Preparing for Pentecost

Preparing for Pentecost

Good morning One River Vineyard!

We are nearing the end of a series on the Holy Spirit as we look forward to Pentecost next week and anticipate celebrating the day that the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the disciples. So, let’s stop here and pray that he will be poured out on all of us here today. Lord, I thank you for giving us an advocate, a comforter and a friend to share with us your wisdom and power. God, I ask that I say what you want said this morning and that each person here and online would hear what you want to speak into their hearts today. Amen

I mentioned that we are moving towards Pentecost next weekend and briefly I want to recap where we have come from in this series. The week after Easter Cheryl talked about 3 views of the Holy spirit and that Vineyard holds to the belief of the “inaugurated kingdom” or in other terms the “here and the not yet”. This has been described like seeing God’s kingdom breakthrough the slats in a picket fence. She also discussed that there were gifts of the Holy Spirit that are like tools with a bow meaning they are free unearned and undeserved gifts (the meaning of charismata) that are useful for building the kingdom of God. As tools, they work best when practiced with and when misused can cause pain. For example, a house is built with a hammer and someone skilled with a hammer can do so with amazing speed. Even the most skilled craftsman busted up some thumbs to get to that place of skill. That week we prayed for those who God highlighted a gift to that they would grow in wisdom and skill with the gift or gifts he highlighted. I talked one week about healing in the setting of the here and not yet kingdom and having the faith to ask God for healing expecting him to say yes, but being able to stand if he says “no”. Shane taught about prophecy and what it looks like in both the old and the new testaments. He also talked about the love of God we see through the Holy Spirit in the setting of mothers and Mother’s Day.

Today I am going to look at who the bible says the Holy Spirit is. How integral he is to the Bible and 3 ways we see him working in the Bible and in our lives.

Throughout this series we have discussed gifts of the spirit that appear throughout the bible some separately and some in structured lists like 1 Cor 12:4-11

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Another list of the gifts of the spirit is found in Romans 12:6

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

There are many other gifts of the spirit sprinkled throughout the New testament. Eph 3:16-19

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

And in Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is even a list of the gifts of the spirit in Isaiah in the prophecy about the messiah and what his life would look like. In 11:2-3 it says

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

I hear some of you saying, “What? Wait! Hold on. I thought the Holy Spirit was part of the New Testament. Wasn’t he given to Jesus at the baptism and poured out on the Church in Acts 2? Was he really seen in the Old Testament as well? Yes. He was. The triune nature of God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit was evident right from the beginning of scripture though we didn’t give this the name “Trinity” until after the New Testament was canonized. Does anyone know when the holy spirit is first mentioned in the bible, and when we first see the Trinity working together?

Yep 1st chapter 2nd verse

The very beginning Gen 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

There is a ministry called the Bible Project that has created many amazing explainer videos about the bible and rather than me trying to explain who the Holy Spirit is, I’m going to show you their video now.

What do you guys think? Pretty cool video, right? But I hear some of you saying. Charise, you said the trinity was there in the beginning, but I count really well to 3 and in Genesis 1:2 It only talks about God and the Spirit. That’s only 2 by my math, and they don’t mention Jesus at all until the New Testament in the video. Good catch. Let’s go forward to another “in the beginning”.

John 1: 1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So, back to Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Over and over in Genesis 1 God said and something was created. John says that the words that went forward and created everything that was in Genesis 1 IS Jesus. So, the Word, Jesus was with God “in the beginning” creating everything that was created.

I want you all to hold your hand about an inch from your mouth and say “the Word was with God”. Do you feel your breath, your Ruach on your hand? Spirit. In the beginning, God spoke. The words he spoke was Jesus and the breath he used to speak those words were the person of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit is the person referred to as the experiential presence of God and he was with God from the very beginning. How integral is the Holy spirit in the Bible? Not only is he in the very 1st chapter of the Bible, he is in the final chapter as well. Just before the final 4 verses of warnings and conclusion it says in

Rev 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

The Holy Spirit literally opens and closes the book. He is integral to the story.

In the Vineyard, we accept that the Holy Spirit is important; so much so we claim to be people of the Spirit. But what does that mean? I hope that it means that the Holy Spirit is active and working in our everyday life. I hope it means that the list of gifts we discussed above are active and present in our lives. That we are actively working to become more skilled in the usage of those the Lord has highlighted to us for this moment or season in our life. I hope it means that the fruits of the spirit are being produced in us as well.

What does that look like? I have always thought it’s supposed to look like the book of Acts where we see the early church applying the Christian life in their society. To be honest, I look at Acts and sometimes struggle. We see tongues of fire, mighty wind, lame walking, dead rising, people being moved physically from one location to another, thousands coming to God, visions just to mention a few. It’s seems like a nonstop hit parade. “people were being added to their numbers daily. It’s awesome, and frankly it’s intimidating. Sometimes it helps me to stop and remember that these are the greatest hits. It really is a hit parade. Some of God’s most amazing signs and wonders accomplished by many people over several decades across thousands of miles condensed into 28 awesome chapters. Day to day, they lived out their lives “in step with the holy spirit” as Paul says by taking care of widows and orphans, sharing their food and homes with each other, and meeting together to care for each other, pray, fast and learn about God. Not every day was a resurrection, but every day held hope for one through the God of all hope and his indwelling Spirit.

