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Sermon for 05/11/08
Pentecost – Why Doesn't Jesus, Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN Main Theme: Sometimes we Christians get tired because we have lost the focus of our ministry: to share how much Jesus loves His children! There are people wondering why Jesus doesn’t walk around healing and loving people anymore. This is a mystery considering the reason the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost was to see that divine power and love would be distributed now through His servants. What gets in our way? Doubts; doubts about God’s power, plan, and promise. But that same Spirit can help us conquer our fears of rejection and failure. When we focus on our first love, the Spirit helps us overcome what is holding us back from sharing God’s love and power with those who have yet to experience it! The gift of Pentecost compels us and empowers us to share how much Jesus loves His children.
1) TIRED! A few years back, Matthew Woodley, a pastor in Minnesota, decided to leave the ministry. Over the years, a negative attitude had taken hold in his heart. He had lost any zeal for the ministry. He was tired of difficult people. He was tired of fielding everyone's complaints. He was tired of living in a run-down parsonage that the church refused to fix. He was tired of the church's constant money problems. He had lost his focus, and he wanted out.
2) DEANNA. Not long after this, the Woodley family went on vacation to Montana. Matthew spent a day in a local park praying and reading his Bible. He was searching for some sign from God that would take away all the negativity in his heart. As he prayed, three dirty, ragged little children entered the park and sat down nearby. The oldest child took it upon herself to make introductions. Her name was Deanna, and she was twelve years old. The other two children were her half-sister, Kristy, 10 years old, and her half-brother, Mikey, six years old.
3) WHY DOESN’T JESUS DO THAT ANYMORE? Deanna proceeded to explain that they were each sired by different fathers, and that Mikey's father was so abusive that the children's mother was filing for a divorce from him. The mother had dropped the kids at the park so that she could go gambling at the local casino. With a touch of sadness, Deanna reported that ever since their mother had lost her job, the family had been living in a tent on the outskirts of town. Then Deanna asked Matthew if he had a job. He replied that he was a pastor. Deanna thought about this answer for a while, then she asked, "Mister Pastor, can you tell me something? I've heard stories about Jesus walking around healing people and loving people. Why doesn't He do that anymore?"
4) JESUS LOVES YOU! Matthew tried his best to answer her question. He talked about the incarnation, and salvation, and everything else he could remember from his seminary training. But he knew it didn't make sense to the kids. It didn't even make sense to him. These three poor, abused, neglected children needed to know the real story. So he stopped in mid-sentence, and, fighting back tears, said, "Deanna, Kristy, Mikey, let me start over. Do you have any idea how much Jesus loves you right now?" And Matthew Woodley shared the story of Jesus' love with those three children in the park.
5) SHARING THE MESSAGE OF GOD. As you might have guessed, Matthew Woodley never left the ministry. That day in the park brought him face-to-face with the loving, compassionate God that he had forgotten about. It reminded him that ministry wasn't about pleasing people, or having a big church, or preaching the perfect sermon. It was about sharing the message of God with hurting people who desperately need to know that they are loved.
6) WHY DOESN’T… Today I’d like to ask you the same question the little girl asked the pastor that day in the park, "Friend, can you tell me something? I've heard stories about Jesus walking around healing people and loving people. Why doesn't He do that anymore?" How would you personally answer that little girl? I reflected a long time upon this same question this week. Oh, I knew the answer… but even so, I hesitated to blurt out the theological theory in the light of the “perceived reality of abandonment” of so many thousands of broken people. Sociologists have described America as the loneliest nation on the face of the earth. And all those lonely people, facing a broken world full of depression, divorce, crime, abuse, addictions, and emptiness, keep looking for some form of hope. And their question is a good one: Why doesn’t Jesus walk around healing and loving people anymore?
7) THE SPIRIT! When Jesus ascended to heaven, was the age of divine healing, faith, and hope over? Did the truth, power, and love He shared go upward also, never to be seen again? Has God abandoned us to our sin, our frailties, weaknesses, wars, and broken relationships? The answer: Absolutely not! The Gospel message today is all about God’s giving of His holy and life-giving Spirit to the world. On this, the day of Pentecost, the Spirit came down like the rush of wind and appeared as fire, miraculously empowering simple folk with the ability to awe the crowds with the Word of God, sharing the Spirit that began moving people to repentance and conversion, inspiring within the broken masses - faith, love, and hope.
8) HOW IS IT/ WHY/HOW COME? Was it perhaps a one time occurrence? The fact that simple people were empowered to carry on what Jesus had once done by Himself, was this a fluke? Was this transfer of divine power to the early disciples something that existed only in their lifetime? No, you answer!? How is it then, people still ask, “Why doesn’t Jesus walk around healing and loving people anymore? Perhaps you’ve heard the saying; “You may be the only Jesus anyone ever sees”, but if this is the case, why are so many failing to see Jesus reach out and care? How come they haven’t heard His voice tell them that they are loved beyond comprehension? If we, as individual Christians, and we the church, have been handed the power of God to heal and love, how come so many people feel abandoned and lost? …in our neighborhoods, our schools, our families?
