THE MESSAGE: Pentecost June 5, 2022

 Pentecost

June 5, 2022

Scripture Readings:
Acts 2:1-21
Romans 8:14-17

"Tongues of Fire"

Would you pray with me: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. [1] Amen.
Today we celebrate Pentecost, which many consider to be the birthday of the church. Almost 2000 years ago, the Jewish people came to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, a celebration which annually occurs fifty days after Passover. With Jesus’ disciples being Jewish, they too observed the Jewish holidays and feasts. Shavuot commemorates the day when God gave Moses the commandments for God’s chosen people. And on that day in Jerusalem, God poured out his Holy Spirit upon those disciples gathered together in one place, as promised by Jesus.

Last week we heard that Jesus told his disciples “Not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” [2] And “when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” [3] Then “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” [4] Empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s laws which were once written upon tablets would now be written upon the hearts of those who receive the Holy Spirit.” And the gifts of the Holy Spirit were imparted upon Jesus’ disciples, just as the and gifts are imparted upon each and every person “who calls on the name of the Lord,” [5] placing trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation.

In today’s reading from Acts, we hear, that Jesus’ disciples see what seems to be “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them,” [6] filling them with the Holy Spirit. Yet this is not the only place we find reference to “tongues of fire” in the Bible. In Isaiah chapter 5 verse 24, in The Song of the Vineyard, it is said, “Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay, and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.” [7]

This passage from Isaiah seems to be in sharp contrast to the “tongues of fire” which rested upon Christ’s disciples. So, as we meditate upon today’s word, let us note the distinction between the two, and recognize that one type purges that which is not of God, and the other purifies, making holy those who live by the law of the Lord. In looking to Isaiah chapter 6 verse 1-7, we find echoes of such a purification as the prophet’s tongue is cleansed with a burning coal.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” [8]

As believers, we know that it is Christ who takes away our guilt and who has atoned for our sins through his death and resurrection. We know that Christ is Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to overcome that which comes from having unclean lips. For in regard to unclean lips, Matthew Chapter 15, verses 18 tells us “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” [9] “For out of the heart come evil thoughts.” And “these are what defile a person.” [10]

Evil thoughts and careless words spoken in a moment of anger come from unclean lips and can burn like tongues of fire. Unbridled words scorch relationships. They lead to decay in our society. And they deaden our spirits. All around us we see fighting. All around us we see violence. And all around us, evil is tearing apart the world. It is happening in homes and in communities. Innocent children and adults are dying. People are hurting. We may feel helpless, discouraged, and abandoned. We search for meaning, yet find no answers. Yet, there is something we can do. We can stand up and fight against the evil in this world - not by contributing to the rhetoric but by placing our trust in God.

The Holy Spirit not only empowers us to go out and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, but we are strengthened to do battle against evil. We can become prayer warriors to change the world. For when we put God on the throne of our hearts, no evil will dare penetrate out hearts.

And when we put God first in our lives, fully surrendering and trusting in our Lord, we will find that all things are possible. We find healing and peace in our lives, and transformation all around us.

The people of this world are caught up in a vicious downward spin, trapped in a cycle of sin and harm and more sin. But with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we as true Christians have God’s Almighty Power to break this cycle. Imagine if each Christian called to obey God’s laws of love and respect acted in ways that Jesus would. As co-workers with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit we can fight the good fight and win. You may ask, but what can I do?

First pray – pray constantly that God rules your heart. Then act as Jesus acted. What if when you were judged, you instead chose understanding? When rejected, you choose to accept? When shamed, you responded with compassion. What if each person could be the person who you needed when you were hurting, rather than being the person who hurt you? What would life look like if each Christian vowed to be better than that which breaks us. Jesus not only died for the forgiveness of sin, but to heal our wounded hearts and our brokenness, to make us whole. And healing can overcome all bitterness and hurt - when you turn over your pain and pray to the Lord. Love can and does overcome hate. And if we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, by surrendering rather than withdrawing and trying to handle things on our own, then we are able to act from a heart of love, rather than from our pain.  Truly there is hope for all of us.

Today’s Epistle reading told us, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” [11] “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s Children.” [12] And while we may share in Christ’s suffering, we have hope for we will also share in his glory. [13] So let the Spirit of God fill your hearts and guide you. Let a fresh breath be breathed upon you and within you. And seek God. For in seeking God with all your heart, in placing God on the throne of your heart, being grateful for God’s blessings and grace, each one of us can play a part in transforming this world.

To close, I would like to share a poem written by Sue Henley and edited by Maren C. Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirabassi. It comes from Creative Resources for Worship, and was shared with the New England Conference by Rev. Megan Stowe, District Superintendent of the Commonwealth West District in Massachusetts.

Come, Holy Spirit

Speak in the swaying, swirling leaves, 

That sing and dance in summer sunlight. 

Whisper in the warm wind as I await your Word. 

The silence speaks only of you, 

Holy sound sending 

Fickle, fleeting, fluttering shadows l 

like birds in flight, 

calling out, singing, rejoicing in rhythmic refrain, 

with spontaneity of Spirit. 

O God, weave your Word of wholeness into our broken world. 

Let us become patriots who act for you, for the poor, for all in need. 

We hear the breeze of brokenness within and beyond our borders. 

We hear the song of silent suffering 

Of the refuges, of rejection and resentment. 

May we be vessels of reconciliation. 

May we flee to you with our fragile, fragmented, fearful world. 

We are made in your image! Is this your image? 

We cry out with you, “No!” 

May we shed sunlight where shadows of shame linger. 

May we recognize our responsibility to the marginalized, 

To those who dance in darkness: 

The darkness of depression, despair, economic deprivation,  

Racism, sexism, and white privilege. 

Open us to the cries of injustice. 

Holy Spirit, move upon the waters of economic inequalities, 

Educational unfairness, health care dilemma, 

That those who are “privileged” might use their power to empower 

Those struggling to make ends meet day by day, 

To pay the bills, the rent, to pay for transportation, food and clothing. 

You who are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow 

Let us not be content to stay the same 

Yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Change us to fulfill your work. 

Thy realm come … now. 

Amen.

[1] Psalm 19:14, NRSV
[2] Acts 1:4-5 NRSV
[3] Acts 2:1, NIV
[4] Acts 2:2-4a, NIV
[5] Acts 2:21, NIV
[6] Acts 2:3, NIV
[7] Isaiah 5:24, NIV
[8] Isaiah 6:1-7, NIV
[9] Matthew 15:18, NIV
[10] Matthew 15:19a, 20a, NIV
[11] Romans 8:14, NIV
[12] Romans 8:16, NIV
[13] Romans 8:17, NIV