WAITING FOR THE PROMISE

Sermon Notes, May 31, 2015

Rev. Dick Guizar

Rev. Guizar’s sermon was titled “Waiting for the Promise,” and his scripture reference was Acts 1:3-4.  After the resurrection, Jesus showed himself in many ways to many people for 40 days.  He gave his disciples last-minute instructions, including the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).  He also told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.  When he ascended into heaven, angels appeared, telling the people that “this same Jesus will come back the same way you’ve seen him go.”

Ten days after his ascension the Holy Spirit came.  There was more hearing done than speaking: people from all over heard the disciples praising God in their own languages.  They thought the disciples were drunk.  Everything was different.  Peter preached, and 3,000 people were saved that day.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was there.  We covet his presence, too, in our individual lives, in the church at large, and in our local church.  Some people are nervous about showing emotion in church, but they shouldn’t be. 

What’s the purpose of the power of Pentecost?  If Jesus isn’t the center, we’re on the wrong track.  Everyone is a person Jesus died for.  It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to effectively witness.  And we have more power when we work together.  To illustrate, in a horse pull (similar to modern-day tractor pulls) one horse was able to pull 4,500 pounds.  Another was able to pull 4,400.  The men wondered how much they would be able to pull if they were teamed up, so they did teamed them, and the team was able to pull over 12,000 pounds.

It is the birthright of every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  We are created to find our fulfillment in God through his Holy Spirit.  The driving force is the fullness of God in us.  Without the Holy Spirit we are less than we should be.

As Americans, we have lots of power.  Atomic power ended World War II; it can power battleships and generate electricity for cities and industry.  We have strong military power, but where is our moral power?  We need to thirst after God: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1)  There is no shortage of power.  We need to hunger and thirst for God in order to access it.  Sometimes it is not what we say, but what we do.  And even the smallest things can manifest God’s power in us.