9) DOUBTS! When I teach Intentional Witnessing classes we talk about the three primary doubts that the powers of darkness often use to cripple us in the church, three doubts that attempt to still our voices and the power that Christ gave us to carry on His work. Those three major doubts relate to God’s power, His plan, and His promise.
10) GOD’S POWER. Let’s talk first about God’s power: What doubts do you have concerning God’s power? Can the power of the Word that God gives us to share with others, really have the power to change the hearts of other people? If we are to grasp the awesomeness of the Pentecost event, we need to see and understand that God has an amazing ability to melt the hearts of even the most cold-hearted people. Some examples from the Bible: The spirit of God transformed the lives of the irreligious (Samaritan woman), those who opposed Jesus (Saul), the poor (Peter), the rich (Luke and Matthew), the spirit of God transformed the lives of the sick (the leper, the blind, etc..), people of influence (The Ethiopian official Jairus), even Christ’s own family members, (Mary, James), etc… If you want more proof: look around you. If God could reach into our broken hearts, and bring us healing, unconditional love, and faith, is there anything or anyone exempt from the power and authority of God? No, nothing and nobody is exempt from the power and authority of God! Pentecost was meant to help us believe in the power of God.
11) GOD’S PLAN! Perhaps we have some doubts about GOD’S PLAN: Is it hard for you to believe that God would use ordinary imperfect people to change the world? Is it hard for you to believe that God would use you to reach out to touch hearts and bring new life to those who need it? I think we all struggle with this one, and yet if Christ can use a couple of fishermen, a tax collector, or even a persecutor of the faith like Paul to transform the world, why can’t God use you? Pentecost reminds us that it is His plan to use those ordinary people whose lives have been changed - to help turn around the lives of other sinners.
12) GOD’S PROMISE! Well, perhaps we struggle with doubts about GOD’S PROMISE: Will God be true to His promise regarding our service and sharing of the good news to others? Can He really use us, even if our knowledge and faith is so small? Some of us are waiting to put our Christianity into action until we know more, but the fact is, a minimal amount of knowledge is necessary to be effective. How much knowledge do we need? Perhaps no more than we already have. If you know Jesus loves you, and it’s changed your life, you have enough to share with others. God’s promise is that He will use you right where you are in your faith walk. Christ will not give you more than you can handle, nor will He abandon you as you seek to do His will (1 Cor. 10:13)
13) REJECTION? His Promises can also be trusted when He says He will help you deal with your fear of rejection. Is reflecting Christ’s love and facing rejection a possibility? Well, you only have to look at the cross to answer that one. Rejection is a very real possibility. If we promote the cause of Christ …we risk rejection. I know this is not always desirable in a culture that pushes the supremacy of popularity. But how do look little Deanna, and Kristy, and Mikey in the eyes and hesitate for fear of rejection. The bottom line is this: Who do you love and trust the most - those who might reject you, or the amazing God who sends you? True, that’s a difficult answer for some - but for those of us here this morning, we know that God is the correct answer. He is the one we are called to love and trust the most! You are not called to love Him exclusively, but to love Him more deeply than all the rest. And when you do that, rejection loses it’s sting.
14) FIRST LOVE! We need to accept the fact, that in serving Him, some people may become offended, confused, and disinterested with God’s gift. Yet, you are called to maintain Him as your first love, and continue to reach out with His message of love and reconciliation. Rejection will inevitably occur if you are faithful. And yes, sometimes it can be… difficult to handle. Yet, if we treasure Him as our first love, we must faithfully refuse to stay silent. Jesus’ disciples refused to stay silent, and they faced the possibility of rejection, but with Christ’s power they changed the world. And now you are Jesus’ disciples – is He your first love? Will you refuse to stay silent, …boldly face the possibility of rejection, and with the Spirit’s help change the world – one heart at a time?
15) FAILURE? I wonder sometimes if our reluctance to step forward in our faith as a visible symbol of Christ, is because we might be afraid of failure: What if we let God down? What if we try and fail the church? What if we try and fail the very people we hope to reach? Seems like a heavy burden, until we ask “what does God consider failure?” Does God see a failed attempt or a rejected offer as failure? No! Failure for God is what? …the refusal to tell the world about His Glory and His gracious and loving plans for His people. Failure is not trying to share with others what you consider your greatest blessing; the love of Jesus Christ!
