By the Power of the Spirit- Pentecost 6-5-22 Sermon

 

“By the Power of the Spirit”  Pentecost 6/5/22 LMPC by Ben Sloan

What is the difference between artificial intelligence and humans?  For some, we are both atoms and there is no quantifiable difference.  What is missing from robots and machines is a soul- a reason to live- a spirit inside of us.  It is this Spirit that enables us to choose, to value life and to value freedom.  But it is inert and it is inactive without the Spirit of God.  It is the Spirit of the Creator that comes to us- breathes on us and gives us life.  In Genesis it speaks of God breathing on the clay and giving life to the human beings.  There is a bit of the Spirit in us just by existing.  But we are called to connect with the Spirit to be filled and baptized with the Spirit- and that begins to happen when we believe.  When you are not connected to the Holy Spirit of God- you are existing, but it is like you are on low power mode.  When your iphone or android phone goes into low power mode your screen gets dim, your phone goes to sleep or just zones out more, you lose energy- so instead of 5G you go to 4G.  Jesus said, “And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.  And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world.”  In other words, you will be energized with God’s love, grace, and hope so much that other people will see it and want it no matter where you go. 

The Spirit of God is the opposite of dead and boring.  In fact it is the Spirit that is continually stirring things up- trying to wake us up.  By waking us He empowers us.  God is doing a new thing and it is marvelous in our eyes (Psalm 118:23).  We are seeing the decaying of some things in society, but new things taking their place.  We have said this, but let me remind you.  When Covid hit and we couldn’t meet in buildings, the 480 or so who were here were no longer here.  But we had over 4,000 a week viewing us for two years.  We couldn’t meet inside so we met at the lake for awhile. 
We are all creatures of habit- and we get used to doing things a certain way very easily.  But God is more concerned about waking us up to Him and reaching people for Christ than making us comfortable.  Frankly, we had been content with ourselves, but God knew if we didn’t reach outside of our walls, we would age out. That is the Holy Spirit.  I used to make fun of the radio and TV evangelists in our day talking about how the Holy Spirit was God over the airwaves- and He reaches people by TV and radio.  But you know… it was true.  Today, God is reaching people through social media, podcasts, apps and even virtual churches in the metaverse.       
     In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had become legalistic and rigid and they had made it really hard to be a believer.  In contrast to them were the Herodian Jews who were basically giving into the Roman and Greek pagan ways of lifestyle and ignoring God’s commands altogether.   Both groups had tremendous pride.  Many people didn’t know which way to turn.  It seemed the miracles and presence of God were far far away from them.  Hands hung limp with no energy for God.  People were tired of the legalism and the pagan lust but they didn’t see any alternative.  Jesus came to say, holiness is important, but holiness shows itself best in love- not just rigid law.  It was a breath of fresh air.  He was saying you are blessed if you give yourself away, if you turn the other cheek, if you are meek rather than proud. 
     Today, people are tired.  They are tired of a surfacey evangelistic way that refuses to treat people with love.  But they are also tired of people who focus only on tolerance but ignore the reality of life.  Hands hang limp again.  But God is doing a new thing.  The Spirit is moving- and He is moving here too. 

OBSTACLES BECAME HELPS- When the Holy Spirit becomes evident in power, what we think is an obstacle that cannot be overcome, becomes a tool of God.  The mountain that Zerubbabel faced was going to be made level ground.  That is what the power of God can do- move a mountain and throw It into the sea.    The cross seems like a huge torture mechanism- but now it is a symbol of peace with God.  People cross themselves to be blessed.  When the Holy Spirit comes- the rough places become smooth, and there is a road through the desert and through the sea. 
Today- everyone of us faces different mountains.  But let them be a source of hope for you. 
Without the Holy Spirit, the law of God- the will of God is  a burden to do.  Do I have to tell the truth?  It may seem easier not to.  Do I have to love my spouse and not another?  It may seem more attractive to do something else?  Do I need to honor my father and mother?  Look these obstacles and walls become climbing walls for us.  You know the first time I saw a climbing wall I thought what a terrible thing!  Who would want to go up that?  But if you look at it as a playground tool, or an exercise tool, or something that you like to do it changes everything.  When God wants to accomplish something- it is not by our might nor by our power but by His Spirit.  They couldn’t be set free from slavery; they couldn’t go through the Red Sea; Gideon couldn’t defeat the mighty Amalekites with 300 men on his own; David couldn’t defeat Goliath on his own; Jehoshaphat could not fight the alliance that outnumbered him 10-1 but God did;  Jesus was put on a cross- his human strength could do no more- but the Spirit of God came in him.  St, Patrick didn’t have a chance of converting Ireland.  Billy Graham didn’t have a chance of reaching people for Christ except through TV, radio and books.  Today God is reaching people in new ways. 

INSTEAD OF A BUNCH OF TRIVIAL, DUSTY, MEANINGLESS WORDS- THERE IS REAL ACTION. 
Paul said we didn’t come to you with flowery, eloquent words- but with the power of the Spirit!
The Holy Spirit doesn’t care about getting credit- He cares about accomplishing God’s will.  He is the silent partner in the trinity.  He is the secret ingredient that holds everything together.  John 14 says that the Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son.  One theologian said it is like when you walk into a church building at night and it is lit up with flood lights.  The attention is not on the flood lights- they are out of sight.  The attention is brought to what the flood lights are glorifying- or lighting up.  
Contra what some people think- when the Holy Spirit comes, there doesn’t have to be a lot of clapping, stomping, amening, dancing and tongue speaking.  But there does have to be a changing of hearts, a refocusing of thought, a clarity of what God wants and perhaps more than anything- when the Holy Spirit comes we really want to do God’s will.  It is no longer a burden or an obstacle, but it is what we long to do.   I am tired of political speech.  Politicians say that they are tired of hearing people say we should pray.  I am more aware that the power of God can change a heart than some political speech or some law that people will forget about.  When the Holy Spirit comes- that is when our country changes for better.  That is when people don’t want to shoot other people.  How do you change the “want to” the will of another?  It is by the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit.  That is when the meek not the violent inherit the earth.  That is when we care about a baby being born, or a soul being found, or graduates graduating, and boys getting eagles, and when we are reenergized with the hope of the Holy Spirit. 

The Spirit is moving.  He has called young people to go to Montreat.  He has called parents to baptize their baby. He has called some graduates to do something special for Him after school is over.  He has called us to come here and have communion with Him.  He has called some to tune in livestream.  Artificial Intelligence cannot hear God- they are just things- just machines.  Elon Musk said, in a speech about AI- that humans have to have a reason to get up on the morning and to be inspired.  Exactly.  You will not find a religious robot.  But you can be inspired, motivated, awakened by the Holy Spirit of God.  Listen to the call of the Spirit; and then go- not in your power but in the power of the Holy Spirit and live your life for His glory.