“Prelude to Pentecost”
After a worship service a mother with a fidgety seven-year-old boy told her Pastor how she finally got her son to sit still and be quiet. About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered: “If you don’t be quiet and quit playing on your phone, the Preacher is going to lose his place and will have to start his sermon all over again!” It worked.
John 14:15-21
A couple was traveling out West and they stopped at a sign that read, “Echo Point.” The wife urged her husband, “Try it.” Her husband thought it was silly but finally gave in. He shouted at the top of his voice, “Baloney!” After a moment, he said, “See, nothing happened.”
“Try it again,” his wife said. This time he shouted, “I’m the best-looking man in the world!” Then the echo came back, “Baloney!”
Is there anyone here this morning who is absolutely satisfied with everything you are and everything you have? I read recently that only one-third of men and one-half of women rate themselves as being happy. Did you make the cut? The truth is that many of us find ourselves bogged down in the mire of discontent.
The philosopher Schopenhauer [1788-1860] once compared us to a Bulldog Ant. If we cut a Bulldog Ant in half, the front and rear segments will enter into a savage fight. The head will seize the tail with its teeth, while the tail will sting the head with fury. The fight might last for hours.
That’s the way some of us are on the inside. There is a part of us that wants to move ahead and a part that wants to stand absolutely still. There is a part of us that wants success and recognition. There is another part that wants to sit on the riverbank and while away the hours. There is a part of us that wants to serve Christ. There is another part that says, “No, I’ve enough to do right now. Let someone else take their turn.” There is a fierce battle going on within many of us. Few of us know what it is to live lives of contentment and peace.
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he told the young boy, “a terrible fight between two wolves.”
“One is evil, full of anger, sorrow, regret, greed, self-pity and false pride. The other is good, full of joy, peace, love, humility, kindness and faith.”
“This same fight is going on inside of you, grandson… and inside every other person on this earth.”
The grandson ponders this for a moment and then asks, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The old man smiled and simply said, “The one you feed.”
Soon, Jesus would be leaving the disciples, yet He would remain with them. How could this be? The Advocate—the Spirit of God Himself—would come after Jesus was gone to comfort, encourage, guide, and intercede for the disciples. The regenerating power of the Spirit came upon the disciples just before Jesus’ ascension, and the Spirit was poured out on all believers at Pentecost, shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven, which we celebrate two weeks from today. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God within us and all believers, helping us live as God wants and building Christ’s church here on earth. By faith we can have access to the Spirit’s power each day.
Jesus said to His disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans” [vs. 18]. Growing up my grandparents lived on the edge of town right next to what was referred to as “The Children’s Home.” The kids who lived there were orphans and a couple of them were classmates of mine through our school years.
One of my best friends growing up was Jeff Brown, we called him Buzz. I’m not sure why other than his dad worked as a lineman for the local power company. Buzz’s mom’s name was Pat, and we all knew not to visit their home on Sunday afternoon because Pat liked to take a Sunday nap. Anyway, when Buzz would get in trouble his mom would say, “One of these days I’m gonna take you to the Children’s Home.” Well, one of those days came around and she loaded Buzz up in the car and took him to the Children’s Home. When they pulled up to the front door Buzz got out of the car and Pat said, “Where do you think you’re going?” And Buzz said, “I’m moving in here.” And Pat said, “You get back in this car this instant.”
Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans because He promised, “I will come to you,” and He meant what He said. Although Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in believers, and to have the Holy Spirit is to have Jesus Himself.
For those of us who follow Him, Jesus promises He will not leave us; He will come to us, He will be in us, and He will show Himself to us.
It’s important to have a healthy sense of who you are. It’s good to have a driving purpose in your life. Indeed, Christ will supply us with those if we ask. But the greatest gift He can give us is Himself. Then we truly know His peace in our minds and in our hearts.
Eastman First Methodist Church 