Westhill Episcopal 16 February 1997

Theme: Imitators of Christ - Pentecost

 

Bible Passage

Luke 4: 14-21

Introduction

Since December we have been considering a major theme, that of God’s mission to the world through Christ. We have looked at important aspects of that mission, in particular

the Incarnation

the Atonement

the Resurrection

the Ascension

to see what they have to teach us about God’s approach to mission, and consequently how the principles involved should influence our approach to mission as imitators of Christ.

We have two more aspects to consider. This week we will look at Pentecost. Next week John Lowe will preach about the Parousia of Christ - his return to this earth.

The importance of all this should be clear. God has an agenda for this world. He is in the business of saving and redeeming, and He sent His own Son to bring this about. We cannot hope to fit into God’s plan and carry out His purpose for ourselves and this generation unless we align ourselves to the pattern that He Himself has established.

1.      The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Mission

After His baptism by John Jesus commenced His earthly ministry. From that time on He carried out His Father’s redeeming purpose in the world under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. The passage He read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry spelled out His mission (ref Luke 4:18,19). It was, if you like, His mission statement, His manifesto. There are four things I would like us to note about this passage.

1. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit.

2. The Spirit enabled Him to preach good news to the poor.

3. The Spirit sent Him to set free, to heal, to release.

4. The Spirit sent Him to proclaim the outpouring of God’s grace.

What can we learn from this for our own ministry for God? Precisely this: we have the same mission statement; we follow the same flag; we march to the same drumbeat. Jesus said in prayer to His Father, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (Jn 17:18). The anointing Jesus received set Him apart for His ministry, gave Him the authority to do it, and gave Him the wherewithall to do it. That same annointing will do no less for us.

2.      The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Teaching

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would

counsel us (Jn14:16)

teach us everything (Jn 14:26)

testify about Jesus (Jn 15:26)

convict the world (Jn 16:8)

guide us (Jn16:13)

show us what is coming (Jn16:13)

make the things of Jesus known to us (Jn 16:14)

flow from within us like streams of living water (Jn 7:38,39)

empower us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

All of this was Jesus’ own experience, for the Spirit empowered Jesus, counselled Jesus, taught Jesus, testified about His Father, convicted the world through Jesus, guided Jesus, showed Jesus what was to come, made the things of His Father known to Jesus, and poured out rivers of living water in Jesus and from Jesus to the thirsty ones about Him. Jesus would not and did not embark upon His ministry without the Spirit’s annointing. And He would not and did not hold back when the Spirit prompted Him to go.

It is beyond our comprehension how the divine could become human; how Jesus could retain all of His divine attributes and yet be fashioned as a man. But this He did, and as a man he experienced hunger, weariness, pain and weakness. The one who holds the universe together, He collapsed under the weight of a cross of wood. So you see, we cannot say that since Jesus was God it was all very easy for Him. As a man he needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fulfil God’s mission in the world, and everything he did he carried out hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit.

So with this in mind we can understand a little more why He said to His disciples, “Wait for the gift my Father has promised” (Acts 1:4) and “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

3.      The Holy Spirit in the Church’s Mission

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the gathered disciples. He did so noisily, spectacularly, and very effectively. Through one sermon that day, delivered by a weak and clumsy fisherman, his mind still full of his own personal failure and crisis of confidence, the Holy Spirit brought 3000 people to their knees in repentance and faith in Jesus.

From that point on the Holy Spirit empowered them, counselled them, taught them, testified about Jesus, convicted people through them, guided them, showed them what was to come, made the things of Jesus known to them, and poured out rivers of living water in them and from them to the needy ones about them. All they did was carried out hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit. So we read in Acts 13:2, “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” This was not the Holy Spirit blessing and sanctifying that church’s strategy for mission. This was the Holy Spirit taking charge.

4.      Conclusion

There are many views in the church worldwide today about different aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit, and the means God uses to annoint his people for mission. I do not wish to add confusion to what is already very bewildering. I tend to take a very simple approach, largely because I believe Jesus encouraged a simple approach to his disciples.

It is impossible to entertain the thought of mission and evangelism, or anything else in the life and work of the church, without the Holy Spirit being upon us and directing us.

As children of our Heavenly Father, washed clean by the blood of Jesus, we only have to ask to receive the Holy Spirit (Lu 11:9-13).

We should not be so concerned about whether we possess the Holy Spirit. We should be very concerned about whether the Holy Spirit posseses us.

The essential question is not how or where or when we receive the Holy Spirit, it is right now is the Holy Spirit in us, upon us and with us? Let me tell you a little parable. Wings being carried, used as skis, used to carry burdens, used as walking sticks; but they need to be used to fly! It’s not “do I possess wings?” it’s “Am I wearing them and using them?”