A Miracle of Communication
Listen.May 11th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
It hasn’t happened for a number of years, but I remember when I first began using wireless microphones. Long before these interesting over the ear type of rock-star gadgets, we had clip on microphones. The wireless microphones have a great advantage over hard wired stationary ones, or even ones that are clipped onto a lapel. The advantage is that one can move around, move your head and people still can hear. It’s a miracle of communication, isn’t it?
However, I also remember quite vividly that there were times when I first began using wireless microphones when all of a sudden voices from somewhere else would come through the speakers. Sometimes it might be someone who was dispatching a fire truck, sometimes the words were clear and other times they were garbled. Every once in a while you would hear something that really wasn’t meant to be heard in church! Communication in those instances was anything but clear.
Today we celebrate the Day of Pentecost. We have decorated our chancel area with red geraniums, many of us have chosen to wear the color red all symbolic of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the tongues as of fire that rested on the heads of the disciples. This is the day we celebrate the birthday of the Christian church. It’s a time of joyful celebration!
I. The Day of Pentecost
The day began with Jesus’ disciples waiting for the power from on high that Jesus had promised them. They were together on this day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish festival and because it was extremely important devout people from the known world would travel to Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration. Initially, Pentecost was celebrated as a celebration for the spring harvest and came fifty days after Passover, hence the name Pentecost. By Jesus’ day, Pentecost also commemorated the giving of the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It was a renewal of the covenant.
Therefore, it was strongly encouraged that people should be in Jerusalem at this time. If it was possible devout people would travel to Jerusalem, perhaps even stay in Jerusalem after celebrating Passover, for this festival. This helps explain why there were people in Jerusalem from all those places with unpronounceable names.
Jesus’ followers were there, too. They were present for a couple of reasons; one was to celebrate Pentecost and the other was to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The resurrection had occurred, Jesus had appeared to many of the followers, he had ascended and now they waited.
While they waited they chose Matthias to replace Judas who had betrayed Jesus. In fact during this selection process, we read that there were 120 followers who had gathered together. And so, when the spirit came like the rush of a mighty wind and filled the house, people began to gather to find out what was happening. Divided tongues as of fire fell on each of the apostle’s head. According to the context of the situation it was probably the 12 apostles sitting in that house, but some have conjectured it might have been the 120. Each of them began to speak in tongues, other languages. Even though they were all Galileans, they began to speak in other languages that made sense to those from other areas of the world.
This happened instantaneously; they had not taken courses in foreign languages, or memorized phrases. It was a miracle of communication. God communicated with those gathered. Each person heard about the mighty works of God in their own language. What a uniting and miraculous event!
Those who heard were a bit perplexed and amazed, some were wondering about the meaning of this event while others thought the disciples were just filled with new wine. But then Peter stood and began his famous sermon. That Pentecost sermon by Peter ultimately touched 3,000 people who came to faith in Christ and became part of his church on that single day! What is amazing is that hearing the message in their own language as the spirit touched the disciples, did not produce much in the way of results: some asked what it meant, while others simply thought those Galileans were drunk.
But when Peter preached, the word touched the hearts and moved the people to confess Christ and be baptized. Perhaps the true miracle of communication was the message that Peter delivered! Many have seen miracles and other spectacles and grand schemes, but the word touches the heart and brings conversion.
Touching out hearts
As we read about the tremendous Pentecost event that changed the lives of at least 3,000 people and began the Christian church, have we felt that power and that excitement of the Spirit within our own hearts? Has the spirit touched our hearts in such a way that our lives are lived focused on Christ and intent upon living and sharing his word? For what has the Lord empowered you?
When St. Paul speaks about the Holy Spirit he draws on the image of a body that is working together each part using the special and specific gifts that the Spirit imparts. I suggest that whether we know our gifts or not, the question still remains; what are we doing? What are we excited about? How is God using each one of us?
The Congregation Council has identified five major strategies that will move Christ Lutheran forward in mission and in ministry and in growth. The strategy demands us to work together and drives the vision of God’s wishes for us. The spirit is move us forward in: 1. Outreach activities, 2. in enhancing our facilities, 3 increasing worship attendance, 4. enhancing small group ministry and participating, with all of this leading toward 5. a more involved and active membership. These are exciting strategies moving us toward our vision and energizing us. Some will hear of these things and think: “What does this all mean?” Some may think they have gotten into the “new wine!” But when we catch the excitement and sense the movement of the spirit within us, all things are possible.
The stories are legion of church’s that attempt to stop anything new. One pastor related a story about his own congregation. Anytime someone suggested a new way to include new members, or attract new members into the congregation, one of the men would raise his hand and say something like, “This won’t work. We’ve tried it before.” Then someone else would suggest, “You know this is mid-America and it certainly won’t work here. They do those kinds of things in California (which was like a dirty word in that congregation)!”
The spirit rested upon the disciples, each one had a part to play on that Pentecost Day. Each one of them was invested with the power of the Holy Spirit. And those who were baptized received the Holy Spirit, too. They were invested with the power of the spirit. And know what? Each one of us who has been baptized into Christ Jesus has the Spirit, too. The spirit convicts us when we are part of the problem and sustains us and motivates us when we are part of God’s plan. Where are we on this Day of Pentecost? Has the miraculous communication of the spirit touched our hearts and energized our lives for ministry and mission?
Power to transform
Even with the miracle of extraordinary communication by the twelve apostles many who heard could not believe what happened. Perhaps for some of them the message was garbled and it didn’t stir their heart. There are many like that in the world today. They had heard the word in a variety of formats and methods, they have seen spectacular productions and even had a sense of the miraculous in life, but didn’t allow the spirit to transform their lives. Perhaps this is true of some sitting here this morning? This is true of many who are not sitting here. People in our community, perhaps in our congregation, people throughout the land and the world who have allowed other powers to transform them and to whom they owe their allegiance.
I pray that the Spirit of God will touch our hearts this morning. I pray that the spirit renew our faith and re-energize us that we might be witnesses to that power and that energy and the life giving spirit of the living Lord Jesus. It’s difficult to continue to be on fire for the Lord. Last week I mentioned that over a period of time we often lose our initial enthusiasm for the gospel. This morning I pray that we are renewed in the power of the spirit. And the effect of that will be felt in the life of our congregation as we move into a wonderful future.
Yes, we live by the grace of God and we are empowered by the spirit. The spirit touches our hearts and enlivens our lives to be a part of that mission and that movement is greater than any one of us. I pray we do not deny the power of the spirit to communicate with us and to move us into deeper areas of commitment and involvement.
Conclusion
Herbert Jackson was a missionary. When he arrived at his mission field, he discovered that the car he was expected to drive would only start if it were pushed. For two years, he either parked at the top of a hill so he could coast and start it, or he kept it running while he did whatever he had to do. A new missionary arrived after two years, lifted the hood of the car and discovered that there was a loose wire that kept the car from starting. All that was needed was to connect the wire to its power source. What a difference there would be if each one of us made sure that we are connected to the power source; the Holy Spirit. What miracles would happen in the life of our congregation! Amen.