The Day of Pentecost Year A 5/28/2023
Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 7:37-39
Rev. Mark A. Lafler
Today is Pentecost Sunday.
The day the Holy Spirit came upon the early disciples of Jesus…
and filled the room and their lives with his love and power.
The liturgical color for Pentecost Sunday is red… *
Red is for the Holy Spirit.
The same color that is worn at ordinations when the Holy Spirit’s anointing is present on the new Priest or new Deacon…
Even for our Bishop-Elect Justin Holcomb’s consecration on June 10th the color will be red.
So why red?
Red is a warm color representing power and courage.
The color red is the basis of the traditional red power tie in the business world, and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs.
The connection of the color red with courage and bravery makes it a color that is used often in national flags, on shields, emblems and in achievement patches and honors.
Red is also a color representing a party or a celebration.
The phrase “paint the town red” is associated with celebration, partying, abandon, fun, and excitement.
And so today…
On this Pentecost Sunday as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church…
We “paint our church” red as we celebrate.
The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the people of God at Pentecost – almost 2,000 years ago.
As our reading from the book of Acts says:
When the Day of Pentecost had come,
they were all together in one place.
If you remember from the last few weeks when we talked about the disciples before the resurrection… the disciples were full of fear.
After the ascension and before Pentecost… they were once again fearing what might happen to them.
So they stayed together and they prayed.
Jesus had said what would happen way back in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of John…
Our reading today.
Jesus said:
“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow river of living water…
Now he said this about the Spirit,
which believers in him were to receive;
for as yet there was no Spirit (fully present in their lives),
because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Well… this was the day… Pentecost.
So, as they were together…
Praying…
Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind,
gale force—no one could tell where it came from.
It filled the whole building.
Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks,
they seem to have a flame of fire on their heads…
and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
And because it was Pentecost – in Jerusalem – there were Jews and visitors from all over the Roman Empire…
and as the disciples became full of the Spirit of God…
the people were amazed because they heard the disciples’ story in their own languages…
Then St. Peter stood up among them…
That same disciple who denied Jesus at his most excruciating moments…
That same common fisherman who always put his foot in his mouth…
He stood up and told them the story of the Old Testament…
explaining what was going on from the scriptures…
and then he told them the story of Jesus the Messiah.
The Church was birthed…
People were transformed…
The Spirit of God came…
The world was changed.
A powerful moment not only for the church,
but the whole world…
And the world has never been the same.
So, who is this Holy Spirit and what does this Spirit do?
In some ways, the Spirit of God is mysterious…
some of us might find the 3rd person of the Trinity confusing.
For sure the Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Son. Which is why we say God the Father… God the Son… God the Holy Spirit – The Holy Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is NOT some kind of cosmic force that we can control or summon.
The Spirit of God is not like the force in Star Wars movies…
The Holy Spirit does not have a dark side and a light side…
that can be manipulated and controlled.
The Holy Spirit is a person…
not an emotion, a feeling, or a movement.
Just think of the metaphors that are used to describe the Holy Spirit.
Water, wind, and fire…
none of these are tame.
We at various times struggle with water, wind, and fire.
With all the technology and machinery we have,
we still cannot control water, wind, or fire.
We may fight the violence they create,
but we certainly can’t control them…
We can only give warnings of tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes…
The Holy Spirit is good…
but not tame.
The Holy Scriptures tell us many things about the Holy Spirit.
God’s Word says:
The Spirit of God comes into our life and fills our life.
Ephesians 5:18:
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit…
St. Paul writes that:
The Spirit of God transforms our life.
In the book of Romans (15:15-17) it talks about Sanctification by the Holy Spirit.
So the Holy Spirit inside us helps us, prompts us,
transforms us to be obedient to the teachings of God…
Sanctification – the process of holiness…
is done by the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The Spirit of God empowers us to share the good news of Jesus.
All throughout the book of Acts starting with this Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit leads people to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
To share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus.
The Spirit of God is the guarantee of our hope.
In Ephesians (1:13-14) it is written:
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
What is our inheritance that we are guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life?
Eternal Life: our future resurrection… raised to be with Christ forever.
And this is the good news that we share…
It’s the good news that St. Peter shared on that first day of the church.
He told the story of what he saw…
He told the story of what happened in his life…
He told the story of Jesus Christ.
He went from a bystander… to a witness…
Someone who watched… to someone who shared…
He spoke up and told the good news of Jesus.
The disciples who were fearful of what might happen to them…
Now were full of the boldness of the Holy Spirit.
The same Spirit that was alive on Pentecost is alive today…
If you have been baptized…
If you sincerely profess that Jesus is your Lord and Savior…
This same Spirit is alive in you.
Transforming you toward the way of Jesus…
Calling you to share the good news of our Lord Jesus.
We too are to go from bystanders to witnesses.
From observers to participants…
From acquaintances of Christ…
To people who really know Jesus.
And talk about Jesus.
And begin to act like Jesus.
And love like Jesus.
The next time a friend, or a neighbor asks you
What’s going on?
Or…
How you doing?
Tell them a story…
not just any story…
the real story…
Tell them how your life is changing because of your faith in Jesus.
Don’t try to fill the space with doctrine or scriptural references…
Don’t try to impress them with grand theologies.
Just tell the story of your time with God.
And just leave it with them…
Let the Holy Spirit take it from there.
If Jesus is helping you get through a disease or a troubled time in your life – tell them.
If Jesus is blessing your socks off – tell them.
If Jesus has given you hope in a crazy world – tell them.
If Jesus has healed you of addiction – tell them.
And if you’re afraid to talk…
Pause…
And pray…
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful…
May I share what you have given me to share.
You may not be the next amazing evangelist…
but we are all witnesses.
Sharing the story of Jesus Christ.
The amazing good new of Jesus…
And how Jesus is transforming our lives.
May we go and share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.