Sermon Acts 2:1-13 “What Difference Does It Make”

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Delaware City Presbyterian Church
Sermon Acts 2:1-13 “What Difference Does It Make”
June 9, 2019

Today is Pentecost Sunday.  For Israelites, two thousand years ago, this was the festival of first fruits.   The vegetables planted fifty days ago are ripening on the vine and the first of these are ready to be eaten.   So the people would gather to thank God for this blessing.   And they would open a scroll and read the story of God’s blessing to their ancestors when Moses ascended a mountain to receive the 10 commandments. 

Our story begins with Jesus’ disciples, both men, and women, waiting in an upper room.   We will get to what happens next and ask the question “What difference does it make?”.  But first, let’s pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy Heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

For forty days after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, Jesus prepared his disciples for their own ministries.   When this period of preparation was complete Jesus gave them their mission.   He told them to do this.

Acts 1:8 “... You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus has promised that they will receive the power that is needed for them to tell others about what they had seen and heard.   They will be witnesses of Jesus’ ministry and mission.   And the Holy Spirit will empower them to do what God wants them to do.   They will be evangelists and through them, a global church will be born.  But Jesus also said something surprising.

4 … “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

Jesus told them to wait.  Wait?   Why wait?  Jesus has been with them for years.   He has been preparing them for forty days.   Jesus is ready to ascend to heaven.  Why not bring in the Holy Spirit right now?  Why wait?  I think the reason Jesus had them wait was so that they could see what church would be like without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  And then they would see what church would be like with this empowerment.   And then they would understand, “What difference does the Holy Spirit make?”

So, let take a look at what the church is like before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled ...
23 …  They nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

  So before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the church engaged in prayer, listened to Peter preach and teach from scripture, and held a congregational meeting to elect officers.   All this sound pretty familiar.   This is what the church does today.   We engage in fellowship, worship, prayer and Bible study.   We have meetings and elections.   We do everything the earliest church did before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  But we are not empowered to be witnesses to our faith in Jesus Christ to this community.  Let’s go back to scripture.

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

This is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that Jesus has promised.   Luke tries to describe if with figurative language, “violent wind”, “tongues of fire”.   And he tells us of the effect of the empowerment.  Christians can talk about Jesus Christ and people will understand it and respond. 

What difference did the Holy Spirit make in the church?    Before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the church engaged in fellowship, worship, prayer, and Bible study.  They had meetings and elected officers.   But now, with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, they can do what Jesus told them to do.  They can be witnesses of Jesus, his ministry and mission, in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world.

We can see the empowerment of Holy Spirit at work in the Apostle Peter.  Fifty days before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit Peter was unable to be a witness.  On the night of Jesus’ arrest, on three occasions, Peter had an opportunity to give his testimony.  But this happened. 

Luke 22:55 … Some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

So fifty days before his empowerment by the Holy Spirit, Peter was unable to witness to his faith in Jesus Christ.   But fifty days later, all that changed.

Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

What difference does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit make to a church?   Without this empowerment, all we can do is have fellowship, worship, prayer, Bible studies, meetings, and elections.    That’s it.  With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we have the extraordinary ability to witness to others, bringing them to faith. 

What about Delaware City church?  I know you have fellowship, worship, prayer, Bible studies, meetings, and elections.   But have you been empowered by the Holy Spirit?  Do you have the ability to go today and tell others, here is Delaware City, about your faith in Jesus Christ bringing them to faith?  Or are you waiting for the empowerment that Jesus has promised?

After Jesus’ ascension to heaven his disciples, both men and women went back to the upper room and engaged in constant prayer.   They prayed for Jesus’ promise to be realized.   They prayed for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that would allow them to do what Jesus told them to do.   They prayed for the Spirit’s power to go into the community, share their faith, and bring people to faith in Christ.  And those prayers were answered.

What if Delaware City Church engaged in constant prayer too?   What if we prayed for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?  What if we prayed for the ability to share the testimony of our faith with others?  What if we prayed for the ability to bring others to faith?  I think that the Holy Spirit would come upon us and we would have the ability to go into our community telling people about Jesus and bringing them to faith.  Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, your church is waiting for the empowerment of your Holy Spirit.  We ask that the Spirit come upon us and empower us to do what you have told us to do.   Empower us to go into our community and tell others about our faith in Jesus Christ.   Empower us to bring others to faith.    In Jesus’ name, we pray all of this.  Amen.

Sermon 2 Kings 2:1-18 "Elijah - A Double Portion of Spirit"

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
New Covenant Presbyterian Church
Sermon 2 Kings 2:1-18 "Elijah - A Double Portion of Spirit"
June 2, 2019

Listen to this sermon.

This is my final sermon in my series on the life of the prophet Elijah.   Last week we heard God’s instructions to Elijah from atop Mt. Horeb.  God told his prophet to begin the process that will lead to the downfall of the Omri dynasty of the Kingdom of Israel.  As part of that, Elijah was instructed to anoint Elisha as the Prophet of Israel.

Two weeks ago we talked about Elijah’s name.   In Hebrew it is Eli-yah, “My God is Yahweh”.      Elisha’s name in Hebrew is Eli-shua, “My God is the Savior”.  Let’s do a mental exercise.   Combine in your minds the last syllable of Elijah name, “yah” with the last syllable of Elisha’s name, “shua”.   “Yah-shua”.   Hold that name in your minds.  “Yah-shua”.