I was listening to John Wimber teach on Spiritual Warfare last week. He was specifically talking about deliverance and dealing with demonic influences in people’s lives. It’s a great series and available to you on Vineyard USA’s website. if you are interested, Cheryl can get you more information. Anyway, John told a story about preaching at an international conference to about 6,000 people in Europe about deliverance. As he was finishing, he felt the Holy Spirit say “I want to set some people free today.” No sooner had John said what he felt he heard then 2-300 people began to manifest demons. It was pandemonium. He relates that there were about 100 volunteers there who planned to pray for people and they immediately started going person to person praying for deliverance and saw them each delivered most quite quickly, but it was still over 45 minutes before order was restored. He notes this was a highlight of his ministry. Hundreds set free of demonic oppression in minutes to the glory of God. He was involved in the deliverance of thousands of people in his ministry, but never again like this though he always hoped for it. In his actual experience some deliverances were quick, but many took a team of 3-5 people and lasted for many hours. This was the reality of his day to day ministry. While the spectacular power events are amazing and very welcome, the reality is most days walking with God are less spectacular but no less important.

In scripture I see the spirit working in people to help them in 3 ways in their daily life.

The first is to help with managing nation, families and situations

During the video, you may recall John and Tim mentioned the first man who was noted to have the spirit of God upon him was Joseph as God’s Spirit empowered him to save the lives of his family and many thousands in the lands around Egypt.

Gen 41:33-40 says after hearing and interpreting Pharaoh’s dream Joseph concludes

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So, Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

In this passage we see Joseph life be marked with wisdom, discernment, and a gift of knowledge to interpret dreams. With these gifts the spirit of God help Joseph move from being an arrogant teenager who his brother sold into slavery, to a man who found honor and promotion as a slave, as a prisoner and eventually as the second in command over the most powerful country in the world during his day.

Perhaps, you like me will never rule a country and probably never save thousands from famine. But the Holy Spirit can still give you understanding in the areas you do work. For almost a year now, I have been doing and examen before going to bed. One of the questions I ask at night is “Lord, in what ways did I experience Your goodness and when did I hear You speak?” Sometimes I come up blank, but it has opened my heart to this question. The other day I was explaining to a patient about elevating their sprained ankle and trotted out my standard line about “and if you don’t have recliner just lay across the couch and put your foot up on the arm rest with a pillow under your knee. That should get your ankle above your heart.” Clear as day I heard the Holy Spirit laugh and say “where do you think that thought came from?” My other great thought, you know the one about popsicles being great for a sore throat because it’s just like icing a sprained ankle, but more tasty? That came from him as well even though I didn’t realize it for months. When you welcome the spirit into your day-to-day life, he can give you wisdom to save lives or in my case just to ease some pain in an ankle or throat.

The second thing we see the spirit empowering people to do is take care of the work of God

In Exodus 31:1-6

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:

We see God’s spirit providing wisdom, understanding, knowledge and creative skill to do the work of God, in this case, creating the tabernacle where he would live with his people. The Spirit empowers the people made in God’s image to create art and beauty in the service of God. Every time you create something new, a new piece of art, a new process, a new song you are reflecting the nature of your creative God and if you are doing it to his glory you are doing it with his spirit.

In Ps 51: 10-12. Here we see the spirit working in a third way. He is working on a personal level to change David’s heart.

After sinning with Bathsheba and having her husband murdered, David calls out to God in repentance and says.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

This is actually the first time in the Bible that the spirit of God is referred to as the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit not only empowers David throughout scripture to be a good king, it changes David. It convicts him, renews him and gives him the ability to continue. It restores him and gives him joy in his salvation. Here we see the fruits of the spirit being produced in David thousands of years before Jesus’ birth.

So, we have seen the Spirit brood over chaos and in a beautiful trinitarian way, bring life and order out of chaos. Creating the garden of Eden where man and woman walked with God and cared for his sin free world in perfect harmony. We see the spirit again at the very end of the Bible welcoming God and Jesus back to rule and reign on earth once more

Where “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Rev 22:3-5

And we see him in the pages in between giving wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, the fear of God, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, serving, teaching, encouraging, leadership, mercy and so many more gifts to his people to move us as individuals, a community and a world toward this final purpose.

We see these gifts being given to protect god’s people on a national scale and give wisdom in daily life

To further the work of the Lord (ie building the tabernacle, or adding to the early church’s number daily and creating beauty

And to change people’s hearts, minds, and spirits and to birth the fruits of the spirit in their lives

In Revelations we see that this work is to bring the world back into that place where we and God live together in his kingdom with no curse, no sin and no pain.

I have become convinced over the last year or so that my life purpose is to partner with God to bring his kingdom and rule here on earth more each day: To allow the Holy spirit to move in my life in all 3 of the ways we have looked at today and to partner with him in interceding for my family and church community. I believe what we have read today supports that. So, my question to you is how and where does the Holy Spirit want to partner with you in your life to bring his kingdom to your world? As we expectantly await the coming of Pentecost, I want to challenge each of you to ask that question this week. Join me in waiting with the apostles during this time. In Acts 1:12

After Jesus ascends to heaven it says

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

And in Acts 2 it says

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 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 and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Over this next week I encourage you to set aside time to wait and pray and fast as the disciples did for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to be able to partner with God individually and corporately in bringing more of his kingdom here on earth this year every day in quietly powerful ways and in the spectacular powerful ways that we see in the early church in Acts.

Let’s end in a prayer of invitation adapted from the Lectio 365 app.

Father God, we wait and pray like your disciples in that upper room, we say “Come, Holy Spirit”. Lord, prepare our hearts, provoke our souls and prime our thinking for the power of another Pentecost. As we prepare to take this time of prayer into the coming week, the Lord who loves us breathes upon us and says: in John 20:21-22 “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you… Receive the Holy Spirit.”

If you need prayer for anything, the Holy Spirit is here, and the people of his presence are here, don’t leave here without asking someone to join you in prayer today.