Sermon Notes: Pentecost

Tongues of fire at upon them

So wowed that they speak in own languages - yet are still understood.

So wowed that they have clear understanding of what their ministry will be - at least one sense of calling - that they feel compelled to act.

So wowed that they can't sit still.

WOW, right?

So what would it take for US to feel that way?

When we think about fire upon us, we tend to think about how quickly we can put it out, right? Before we get hurt?

Yahoo fireworks on drone, fired them at his friends - one got hit on the back, nasty burn.

What would you do if you saw fire coming at you?

I'd run away. I don't want to be hit, I don't want to be hurt, I don't want to be changed.

Yet this is HOLY fire - the Spirit presenting itself as something we understand,

CLEVER analogy for the Spirit - because even though we understand the concept of fire, we don't control it. We can't hold the flames, we can't precisely direct them. Small as a tea light or large as a forest fire; the burning happens. Change happens because of fire.

Change happens to us, too, because of this Holy Fire of the SPirit.

So what do we do when we see THAT fire coming at us?

It's scary - a tongue of fire landing upon each of us, every day - calling us into action... stirring up in us a desire to serve God in some way... to change - to be different - to be empowered...

For many of us, I think, we become afraid of just that, because of what it means. Change...  maybe good change, maybe not good change. Maybe popular, maybe rejected.

Part of our faith journey, though, is to see this as the beautiful, unpredictable, uncontrollable gift that it is. The Spirit of God is sitting upon each and every one of us. Inviting us into action, inspiring us into discernment, empowering us into ministry.

SO let's take Jesus' words to heart here - we're not of the world. We're not of the nay-sayers, we're not of the skeptics, we're not of the  pessimists. We're not of the world; we are of God.

SO let's live out that reality. Loved by God, redeemed by Christ, enflamed by the Spirit. Let's celebrate the Pentecost that sits upon us, showing our passion for God to the world, as though there was a tongue of fire sitting upon each of our heads.