16) GO AND TELL! The fact is, you and I can’t change hearts or convert people or save their souls. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. What is your responsibility? …Your responsibility is to go and tell. There is a great old classic hymn – “I love to tell the story” – in fact, we sang it last month at the first service. But do we? Do we love to tell the story? Do we love to tell the story “of unseen things above”? “…of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love”? And is it our “theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love”? See, we can’t change hearts, but we are called to go and tell. You and I can pray for people, and inform them of the truth. You and I can lend a helping hand, and share the love of Christ, but let us remember: only God’s Holy Spirit can transform hearts and save souls. Ours is simply to go and tell!
17) DOUBTS/FEARS? Three little children living in a tent, with an out of work mother who gambles, and a father who is abusive, want to ask you a question: “Friend, can you tell me something? I've heard stories about Jesus walking around healing people and loving people. Why doesn't He do that anymore?" What are we to tell them? …that Jesus now dwells in the hearts of His followers but they are filled with doubts and fears? …that they would like to heal and love people but they are questioning His power, His plan, and His promises? …that His followers are hesitating to imitate the Savior because they are afraid they don’t know enough, or fear rejection and failure?
18) QUESTION! George Barna, in one of his books asks his Christian readers a question; “So what is holding you back from sharing God’s desire to love others as He loves you?” It’s a great question, a soul searching question! Today, through the Pentecost event, God provides the power of the Holy Spirit and sends it to reside in your hearts. He does so to help you cast your fears and doubts aside and boldly go for it. You are not the cure, but you are the messenger empowered and called to lovingly direct the needy to the source of the healing. In light of the Pentecost message, and that the Holy Spirit now resides in you, do you have an answer to George Barna’s question? “So what is holding you back from sharing God’s desire to love others as He loves you?”
19) YOU! Friends, there are ….thousands of Deanna’s, Kristy’s, and Mikey’s of all ages wondering why Jesus isn’t healing or loving people anymore. But now, with the rushing wind of His Spirit blowing away your doubts, with the flames of Pentecost burning away your fears, you can take the power, the love, and the Spirit of the living God to everyone you meet. Through the gift of Pentecost you are to go from this room to make a difference in the lives of people you encounter daily. That is how Christ will use you to build the kind of world He desires--one person at a time. Christ comes now, knowing that perhaps tomorrow you will run into a little Deanna, Kristy, or Mikey, or maybe a hurting mother, or a needy father, or any lost soul. And it is His loving and gracious plan that you and the Spirit of God within ou, will reach out as one, and ask, “Friend, do you have any idea how much Jesus loves you right now?" The discussion that often follows is how miracles of the heart come about! Thanks to the Holy Spirit! Praise God. AMEN
Sermon/Confessional Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father; we confess that as much as your Holy Spirit longs to live within us, our hearts are not always open to it. We are sometimes afraid of the change it may want to create within us. We are often afraid of the servanthood life-style it may call us to. And while we are more than ready to accept the Holy Spirit’s life-giving blessings, we’re not always ready to share those blessings with others. Forgive us Lord. Please mold and re-shape us that we might appreciate and faithfully respond to your Great Commandment and your Great Commission.
Lord you have called us through the Spirit to be your church, and empowered us to carry on your healing and loving ways. Forgive us for our silence, and remove any doubts we may have about the ability of your power to transform hearts. Remove any doubts about your ability to use simple folks like us to change lives. And help us to trust in your promises to bless and empower us in our service and witnessing. In terms of sharing our faith, help us to overcome our fears and give us the courage, strength, and passion we need to be more Christ-like in everything we do.
And now, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, healed, and made anew.
(Silence)
Assurance of Forgiveness: Friends, listen to the good news: the Lord who longs to live within you, has again heard your confession and lovingly forgives you all your sins. May the purpose and passion that only the Holy Spirit can provide burn brightly in your hearts. Amen
Opening prayer: Pentecost,
Dear Heavenly Father, today we gather to praise and worship you, and celebrate the birth of Your church. No, not a building – but a people! A blessed people; and a people empowered and called upon to daily carry on the life-giving mission of our Lord and Savior. But we are broken and frail, and so before we can be faithful servants, we humbly come before You to receive the awesome forgiveness that washes away our sins. We bow before You seeking your healing and gifts of faith, hope, and love. We open our hearts and minds to Your Spirit that we might receive Your truth and wisdom through Your Holy Word. We come to eat the bread and drink the wine that gives eternal life! So just as the Holy Spirit came into the early disciples on the day of Pentecost, so too come into us today. Shake us from our comfortable or self-absorbed life-styles and awaken us to the joy that comes from following You out into the community with the awesome gift of divine love and grace. Come now and dwell within us, and empower us to be more and more Christ-like in everything we say and do. This we pray in Jesus Name! AMEN
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