Get Connected

Romans 8:14-17

May 23, 2010 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

Freed from gravity, the astronauts floated in their space capsule, somersaulting on the evening news. … Against the blackness of outer space, later images showed tiny, fuzzy, gray-and-white figures clumsily maneuvering a few feet or inches at a time as the astronauts worked to repair the International Space Station. How fascinating! And how terrifying! The only thing keeping them from floating forever in a direction away from earth was a skinny line that connected them to the ship. This flimsy lifeline was all that anchored the scientists to their task. But it worked. It kept them connected. [Diane Graham and Julie Norris, Woman of God (CTA, Fenton, MO, 2010) 30].

The Holy Spirit Connection on Pentecost

In today’s scripture in Acts 2, we remember that Jesus had died and then rose from the dead. After revealing himself and teaching his disciples for 40 days, he ascended to the Father. The disciples were now alone, perhaps adrift, in the world, not really knowing what to expect or what to do next. Jesus, their life-line to God was gone. How would they survive with him? Ten days later, the promised Holy Spirit came down on the disciples.

The Holy Spirit was what would connect the disciples to God the Father and Jesus. The Holy Spirit would keep them from drifting off. The Holy Spirit would do much more than keep them connected. It gave birth to the church. From the 120 believers who had gathered to pray that morning, another 3,000 people believed in Jesus by the end of the day. The Church was born.  

Peter, quoting from the Prophet Joel, 2:28-32, said, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. … And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The disciples, filled with the Spirit of God, spoke of the wonders of the living God in the languages of all those who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. People from many countries heard the Good News in their own language.

After hearing Peter preach about Jesus Christ, they wanted to know how they could be saved. In Acts 2:38, Peter told them, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   

Not only could all people now be saved, but all who believed could receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was for all who believed, not just a select few. Over 3000 people were saved and received the Holy Spirit that Pentecost Day. 

·        On Christmas, God gave the best gift he could give to a world that needed to reconnect with God – his only Son, Jesus.

·        On Pentecost, God gave the best gift he could give to a world that needed to stay connected to God – his Holy Spirit.

Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, people were saved and lives were changed.

The Holy Spirit Connection for the Church

Turn with me to Romans, chapter 8. In Romans 8:1-2 Paul tells us what the Holy Spirit has done for us.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” [Rom.8:1-2].

Those who trust in Jesus have been set free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit who gives life. We are freed from sin, freed from death – the very things that make us fearful to face God.

We have received the life-giving Holy Spirit. Romans 6:23 reminds us: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We deserve death, but we receive life.

Not only that, but we have also been invited into God’s family. In Romans 8:14-16 said, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”   

We have now been adopted into God’s family. Any child who has been given up by birth parents knows the feeling of being “disconnected”, left drifting. But when they are adopted, they know the security of being connected, accepted. Finally they have a father, a mother.

We were once spiritual orphans. Now we are God’s children. God is our “Father, Abba.” We run to him knowing he loves us and wants us to be with him.

Being adopted also means we now are also heirs. In 1 Peter 1:3-4 it says, “In his great mercy [God] has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”

Romans 8:17 says, “We are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” While we will share in a glorious inheritance that is waiting for us, we also must expect to share in the sufferings that even Christ, God’s Son, experienced.

The Holy Spirit Connection for Us

However, not only do people today not want or expect to suffer for Christ, they don’t even know if they have received the Holy Spirit. Most churches don’t talk a lot about the Holy Spirit because it makes people uncomfortable. Instead, churches rely on programs and structures to keep the church running. The church no longer seems to need the Holy Spirit.

The late Dr. A. W. Tozer, author and pastor, said, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church 95% of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” [PreachingToday.com, “The Holy Spirit: Missing” (Alan Redpath in “Christian Life” magazine)].

Just as the Holy Spirit breathed life into God’s people on Pentecost and the church was born, the church today needs the Holy Spirit to stay alive.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit means that we allow him to occupy and control every area of our lives and control every aspect of the church. If we are not connected to the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in control of our life. We are disconnected from God.

It’s like buying an electric drill and then not plugging the cord into the electrical socket in the wall. You have the drill and the power cord. You have electricity. But you aren’t connected. As long as you aren’t connected to the source of power, you will be doing all the work by your own power. Our power is limited.

Here’s another way to look at the problem. I have two pitchers with water in them. I am going to put a package of Kool Aid in each one. First, I’ll open this package and pour in the contents and stir it. In the second pitcher, I will put the package of Kool Aid, but I haven’t opened it. No matter how much I stir it, it doesn’t change color or taste.  

Both containers have the Kool Aid, just as all Christians have the Holy Spirit. But notice how you can have the Holy Spirit and not be changed by him.

Our goal is to unwrap the packaging around the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within us. [PreachingToday.com, “The Holy Spirit Works Like Alka-Seltzer.” Adapted from James Emery White, Long Night’s Journey into Day (WaterBrook, 2002)].

Our goal should be to take on the look and the flavor of Christ, rather than remaining the way we were before we knew Christ.

You see, there are Christians who have the Holy Spirit but haven’t unwrapped the package. They believe in Jesus, but haven’t let the Holy Spirit fill their whole life and begin to transform their life. They think they have to be self-sufficient. They think they can do it themselves.

However, when we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we now have a powerful resource that empowers us to live for God and do God’s work. We just need to get connected to the source of power–to the Holy Spirit.

When we look at the world around us, we see a lot of pain and suffering.

§  Young people being shot but other young people.

§  Nations at war with other nations.

§  Husbands and wives abusing or cheating on one another.

§  People taking out their anger on innocent people.

§  Public servants using their power and position for their own advantage rather than the public good.

§  Prejudices that build walls and destroy friendships.

§  To make it worse, many of these acts of hatred and violence are committed by Christians.

God must weep seeing us fight, kill and abuse each other in the Lord’s name.

We cannot change the way another person acts or lives. We can change the ways we act and live. We have available the power to change our ways. We just need to get connected to the source of power.

We have to unwrap the gift we have been given. We have to let the Holy Spirit begin to transform us for God.

After all, we belong to God – not to the world. We are God’s children, so there ought to be a strong family resemblance, don’t you think?

Conclusion

The church today needs the Holy Spirit. God’s children need the Holy Spirit. However, for many Christians, the idea of letting the Holy Spirit, the Power of God, take control of their lives, is as frightening thought.

What will happen if we unwrap the Holy Spirit and let him begin to work in us?  

What will we be like if we get connected to the power of God?   

As risky as it may seem to invite the Holy Spirit to begin to work in our lives, it is far more risky to keep the Holy Spirit wrapped up and unplugged. Without the Holy Spirit our lives are at great risk.

God wants every one of his children to not just receive the Holy Spirit but to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

If we want to see miraculous things happen in our lives and in the life of our church, we need to get connected to the power of the Holy Spirit.

o   Ask God to help you unwrap the gift his has given you.

o   Ask God to help you risk a little and plug into his power.

o   Ask God to begin his transforming work in your life through the Holy Spirit.

You have nothing to fear. You are his child and he loves you more than you will ever know.

Let the power of Pentecost become a reality in your life today.

Get connected to God’s power, the Holy Spirit.

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This sermon is copyright ©2010 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church , Chicago , Illinois .