Sunday's Message - The Work of the Holy Spirit (The Holy Spirit Empowers)

The Holy Spirit is probably the most confusing member of the Trinity. Although we can understand the Father and the Son, it's more difficult for us to grasp the nature of something that can’t be seen. Yet, without the Spirit, we can know very little about either the Father or the Son. And so, we're looking at the work of the Holy Spirit. During five messages, we've focused on what the Holy Spirit does for us. Over that time, we'll consider the following: 

• September 3 - The Holy Spirit Inspires
• September 10 - The Holy Spirit Instructs
• September 17 - The Holy Spirit Intercedes
• September 24 - Holy Spirit Unites
• October 1 - Holy Spirit Empowers

On Sunday, we focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers us. A recording and copy of the sermon are below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m.

As you can see, in just a little bit, we’re going to be sharing in communion. Of course, that’s not all that unusual around here. I mean, we have communion at least twelve times a year, usually on the first Sunday of the month. And since this is October first, well, it just makes sense that we’ll be gathering around the Lord’s Table after the sermon. 

But you know, today is a little different, and I’ll tell you why. Every year, on the first Sunday in October, we celebrate World Communion Sunday. You see, on this date, Christians all over the world remember the Last Supper. And even though different churches may use different words and may share the bread and the cup in different ways, what makes today special is that we’re all doing it together, in our own way, but with a common focus. You see, we’re all focused on the host of the meal, and of course I’m talking about Jesus Christ.

And you know, it seems appropriate that, on this day when the whole church is coming together in a special way, well, it just seems appropriate that we’re going to talk about how the whole Body of Christ is able to do the work that we’ve been called to do. Now, as most of y’all know, we’re tying a sermon series we started in mid-August entitled The Work of the Holy Spirit, and over the last four weeks we’ve focused on some of the things that the Spirit has done and is doing for God’s people. For example, we looked at how the Holy Spirit inspires the life we have and the life we share and the life we can claim. And then we considered how the Spirit instructs us about how we can live and who Jesus is through an internal presence and the external word so that we can both endure and have hope. Then we discussed how this same Spirit intercedes for us because, even though we worry and get distracted, God still loves us; therefore, the Spirit actually takes who we are and what we want and feel and brings into the presence of God and as a result, our whole perspective on both the present and future changes. And then, last week, we talked about how the Holy Spirit unites us with one another despite our differences by giving us a common focus for a shared mission. Now that’s what we’ve covered in the last four weeks.

And today, on this World Communion Sunday, we’re going to finish this series by looking at how the Holy Spirit empowers us, something that it’s constantly doing but which we don’t always understand and appreciate much less claim. And to do that, we’ll consider two very clear and straightforward questions: one, how does the Holy Spirit empower the church, and two, why does the Spirit offer the church power. Now that’s the plan.

And I’ll tell you, if you’re wondering about how the Spirit empowers, I think this power comes to us through two realities that have been sort of breathed into the Body of Christ, both of which are firmly grounded in Scripture. You see, first, I believe the Holy Spirit empowers the church through the spiritual gifts it gives. In other words, because of the Spirit, right now, we, individually and as a community, we’ve been given something we wouldn’t otherwise have and that we couldn’t create by ourselves. We’ve been given gifts. And you know, this was something that the Apostle Paul described when he wrote to the Corinthians:

My friends, you asked me about spiritual gifts. I want you to remember that before you became followers of the Lord, you were led in all the wrong ways by idols that cannot even talk. Now I want you to know that if you are led by God’s Spirit, you will say that Jesus is Lord, and you will never curse Jesus.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.

The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God’s Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us. [1 Corinthians 12:1-11, CEV]

You see, for Paul, these are all gifts from the Holy Spirit. And I’ll tell you, before we get all hung up on the specifics and assume that these are the only ones given, we need to remember that he offered another, slightly different list to the Romans. In other words, if Paul were alive today and writing to the church in Sligo, I think there’s a better than even chance that a list of our gifts would probably also be slightly different.

And you know, I think that’s important, because when you consider all these specific gifts given by God, they seem to have something in common. You see, although they’re all different, when they’re brought together so that they complement one another, these gifts actually enable us to become greater than any one of us could be by ourselves. I mean, they’re like puzzle pieces that are fine on their own,  but, when fitted together, they create a picture that you’ll never be able to see by looking at the individual pieces. And maybe that explains why, a little later in the same letter from which we just read, Paul wrote this:

The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does. Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God’s Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit. [1 Corinthians 12:12-13, CEV]

You see, based on what Paul wrote, I think I’m safe in saying that together, we have everything we need to do what we’ve been called to, because we’ve been given the gifts. And for me, that’s the first way the Holy Spirit empowers us.

And second, well, I think the Holy Spirit also empowers the church through the spiritual fruits it also gives. And unlike the gifts, which really have more to do with skills and talents, you know, what we can do on the outside, these fruits really define who we are on the inside. They’re about our values and character, our thoughts and desires, our sense of right and wrong. And this was something else that was important to the Apostle Paul. Just listen to what he wrote to the Galatians:

If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires. The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you.