Nine centuries after Elijah an angel came to a young woman named Mary.   He told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would conceive and bear a son.   And she would call this son, in Hebrew, “Yah-shua”.   “Yah-shua” means “Yahweh is the savior”.  It is a combination of the final syllables in the name Eli-yah and Eil-shua, Elijah and Elisha.   And when “Yah-shua” is spoken in English we say, Jesus.  So Jesus’ name is a combination of the names Elijah and Elisha and means “Yahweh is the savior”.   Let’s pray to Yah-shua, Jesus. 

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy Heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

God told Elijah to anoint his successor, Elisha.  Here is what happened.

1 Kings 19:19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.

The whole community has gathered.  My guess is that Elijah has come to pray and bless them in the coming growing season.  Twelve pair of oxen have been yoked to plows.  After the prayer, twelve farmers each takes one pair of oxen out into the field to begin work.   Eleven farmers pass by Elijah and receive his blessing.  But when the twelfth farmer passes Elijah, the prophet removes his cloak and places it on the farmer.

Elijah’s cloak was a camel skin overcoat with a leather belt worn in cold weather.   It became associated with Elijah’s ministry so much that when people heard that a prophet was coming wearing a camel skin cloak with a leather belt they knew it was Elijah.   Wearing a cloak like this became the symbol of being a prophet.  Nine centuries later, John the Baptist wore a camel skin cloak with a leather belt indicating that he had come as a prophet like Elijah.   By putting this cloak on Elisha, Elijah was anointing him as new the Prophet of Israel.
But Elisha was not so sure that he wanted to be a prophet.   

20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
This is clearly a delaying tactic.  Elisha wants to go home and talk this over with his parents.   Elijah is clearly annoyed at this but he lets Elisha go home to say goodbye to his family and village. 

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Elisha had a great feast to say goodbye to family and friends and then followed Elijah.   This began a season of preparation as Elijah taught Elisha how to be a prophet.  We don’t how long this lasted, but eventually, Elisha was ready,  and it was time for Elijah to leave.

2 Kings 2:1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

So, the two prophets are traveling together and we know that it is time for Elijah to leave and go to heaven in a whirlwind.  But Elisha does not want Elijah to go away.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”  But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
Poor Elisha!  He does not want his spiritual mentor to leave.  So they continue walking together all the way to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

Other prophets have come to Elisha.   They told him that the time had come for Elijah to leave.  They told Elisha that he would now be the prophet of Israel.  But Elisha didn’t want to hear any of this.  He wanted Elijah to remain.  So Elijah again to Elisha to stay behind but Elisha refused.  Elisha followed his mentor all the way to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.
The prophets of Jericho have told Elisha that this is the day.   Elijah is leaving you today.   You should stay here and let him go.  But again Elisha will hear none of this and continues to follow his mentor.

7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Elijah takes his cloak, the camel hair overcoat, symbol of his prophetic identity, and uses it to part the waters just as Moses did when he used Arron’s rod to part the Red Sea.  And like Moses and the Hebrews, Elijah and Elisha crossed on dry ground.   Then they had their final conversation.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

The firstborn son of an Israelite inherits a double portion of his father’s assets.    Elisha is asking Elijah to treat him as his son.   Elijah has no earthly possessions, except a camel hair coat.  But what Elijah does have in abundance is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Elisha is asking for a double share of Elijah spiritual gifts.  Although this is a hard thing to promise Elijah says it will happen if Elisha watches what happens next.

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them.

Elisha can walk with Elijah no more.   God has intervened by sending a tank, a fiery chariot,  to separate them just as God sent the flaming swords to prevent Adam and Eve from returning to the Garden of Eden.  And then this happens.

11b and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

Elisha is experiencing great grief.  He has lost his spiritual mentor, father, and friend.   Elijah is gone for good until Jesus has a committee meeting on the Mount of Transfiguration.  But for Elijah and Elisha, this is the end of the road.   Elisha will go forward alone. 

No!  Elisha is not alone.   He has a double portion of the Holy Spirit who will comfort him and empower him to do what God wants him to do.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Just as God parted the Jordan River to allow Joshua and the Hebrews to enter the Promised Land so too is that river parted to allow Elisha to begin his ministry as the Prophet of Israel.

This is my last Sunday with you as Interim Pastor.  I have been with you for over two years.   My call to this church was to prepare you for the coming of a new pastor.   That work is complete.  Beginning next Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Carol Fisher will be in this pulpit.   God is taking me away to some other call.  I don’t think we will be seeing a whirlwind today.   Like Elijah, I won’t be here anymore.  My prayer is that you, New Covenant Church, like Elisha will inherit a double portion of God’s Holy Spirit.   With this, you will be comforted in parting with me and empowered to accomplish God’s mission here in Middletown, Delaware.   Let’s pray.

Father in heaven, pour down your blessings on New Covenant Church.   Bless them with spiritual growth as each of them grow into the stature of Christ.  Bless them with numerical growth as they welcome to this church people moving into the new homes being built.   And bless them with the resources and facilities needed to make this church effective in reaching this community for Christ.   I whose name we pray.   Amen.