THEME VERSE FOR TODAY Acts 1:8, NCV
When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 44:2-4, GNT
I am the Lord who created you;
from the time you were born, I have helped you.
Do not be afraid; you are my servant,
my chosen people whom I love.
3 “I will give water to the thirsty land
and make streams flow on the dry ground.
I will pour out my spirit on your children
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will thrive like well-watered grass,
like willows by streams of running water.
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 3:1-8, NCV
There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees and an important Jewish leader. 2 One night Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know you are a teacher sent from God, because no one can do the miracles you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus said, “But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother’s womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?”
5 But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom. 6 Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised when I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.”
SERMON Power
Today’s message is on power, specifically the power of the Holy Spirit, admittedly one of my favorite topics. The Holy Spirit is the source of power for Christian living and for the Church. Jesus promised his disciples that when he ascended to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to them. Luke records it this way, “I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49, ISV) This promise is repeated in today’s theme verse spoken just before Jesus returned to heaven.
When we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit the illustration I have often used is plugging into electricity. Appliances and electronics all need to tap into a power source or have their batteries charged for the on switch or power button to have any effect at all. Our lives are equally ineffective if we ignore the source of strength and power God offers us through the Holy Spirit. You may think you are succeeding on your own for a while, but sooner or later you run out of spiritual energy or wisdom and need to let the Holy Spirit do its work in you.
Some Christian churches neglect teaching about the Spirit, though it has been a significant part of our theology from the beginning of the Church. I think that has led to Max Lucado’s observation that some Christians think God and Jesus are enough, and they lose out on the Spirit’s benefits. Max points out this is as effective as a two-legged tripod or a two wheeled tricycle. They are unstable without the third leg or the third wheel. Our faith and witness are also unstable without the Holy Spirit. God seems to have a fondness for putting things in threes. A triangle is the most stable form in structural design. I love this verse I’ve often used in weddings; after Ecclesiastes 4 talks about the benefit of two together, it suddenly adds this bit of wisdom, “A three strand cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) God works in our lives as Creator, as Savior, and as Spirit. Not one or two but all three are important.
Here’s another illustration from Max on how the Holy Spirit helps us. It gives us a P.U.S.H. I’m used to that acronym meaning Pray Until Something Happens, but Lucado uses it to outline the work of the Holy Spirit in a way I hadn’t considered before. P is for Power; U, for Unity; S, for Supervision; H, for Holiness. We’ll come back to this in a minute, but first Max’s story.
Max let a bike riding friend talk him into participating in a bike race that included a half mile steep climb. Mind you, Max was not in physical condition for this, but the friend said he could do it. As they took off, those in good condition with plenty of practice miles sailed through the course and made it up the hill. The friend crossed the finish line while Max and some others were huffing and puffing, struggling up that hill. Then Max felt pressure on his back, and his move up the hill got easier. His friend had come back and literally gave Max a hand up the hill walking behind him pushing him to keep his promise that Max could finish this race. Wow! (This story is told pages 131-132 in Unshakeable Hope,)
Maybe you can relate to needing that kind of push or helping hand. I sure can, especially through this moving process. But I can also relate to what Max intends by this illustration, to point out that the Holy Spirit gives us that push, that help when we are open to receiving it. I rely on Holy Spirit assistance every day. I am often astounded at the end of the day what was accomplished, knowing the Spirit gave me the time, the words, the energy, whatever it was I needed to do my best.
Back to what Max meant by P.U.S.H. P is for Power. The Holy Spirit is the power behind creation. It was the force that hovered over the face of the deep when God spoke to organize the chaos. The Spirit was the breath of life God breathed into the first humans. The book of Job makes this significance clear. “14 If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, 15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.” (Job 34:14-15, NLT) The Holy Spirit is also the force of rebirth, of making us a new person when we accept Jesus into our lives as we read in Nicodemus story from John 3. Jesus told him, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.” (v.5) It is then that the Holy Spirit works within us to bring the fruits of the Spirit developing our character toward that of Christ, and the Spirit brings us gifts to enable our ministry on behalf of Christ.
U is for Unity. Ephesians 4 talks about the unity of the Spirit. “3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.” (v.3) Lucado points out that we do not create that unity ourselves. It comes from the Spirit, but we are asked to cooperate with it. We talk about how divided our world is today by people who choose not to get along, not to accept each other. It’s obvious we are not all cooperating with that unity. Isn’t this another aspect of grieving the Holy Spirit? I like this translation of Psalm 133:1, “Oh, how wonderful, how pleasing it is when God’s people all come together as one!” The Spirit of God works toward that goal. Let’s choose to cooperate wherever God gives us opportunity.
