SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:3-13
TEXT: 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. THEME: The Spirit works in us in forming the community of God. INTRODUCTION Pentecost is 50 days (Pente) after Easter and marks the out pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the eleven Disciples in Jerusalem. Like a sonic wind, the Spirit of God blows into the lives of the Disciples, calls the town’s people of Jerusalem into the streets and breaks the cultural barrier of language and include all in the praise of God, all in the God’s activity, all into God’s love, all to have hope in God’s resurrection power, all towards God’s gracious forgiveness of sin, all to God’s liberation, of deliverance, and of life. So instead of just marking the day when the Spirit arrives, we will be looking at the effects of having the Spirit in our lives from the Apostle Paul’s letter to a church community in Corinth. SCRIPTURE It is the Spirit that enables us to say “Jesus is Lord”. It’s not magical, but a matter of the heart. The Holy Spirit works in our lives even before we come to believe. The Holy Spirit is that sense of right and wrong within us, of Joy and fear that guides our lives. The Holy Spirit is that sense that there is of more to life than just living, of awe at created and an appreciation of beauty. The Holy Spirit gives us a fear of death, the seeking for meaning, and the capacity to love. When we believe in Jesus, faith enables us to see the movement of Christ’s Spirit among us. To say, “Jesus is Lord” is a very strong statement. Jesus is Lord of my life, Jesus is Lord over all. Jesus has authority and jurisdiction over me. It is Jesus’ will over mine own. So, what is Jesus’ will? What is on Jesus’ agenda? What is it that Jesus wants to accomplish? Jesus is Lord to accomplish ‘‘the common good’. A communal good that would find its expression in community, as the people of God, the Kingdom of God, as the nation of God. Living in relationship with God and having the dynamics of this relationship draw us together in community, and influence how we live and treat each other. To accomplish living as a community of people is not an easy task. And so, to help us participate in the fruition of our Lord’s will, God’s Spirit equips us with abilities to do so. These manifestations are given to the members of the church so that the church may function and be relational. Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues and is what is needed to foster our relationship together and keep us participating in God’s mission. This list of gifts is not comprehensive. Paul will list other gifts in different orders, in other letters. Not one member possesses them all. But as we are able, the Spirit of God distributes them as they are needed for the common good of a church. They are given, as the Spirit knows us and to whom they would best be used by in the community, for the common good. As diverse as we are, there are a variety of gifts, for a variety of things that need to be done, for the variety of activities that Christ has for us to do. APPLICATION The work of the Spirit of God unites and gives life in diverse and varied situations. What does it look like to be people of Pentecost, forming community? This is my thinking on gifts and talents. When there is something that God has for the church to do, in participation of what God wants to accomplish, but we have already expended our talent or strength, then God will meet us with the Spirit to give us what we need to accomplish this mission for God. I will tap our Food Pantry as an example. This valuable ministry was begun with a vision of two young mothers in our church, as a collection of food for those who came to the church. In the early days, I remember rummaging through the cabinets of the kitchen looking for things to give people who needed something to eat. Bless their hearts, this was not enough, and Janet Bishop, with her organizational skills and deep compassion took an interest in this ministry and if God did not fill her with the Spirit to do this. Then there was FEMA, and Food Bank, and Ala Lani Methodist and Emanuel Lutheran resourcing our Food Pantry. Not for any one’s good but for the ‘common good’. When Janet was no longer able to continue this ministry, I wondered who would take the helm. Nancy Alueta, stepped in. With each person who takes on ministry, God gives gifts, but not always in the same way, and with their own flavor and combination of gifts and talent. The book keeping part was shared with Jaime Ribao our office administrator, and a couple young ladies came along side to help this ministry. Each gifted in their own way, talented and contributing to the common good. Talent and strength are our natural ability, but when they reach their limits, of what they can do, God gifts us with abilities, knowing we couldn’t do this on our own, it is God’s gift that enabled us to continue to participate in this mission. I have seen the Food Pantry become a ‘Prayer Pantry’ over the years because of the gifting of the people who participate in this ministry. If you have to chance to work with this crew, you will find that they are not all the same, some can bag rice, others stock shelves, greeting people with respect and kindness is a special gift. It is a microcosm of the Body of Christ. They are not always happy with each other and the Spirit gives them grace, forgiveness, patience, humor and laughter. Even when they are tired going up and down those steps, God will give them strength or send an angel to carry a box. This scenario, of the combination of gifts and talent, gets played out in our church over and over again, in the worship service, the rummage sales, the music Concerts, the Equipping of Tomorrow’s Church Leader events, the Sunday School, Boro Boro Sundays, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Pentecost. CONCLUSION We need the Spirit to keep us on track with God. To participate in God’s mission and not think that it’s God’s job to join ours. We need the body of Christ, with their diverse gifts and talent, to lend a hand. to form community, to expand, explore, and experiment with God’s call of us, to be engaged in a variety of activities and service, activated by the same God and God’s Spirit. This past week, it seemed that we could begin meeting in the sanctuary again, maybe in a limited way, but to be back inside. As I sent an email to the Council members about this, the story of the Exodus came to mind. The people of God, as runaway slaves, wandered in the desert with a single purpose, of entering the Promised Land. But for God, it was not so much about getting these people there, as it was more about forming a people of God, who live in relationship with the Holy and have this relationship define who they were, their relationships with each other and the world. Our church has, really, never been closed during COVID-19, we have just been church in a different way. We have been reaching out, staying connect. We’ve tried Zoom, are on Facebook, we Aloha each other while at home. Pray for each other through text messages. So, although we greatly grieve, missing each other, our love for each other will keep us apart a little longer, for the common good. The Church building is not the goal, being the best version that we can be as the people of God in all circumstances is. We can’t do this on our own, so reach out to each other, and see how God is equipping us during this time with gifts beyond our strength and talent for the common good found in Christ Jesus. Worshiping back in the sanctuary will be different. We will ask you how you feel as you arrive, about your COVID- contacts, everybody will be wearing a mask, arranged seating will be for safe distancing and we will continue the Facebook live worship format, without hymnals. We will replace the Aloha hour with a Sanitize the Church Hour. And leave the church, for our cars, distancing and Live, Long and Prosper, Star Trek good byes. Moving forward we will need a Holy multi tool Spirit set of gifts for the common good. It will be different, but it will be good to be together again, in some form, soon.
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