Filled with the Power of the Spirit

January 27, 2013    Filled with the power of the Spirit

Nehemiah 8:1-3,  5-6,  8-10

“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered. “Amen, Amen.” Lifting up their hands.

Psalm 19  UMH 750

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Epistle I Corinthians 12: 12-31a

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

But strive for the greatest gift which is LOVE.

Gospel  Luke 4:14-21

The Spirit is power, love, and grace by which God acts.

This is evident in the creation (Gen. 1:2), in maintaining life (Job 33:4); In Old Testament leadership (Genesis 41:38); in the giving of knowledge (Proverbs 1:23); in prophetic activity (Isaiah 61:1); The promise is made that the Spirit of God will be given to all humanity at the dawn of a new age (Joel 2:28).  But the Spirit of God does not give new life in the Old Testament; rather the Spirit maintains God’s plan for Israel – that from the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10); shall come the savior of the world.

In the New Teatatment the Holy Spirit is released for all humanity through the work of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the power of God in the church. Jesus promised the Spirit to his followers (John 14-16).

1)Between Christ’s ascension and the end of the age, we are not left alone.  We are not left to our own resources.  The Spirit has been given to Christ’s followers John 20:22.  The Spirit is called the Counselor John 14:16-26), the protector or the supporter of the body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit now unites Christians with the risen, ascended, and glorified Christ (romans 8:4 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galations 4:6).

2) The Spirit can only work within the church.  When the gospel is preached, the Spirit is at work Galations 3:3-5.  The Book of Acts tells us that missionary activity, various ministries, and even church vigor and growth are from the Spirit.  Spiritual life, spiritual nourishment and Christian maturity can only take place in the church.

3) The believer is baptized in Christ and receives the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Only in the church does the believer share in the life of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 3:20-21).  This “new creation” (John 3:3-8) lives through the Spirit as a child of God (romans 8:14-17) and in the family of God (Philippians 2:1-5).  The Spirit gives gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-7) and cements the living relationship between the ascended Christ and redeemed humanity.

The Importance of the Holy Spirit Today.  The life of the church and the life of a Christian would be impossible without the Holy Spirit.  In the midst of our troubled world , the Spirit unites us with Christ.

READ Romans 8:26-27

Because of the Holy Spirit, salvation is totally  the work of God.  The Spirit opens us to God.  We cannot believe by our own strength and will.

The Holy Spirit’s work has always been vital to United Methodists. On May 24, 1738, Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed.”  He went on to write in his journal, “ and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”  Assurance is based upon God’s action in Christ.   Assurance is not supposed to make us feel good. That is why Wesley went on to proclaim the good news to everyone who would listen.

This is why he preached that sins were already forgiven.  This God-centered experience was the source of his bold and courageous teaching, preaching, traveling, and energy level.  God-centered assurance frees United Methodists to be like John Wesley – to boldly, courageously, and energetically proclaim the gospel.

It is the Spirit who continually regenerates the church, who leads believers to salvation, and who communicates assurance to all Christ’s followers.  It is the Spirit who links us to the living and ascended Christ. That is why we are filled with the Power of the Spirit.

December 30 Sermon 2012       Jesus at Twelve full of Wisdom

Old Testament  I Sam. 2:18-20,26

Miracle Babies….Isaac (Jacob)  Samuel, John, Jesus.

Young Samuel , an answer to his mother’s prayer, serves in a priestly role.  Although Samuel was given to God and raised in the temple, we find that Samuel’s mother and father, Hannah and Elkanah, are still active  and devoted parents. 

Eli offers blessing to both Elkanah and Hannah each year when they visit, praying that the Lord will bless them with additional children.

V. 21 tells us that the Lord saw Hannah’s devotion (“took note”, v.21), Hannah who followed through with her promise to return her son to God, and the couple are rewarded with five more children.

Psalm 148 

The church should take at least three lessons from this section. First, humanity is linked to the created order in both the worship of God and in the hope of the final consummation, when God’s salvation is made complete. Second, as humanity is linked with the created order in this way – as partners in worship and salvation – humanity should be more mindful of its responsibility for the created order as God’s stewards of it.  Third, we can give praise to God by fulfilling our functions in life, whatever, they may be.

Since Christmas is past, it would be easy to think that the occasion for joy is past.  Yet, as God’s community of the faithful, we can join with the universe and rejoice as we give praise to God on this Day as we should do every day. In this New Year, let us make a commitment to Praise God in all things.

Epistle- Colossians 3:12-17

This passage reminds the reader that he or she is special, chosen, holy and dearly loved (v. 12).  This passage also shows qualities of a Christ-like life. The writer encourages us to live a life of thankfulness and gratitude.  Forgiveness, peace of God, the Word of Christ….do all in the name of the Lord

Gospel  Luke 2: 41-52

Jesus is twelve years old, which in that day meant that he was preparing to move from childhood into official adulthood. He would be trained in the law and would then be accountable for keeping the law. In our culture, Jesus was on the verge of becoming a teenager. In Jewish homes a young boy is taught the Torah in such a way that He memorizes it and at the Bar Mitzvah (age 13) he is a man and is allowed to carry the Torah. I saw this in Israel at the Prayer Wall . It is a regular Monday event.

Jesus was probably becoming more aware of who He was so was seeking out the scholars for more wisdom.  As teens do they become focused and don’t think about calling home and letting the parents know where they are, how long they will be there and the parents worry. They seem to be oblivious the worry they cause.

John Wesley theorized that these three days were spent in Mary and Joseph traveling a day’s journey away, taking another day to return, and then spending a day searching. Look at the symbolism: They find Jesus on the third day after Passover, the same day as those who seek him after the Passover at the Crucifixion will find him.

Jesus is in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening, and asking questions.  Luke says, “ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (V.46).

This even underscores the full humanity of Jesus. It shows him learning about the law and asking questions, discussing Scripture with the temple “faculty,” with, of course, understanding beyond his years.

Mary’s question of why have you treated us like this….. receives and answer that almost sounds like a teenagers flippant answer….Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house (v.49). 

Why would you be searching for me, he seems to say, as if I were some kid? It seems to be a touch of teen testiness….

But they return to Nazareth and Jesus is obedient…..And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor (.52).

Mary and Joseph must understand from this experience that they will need to let go of their son as he comes of age, to release him to God’s plan and God’s call on his life.   Jesus’s lack of communication seems like a typical teen learning situation, but his staying behind in the temple to pursue God’s plan for his life can be seen as a universal lesson for us parents.

As a father we can identify with Joseph at the end of this reading, for as our children grow in wisdom and years, in their relationship with God, and in their faith walk, they become, in effect, children of God in a way that preempts my parenthood.

Joseph knew that God was Jesus real father. We have to remind ourselves that our children s real father is God. We have to learn to cut those apron strings. God has a plan for their life.

God has a plan for your life.

Today we stand at the turning point of a New Year.  A second chance.  A new Beginning.

As we reflect back over the year we all know where we may have missed it with God and today we have a chance to start anew….Repent and turn back to the path that God has laid before you.

Each of us is called to do something. Let us begin. Perhaps you would like to come and pray around this altar while we sing our concluding hymn.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord search our hearts. Cleanse us from all sins. As we confess our sins we know that you are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Restore to each of us the joy of our salvation so that we can start this brand new year fresh and ready to answer the call that you have called each of us to. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.