S is for Supervision. Everyone needs supervision on some level or accountability in some way. To me, the Holy Spirit provides that as what we call our conscience. John 16:8 tells us, “When the Helper comes, He will show the world the truth about sin. He will show the world about being right with God. And He will show the world what it is to be guilty.” Lucado adds, though, another aspect of a supervisor, the task of keeping things running smoothly. The Holy Spirit has that function in the Church. Max lists several ways the Spirit does this:
H is for holiness. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us holy. In Wesleyan terms I learned this as God’s Spirit working in us before we know Christ (Prevenient Grace), acquitting us when we say “Yes” to Christ (Justifying Grace) and changing us from the inside out as we live in Christ (Sanctifying Grace). That last part, sanctification, is the process of making us holy. After listing various sins in 1 Corinthians 6, Paul goes on to say, “Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v.11, NET)
I keep a scrub brush by my bathroom sink. When soap and hot water don’t seem like enough to get my hands truly clean, I scrub my fingertips to get under the nails. I might also use it to get a spot out of my clothes before the stain sets. You can think of the Holy Spirit like that, scrubbing us clean. We heard this in our Pardon after confession this morning from Paul’s letter to Titus, “He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5b)
As you think over these aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, in the Church, and in our world, look back at the foolishness of trying to live out our ministry in Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit Christ sent to us. We need the power, the unity, the supervision, and the holiness God’s Spirit provides. Paul wrote bluntly to the new Christians at Galatia, “How can you be so foolish! You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?” (Galatians 3:3, GNT) To the church at Ephesus he emphasized that the Holy Spirit is God’s seal upon you. “You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised.” (Ephesians 1:13b, GNT)
God intended for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, to live as fully as possible for God’s glory which benefits us as well. There are times when we recognize we aren’t living that way. We might ask ourselves what’s getting in the way. Are there impediments to the work of the Spirit in us? Max lifts several concerns expressed in the Bible. Then he asks these blunt questions: “Are you persisting in disobedience? Are you refusing to forgive someone? Are you harboring hatred? Are you persisting in an adulterous relationship? Immoral activity? A dishonest practice? Are you feeding your flesh and neglecting your faith? If the answer is yes, you are quenching the Spirit within you.” (p.137) Any of these things will prevent you from living the full and abundant life God offers you through the Holy Spirit. Is it worth it? I don’t think so.
We need to let the Holy Spirit work within us, to make necessary changes in our lives. Some of my friends can attest to how much I have thrown out in the moving process, things I no longer need, things that are just in the way. In the same way, there are attitudes and habits, behaviors and hurts, regrets and grudges we need to get rid of from our interior lives as well. Instead we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit to enjoy the good things God wants to give us. I’ve purchased various things for my new home that are a better fit, that will serve me better well into my future. The Holy Spirit wants to do that for us too, planting positive characteristics in us, and empowering us with spiritual gifts to use for God. We can be empowered by the Spirit to do the work God has called us to do and to live abundant and blessed lives as God wants for us. Let’s not settle for anything less!
When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 44:2-4, GNT
I am the Lord who created you;
from the time you were born, I have helped you.
Do not be afraid; you are my servant,
my chosen people whom I love.
3 “I will give water to the thirsty land
and make streams flow on the dry ground.
I will pour out my spirit on your children
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will thrive like well-watered grass,
like willows by streams of running water.
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 3:1-8, NCV
There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees and an important Jewish leader. 2 One night Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know you are a teacher sent from God, because no one can do the miracles you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus said, “But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother’s womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?”
5 But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom. 6 Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised when I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.”
SERMON Power
Today’s message is on power, specifically the power of the Holy Spirit, admittedly one of my favorite topics. The Holy Spirit is the source of power for Christian living and for the Church. Jesus promised his disciples that when he ascended to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to them. Luke records it this way, “I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49, ISV) This promise is repeated in today’s theme verse spoken just before Jesus returned to heaven.
When we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit the illustration I have often used is plugging into electricity. Appliances and electronics all need to tap into a power source or have their batteries charged for the on switch or power button to have any effect at all. Our lives are equally ineffective if we ignore the source of strength and power God offers us through the Holy Spirit. You may think you are succeeding on your own for a while, but sooner or later you run out of spiritual energy or wisdom and need to let the Holy Spirit do its work in you.
Some Christian churches neglect teaching about the Spirit, though it has been a significant part of our theology from the beginning of the Church. I think that has led to Max Lucado’s observation that some Christians think God and Jesus are enough, and they lose out on the Spirit’s benefits. Max points out this is as effective as a two-legged tripod or a two wheeled tricycle. They are unstable without the third leg or the third wheel. Our faith and witness are also unstable without the Holy Spirit. God seems to have a fondness for putting things in threes. A triangle is the most stable form in structural design. I love this verse I’ve often used in weddings; after Ecclesiastes 4 talks about the benefit of two together, it suddenly adds this bit of wisdom, “A three strand cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) God works in our lives as Creator, as Savior, and as Spirit. Not one or two but all three are important.
Here’s another illustration from Max on how the Holy Spirit helps us. It gives us a P.U.S.H. I’m used to that acronym meaning Pray Until Something Happens, but Lucado uses it to outline the work of the Holy Spirit in a way I hadn’t considered before. P is for Power; U, for Unity; S, for Supervision; H, for Holiness. We’ll come back to this in a minute, but first Max’s story.
