the Holy Spirit made an immediate and noticeable
difference in the lives of the early Christians. The Spirit’s influence
in the lives of these Christians is seen in their relationship to God, to
each other, and to the outside world.
This message can be positioned as a mutual discovery on the
part of both preacher and listener, rather than an abrasive, accusing confrontation
of the congregation. Verse by verse comparisons from the scripture to contemporary
church life are helpful.
A tender hearted, transparent examination can lead the hearer to a non-threatened,
receptive response: “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm
139:23).
Searching together an inch at a time through these verses can
reveal opportunities for growth in all our lives. We all benefit in a cordial
invitation to pray about specific issues the Holy Spirit brings to our attention.
An approach of “we all have room to grow” and an attitude that
allows us to take advantage of the opportunity to walk in new light and cooperate
with the Spirit’s leading will be valuable to spiritual growth.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons.”)
We live in a world where the value of anything seems to be predicated
on what it can produce. Concern for function effects how we evaluate people.
What is one of the first questions you ask when you’re getting to know
someone new? “What do you do?” If they do something important,
we’re impressed. If they do something commonplace, we judge them to
be rather ordinary.
For many in our culture, including some of us, the cry is, “That’s
nice, but what does it do?” I wonder if this question works its way
into our faith?
We see the impressive “machinery” of our Christian faith. We talk about and study the great truths of the Gospel. We affirm our belief in God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. We read in the Bible and we confess together that when we come to Christ through faith we are forgiven, healed, and made new. Yet as great as all of that sounds, I can still hear the question, “Yeah but, what does it do?” In other words, “How does this faith really work in my everyday life?” Drawing a connection between faith and our everyday lives can create a compelling sermon.
