Current Sermon: May 11, 2008 - go to archives

Pentecost and Mother’s Day – what a unique combination! God is good! For our lives to be so enriched with the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit, together with the care of a godly and loving mother and wife. If that has been true for you, you are indeed blessed. Yet even with the blessing of one or both, our lives are still affected by sin and adversity.

What a mess my life is. I struggle constantly with temptation and sin, along with fears and worry. I have made many bad choices. I have skeletons in my past that still haunt me. As a pastoral counselor I seek counseling myself. And this is a fact for everyone, we are all messed up! Each of our lives is full of struggles be it in marriage, over our career or with finances. We have hurt people and been hurt ourselves. And we all struggle with things not of Christ: greed, lust, hate, and deception.

This is why we celebrate Pentecost. Pentecost is for messy, troubled people! Brennan Manning has authored a book titled, “The Ragamuffin Gospel.” He writes, Pentecost is not for . .. Instead Pentecost is for . . . Today in Numbers 11 Moses takes 70 leaders to the tent of meeting located outside the camp. It is where God appears and speaks. On this occasion God places his Spirit on all 70 enabling them to prophesy. “Wish to God all God’s people be given the Spirit,” cries Moses (v 29).

Indeed that is what happens today in Acts 2. Peter quotes from Joel Chapter 2, where twice God prophesies, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (vs. 17, 18). Further, from today’s Gospel note how Jesus describes the Spirit’s presence – out of our hearts will flow living water (v 38). Within us Jesus’ Spirit moves like a liquid flow, a current constantly moving that began at our baptism. This flowing movement of God washes, surges over the ongoing mess in our lives, our sins, all our struggles, fears, and poor decisions. And over time heals, replenishes and strengthens us. Come. Note Jesus’ invitation (v 37). Let me come to minister to your life’s mess through the healing flow of my Spirit, he says.

In Numbers 11 not all 70 elders gather at the tent. Two stay back in the camp to minister to the people. The Praise song is titled “If We Are the Body.” Listen to the words. This is the message and meaning of Pentecost: peoples’ lives are messed up – mine and yours included. Yet as messed up as we are we need to be Jesus’ arms, heart and feet – in our camps, where the people are! Jesus paid too high a price for us to pick and choose who’s acceptable to Christ.

Ladies, thank you for the flow and movement of the Spirit of Christ in your life; as you seek to be Jesus’ hands and feet in your camp, where you live, work, shop, and worship.

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