Max let a bike riding friend talk him into participating in a bike race that included a half mile steep climb. Mind you, Max was not in physical condition for this, but the friend said he could do it. As they took off, those in good condition with plenty of practice miles sailed through the course and made it up the hill. The friend crossed the finish line while Max and some others were huffing and puffing, struggling up that hill. Then Max felt pressure on his back, and his move up the hill got easier. His friend had come back and literally gave Max a hand up the hill walking behind him pushing him to keep his promise that Max could finish this race. Wow! (This story is told pages 131-132 in Unshakeable Hope,)
Maybe you can relate to needing that kind of push or helping hand. I sure can, especially through this moving process. But I can also relate to what Max intends by this illustration, to point out that the Holy Spirit gives us that push, that help when we are open to receiving it. I rely on Holy Spirit assistance every day. I am often astounded at the end of the day what was accomplished, knowing the Spirit gave me the time, the words, the energy, whatever it was I needed to do my best.
Back to what Max meant by P.U.S.H. P is for Power. The Holy Spirit is the power behind creation. It was the force that hovered over the face of the deep when God spoke to organize the chaos. The Spirit was the breath of life God breathed into the first humans. The book of Job makes this significance clear. “14 If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, 15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.” (Job 34:14-15, NLT) The Holy Spirit is also the force of rebirth, of making us a new person when we accept Jesus into our lives as we read in Nicodemus story from John 3. Jesus told him, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.” (v.5) It is then that the Holy Spirit works within us to bring the fruits of the Spirit developing our character toward that of Christ, and the Spirit brings us gifts to enable our ministry on behalf of Christ.
U is for Unity. Ephesians 4 talks about the unity of the Spirit. “3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.” (v.3) Lucado points out that we do not create that unity ourselves. It comes from the Spirit, but we are asked to cooperate with it. We talk about how divided our world is today by people who choose not to get along, not to accept each other. It’s obvious we are not all cooperating with that unity. Isn’t this another aspect of grieving the Holy Spirit? I like this translation of Psalm 133:1, “Oh, how wonderful, how pleasing it is when God’s people all come together as one!” The Spirit of God works toward that goal. Let’s choose to cooperate wherever God gives us opportunity.
S is for Supervision. Everyone needs supervision on some level or accountability in some way. To me, the Holy Spirit provides that as what we call our conscience. John 16:8 tells us, “When the Helper comes, He will show the world the truth about sin. He will show the world about being right with God. And He will show the world what it is to be guilty.” Lucado adds, though, another aspect of a supervisor, the task of keeping things running smoothly. The Holy Spirit has that function in the Church. Max lists several ways the Spirit does this:
- Comfort (Acts 9:31)
- Guidance (John 16:13)
- Revelation (John 16:13)
- Intercession (Romans 8:26)
- Witness (Romans 8:16)
H is for holiness. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us holy. In Wesleyan terms I learned this as God’s Spirit working in us before we know Christ (Prevenient Grace), acquitting us when we say “Yes” to Christ (Justifying Grace) and changing us from the inside out as we live in Christ (Sanctifying Grace). That last part, sanctification, is the process of making us holy. After listing various sins in 1 Corinthians 6, Paul goes on to say, “Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v.11, NET)
I keep a scrub brush by my bathroom sink. When soap and hot water don’t seem like enough to get my hands truly clean, I scrub my fingertips to get under the nails. I might also use it to get a spot out of my clothes before the stain sets. You can think of the Holy Spirit like that, scrubbing us clean. We heard this in our Pardon after confession this morning from Paul’s letter to Titus, “He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5b)
As you think over these aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, in the Church, and in our world, look back at the foolishness of trying to live out our ministry in Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit Christ sent to us. We need the power, the unity, the supervision, and the holiness God’s Spirit provides. Paul wrote bluntly to the new Christians at Galatia, “How can you be so foolish! You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?” (Galatians 3:3, GNT) To the church at Ephesus he emphasized that the Holy Spirit is God’s seal upon you. “You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised.” (Ephesians 1:13b, GNT)
God intended for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, to live as fully as possible for God’s glory which benefits us as well. There are times when we recognize we aren’t living that way. We might ask ourselves what’s getting in the way. Are there impediments to the work of the Spirit in us? Max lifts several concerns expressed in the Bible. Then he asks these blunt questions: “Are you persisting in disobedience? Are you refusing to forgive someone? Are you harboring hatred? Are you persisting in an adulterous relationship? Immoral activity? A dishonest practice? Are you feeding your flesh and neglecting your faith? If the answer is yes, you are quenching the Spirit within you.” (p.137) Any of these things will prevent you from living the full and abundant life God offers you through the Holy Spirit. Is it worth it? I don’t think so.
We need to let the Holy Spirit work within us, to make necessary changes in our lives. Some of my friends can attest to how much I have thrown out in the moving process, things I no longer need, things that are just in the way. In the same way, there are attitudes and habits, behaviors and hurts, regrets and grudges we need to get rid of from our interior lives as well. Instead we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit to enjoy the good things God wants to give us. I’ve purchased various things for my new home that are a better fit, that will serve me better well into my future. The Holy Spirit wants to do that for us too, planting positive characteristics in us, and empowering us with spiritual gifts to use for God. We can be empowered by the Spirit to do the work God has called us to do and to live abundant and blessed lives as God wants for us. Let’s not settle for anything less!
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