PENTECOST SUNDAY

Sermon Notes, June 9, 2019

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry’s sermon on Pentecost Sunday was based on the scripture in Acts 2:1-21.  Pentecost means 50: it was 50 days after Passover.  There were three major festivals that the ancient Jews celebrated, when everyone wanted to be in Jerusalem.  The first was Passover, celebrating the deliverance from slavery in Egypt.  Pentecost was the second, and it celebrated the first harvest. Then there was the Festival of the “Booths,” remembering the years of wandering in the wilderness before they reached the Promised Land.  People from all over were in Jerusalem to celebrate First Harvest.   

When we read today’s scripture we remember what had happened at Passover, fifty days earlier.  It was the day that Jesus died.  Then three days later, He rose again, and that is where our victory lies.  But Jesus talked about this gift that He is going to give the people; they just had to wait a little. 

As they were waiting, something happened.  There was a violent wind. We can look at other times a violent wind shows up, and we can relate that to the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit shows up, and after that this incredible image shows up: fire.

Fire fell.  It came upon all of them that were gathered.  The Holy Spirit not only showed up, the Holy Spirit filled.  The Holy Spirit purified.  Fire is a symbol of purification.  Fire plays an important part in refining silver or gold, taking out all the impurities.  Fire came, like a whipping tongue. 

Tongues is another image for speech.  Something miraculous happened, because they were all speaking in different languages.  This was not the gift of tongues; the gift of tongues is when someone can speak a holy language, that’s not here on earth.  It’s a gift, and it needs an interpreter.  That’s why we, publicly, kind of step away from it.  That’s not what this is. 

They are speaking other languages that are already known.  This is an international group.  In Acts 2 there’s a list of all the nations that are represented.

The Holy Spirit came, and it changed them.  They were celebrating something that was familiar to them: this festival was not new to them.  They were doing something normal that meant something to them, and the Holy Spirit came and changed them, from the inside out.  Now this day means something entirely different than it did before; it’s not just a day to celebrate the first harvest.  It’s a day that changed them.

The Holy Spirit, in the Old Testament, we see fire come down when Moses receives the Law. That’s the Holy Spirit testifying to the Law.  Now that Christ has died, there’s a new path provided for all people and the Holy Spirit shows up to testify to the new plan.  An old plan for God, but a new plan for them.  The Holy Spirit comes as a testimony to what God is doing.  The Holy Spirit isn’t just for one; the Holy Spirit is for all.

Look what happened to Peter after this happened.  Peter now can speak in a way that is new to him.  He is clearly able to explain what is going on, in a way they can understand.  Peter’s first sermon, and he didn’t write a word of it!   Whenever there’s a commotion, loud noises or something different is happening, people flock to it.  The Holy Spirit shows up and creates a commotion, and people come to see what is happening. 

This is the Holy Spirit showing up, the promised Holy Spirit, the gift, the counselor, the advocate.  He will change you, guide you, lead you and protect you.  The Holy Spirit causes a commotion in you that changes you. That commotion should attract. The Holy Spirit is infectious.  It needs to be shared.  The Spirit will give you everything you need to do what you’ve been called to do.  He will enable you if you let Him.  He enabled Peter, and Paul, to spread the Good News to all.  He will prepare those we will share with.