May 27, 2012 Pentecost
The Holy Spirit is a spirit. By definition, a spirit cannot be seen. It is like a ghost, and so we also call the Holy Spirit “the Holy Ghost.” But although we cannot see the Holy Spirit with our eyes, we can know the Holy Spirit in our lives. To help us understand something that we cannot see, the Bible uses a number of images, like parables, to help us “see” the power and work of the Holy Spirit. The first image is wind or breath. We cannot see the wind, but we can feel a gentle breeze or the storm of a typhoon. We can see the dust and the rain which is blown around by the wind-spirit. We cannot see a person’s breath, but we can feel its warmth, we can see a balloon that is inflated, we can hear the singing and talking of that breath. Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came as both wind and breath. There was the sound from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind that filled the house where they were sitting (Acts 2:2). There was the breath given by the Spirit so that the disciples could speak the Gospel in other foreign tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (2:4).
At the Baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came down as a dove. In John 7:37-39, Jesus compares the Holy Spirit as a river of living water that flows from his heart.
And at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is revealed as “tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each of the disciples.” To remember this fire of the Holy Spirit, today’s color in the church is red. Even the altar flowers today are red!
Fire is good, but it must be controlled. If you have a gas range or oven in your kitchen, you can cook a delicious meal, but if you are not careful, a grease fire can burn down your house. A camp fire is warm and cozy, but sparks can start a forest fire. In case of a fire, we reach for the fire extinguisher and call the fire department, 911.
The fire of the Holy Spirit is good, too, but it too must be controlled. Of course we cannot really control the Holy Spirit any more than we can control the wind. But people try to control the Holy Spirit in two ways. The first is by reaching for the fire extinguisher, it is by closing the window. In other words, it is by resisting the Spirit. The job of the Holy Spirit is to make us holy. The fire of the Gospel message brings us the faith to believe that our sins have been forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit daily still keeps making us pure so that we can live a holy life, a life with God. And so, when we deliberately, knowingly sin, it is like closing the window so that we not hear the wind of the Word of God. When we do not want God in our lives, it is like using the fire extinguisher to prevent God from coming near us. We have no time this morning to talk about all the false religions and cults and oppressive governments and domineering parents and fearful people who would try to prevent anyone from accepting the Holy Spirit into their lives. This is the work of the devil.
The second way of trying to control the Holy Spirit is like throwing gasoline on a fire. This is not always bad. People often use gasoline or lighter fuel to start the barbeque. We might see this among enthusiastic Christians doing mission work, and also among so-called Pentecostal or charismatic Christians: holy rollers, uncontrolled shouting or singing, slaying in the Spirit, and other fun things. Maybe I am just a boring old Lutheran. Maybe that is just not my style of worship. But I get theologically upset and angry when anyone says that a person is not saved unless they speak in tongues. It is in the Bible, so of course it is okay to speak in tongues, but it is not necessary for salvation. As Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
The proper work of the Holy Spirit is to create faith. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used to strengthen faith and to be used to proclaim the Gospel. Someone might ask you, “Do you have the Holy Spirit?” They probably mean, “Do you speak in tongues?” Whether you actually speak in tongues or not, whether you have other gifts of the Holy Spirit or not, whether you are a boring old Lutheran or not, if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you can boldly answer, “Yes, I have the Holy Spirit.”
St. Paul wrote, I Thessalonians 5: 19, “Do not quench the Spirit (RSV), do not put out the Spirit’s fire (NIV).” Today is Pentecost. Let’s keep that fire burning. Let’s add more fuel. That fuel is faith, the Word of God, the sacraments, the fellowship of believers. That fellowship is important because in the church community of believers we find the love, peace, joy and mutual forgiveness and grace and all the gifts and works of the Holy Spirit.
Do not try to control the Holy Spirit, rather, let the Holy Spirit control you. When your life seems out of control, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is controlling our lives, our lives will not get out of control. Even in times of conflict and sickness and turmoil, we know that the Holy Spirit is with us. We are loved, we are forgiven, we are saved, we are not alone. This is why it is wonderful that the Holy Spirit is “spirit.” As spirit, God overcomes all physical barriers. God is not limited to the elementary elements of fire and water and wind. This power is shown in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This power is shown in the faith of our daily lives. This is the power of the Holy Spirit. This power and love is the same for our church, our families, and our relationships with other people.
This is the joy and love and peace of Pentecost which we will not – cannot quench!
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