People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. [Galatians 5:16-24, CEV]

Now these are Paul’s “Fruits of the Spirit.” And I’ll tell you, for the church to be effective, they are every bit as important as our skills and talents. Remember, all those gifts we’ve been given only have meaning when we use them together. And so, let me ask you, are you going to want to work with people who “...hate others and are hard to get along with,” folks who “...become jealous, angry, and selfish,” men and women who “...not only argue and cause trouble, but...are envious”? Even if they claim to be Christians, are these the kind of people you’re going to seek out much less work with? I don’t think so. But what if the people in the church are “...loving, happy, [and]  peaceful”? What if they’re “patient, kind, [and] good”? What if they’re “faithful, gentle, and self-controlled”? You see, for as important as the gifts are, to be the Body of Christ we also need these spiritual fruits. And I think that’s the second source of power the Spirit offers. And so, back to our first question: How does the Holy Spirit empower the church? It’s through the gifts and the fruits given. 

And now, that leads to question number two: Why, why does the Holy Spirit empower the church? Why have we been given gifts that we can use? And why have we been given fruits that will enable us to use them effectively? Well, again, as I look at scripture, I think there are two persuasive reasons.

You see, first, I believe the Holy Spirit empowers the church so that it can stand firm, and I’m talking about standing firm in the face of opposition and standing firm on the good news of Jesus Christ. I’m telling you, it takes power to do that, something that Jesus promised to his disciples when he told them this:

When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say. [Luke 12:11-12, CEV]

Now that’s what Jesus said.

And even though he was talking about facing persecution, I’ll tell you, I don’t think that’s the only situation where the Spirit might help us stand firm. You see, even though we may face active hostility, maybe even more problematic for us is the passive disregard we face. And I think this is something the modern church encounters all the time. I mean, without any question, I believe it’s hard to face persecution and I don’t want to minimize brothers and sisters who are suffering each and every day because they’ve chosen to follow Jesus. You see, I believe the Spirit empowers them to stand firm. But that’s them and not us, because that’s really not the world we face, is it? Even though some Christians pretend that it is. I mean, let’s get real, in the United States, believers don’t have to endure torture or to die for their faith, and I’ll tell you, this is something for which we should be thankful every day of our lives. 

No, I think the opposition we face is far less active; in fact, it’s down right passive. Let me tell you what I mean. From where I stand, I think there are plenty of people in society who frankly no longer care about what Jesus taught much less what we have to say. For them, frankly, we’re irrelevant, unless we can be used to promote certain ideas and values that have very little to do with the actions on which Jesus said our nation would be judged; you know, like feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty, like welcoming the stranger and clothing the naked, like caring for the sick and visiting the prisoner. In other words, their agenda really doesn’t focus on loving God with everything we’ve got and loving our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. They don’t care. And yet, they use us to promote their causes, and in order to feel relevant, sadly, a lot of Christians allow themselves to be used. But in terms of what Christianity is really all about, you know, all that stuff about forgetting self, taking up the cross and following Christ, these movers and shakers just don’t seem to care. Now, that sure seems to be our society now-a-days. But you know, whether the opposition is active or passive, we don’t need to worry, and we don’t need to compromise; because the Spirit enables us to stand firm. And for me, that’s the first reason why the Holy Spirit empowers us.

And second, I also believe Spirit empowers the church so that it can reach out, so it can reach out into a world where some actively hate us while others couldn’t care less about who we are or what we believe. You see, the Spirit enables us to move into this world that we have and to do it with the good news that we trust. And even though I read this same verse last week when we were talking about unity, I think it’s just as appropriate when talking about power. Just listen to the last words Jesus spoke to his apostles before his ascension. He said, 

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world. [Acts 1:8, CEV]

Now that’s what he said. And do you know what, it did. You see, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came as tongues of fire and rested on the disciples just like it rested on Jesus at his baptism. And as a result, those first century Christians were able to do amazing things. And if you don’t believe me, just read the Book of Acts. Now that’s what the Spirit did then.

And trust me, that’s what the Spirit continues to do now. You see, right here and right now, we have the power. Through both our words and our work, as men and women who’ve been inspired, we have the power to take the gospel that we’ve been taught and, with help of the one who already knows exactly what we need, as a united body, we can show everyone we meet what it means to follow the one who’s command is clear but who still loves us even when we fall short. You see, we have the power to share and to live the good news of Jesus Christ. And I’ll tell you, when we claim this power, we just might see the world change. The Spirit enables us to reach out. And so why does the Holy Spirit empower the church? So that it, so that we can stand firm and reach out. 

Now, in just a little bit, we’re going to join Christians all over the world and share the bread and the cup. And as we do that, let’s remember that, through the gifts and the fruits we’ve been given, we have power. And because we have power, we can stand firm and we can reach out. And for us in Sligo, Pennsylvania, we have good reason to believe that this is more than possible, all because we trust that, along with inspiring and instructing, interceding and uniting, we believe the Holy Spirit empowers.