July 26, 2009

How Does the Holy Spirit Help Me?

John 14:15-24

Opening Words: For the first thirty-five years of his life John Wesley was a failure. Then everything changed. On May 24, 1738 he was touched by the Holy Spirit and was sanctified for Christian service. The rest is history. Physically, Wesley was no different. Intellectually, he was no different. Financially, he was no different. The only thing that changed about John Wesley was his spiritual presence. He did not change himself, it was the Holy Spirit who changed him.

Today, I continue my sermon series called, The Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to be a great success for God, except one thing, the Holy Spirit. What happened to John Wesley 271 years ago can happen again today. The problem is so many in our time don’t understand the Holy Spirit. I want to be completely honest. You will find this sermon series is a little more advanced than the norm. However, I preach this sermon series because the Holy Spirit is the key to our future success as a witness for Christ in this community. Let me say this lovingly. It is time for some of you to grow up spiritually.

This sermon series is based on six questions. To date, I have answered two questions. “Who is the Holy Spirit?” and “how do I receive the Holy Spirit?” This weekend I will answer the question, how does the Holy Spirit help me? My goal is not to just educate you personally. My goal is to edify us as a group. Our Gospel reading for the weekend comes from the fourteenth chapter of John, verses fifteen through twenty-four. May God give you ears to hear.

John 14:15-24 15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

History tells us William Tecumseh Sherman and U.S. Grant were an odd pair. They came from two different worlds and never would have met if it wasn’t for the Civil War. Sherman was a complex man. Some described him as brilliant, others described him as unbalanced. Prior to the war he was both an educator and an author. On the other hand, Grant was a simple man. He left the military at the close of the Mexican-American War in 1848 and struggled to survive. He tried and failed at several things. He was a real estate agent, store clerk, common laborer and county engineer. As a young man no one could have dreamed he would become the eighteenth President of the United States! These two men were from two different worlds but they became fast friends during the Civil War. How strong was their bond? In 1865 the war was nearly over. Everyone was tired of the death and destruction. Sherman wrote Grant a letter after his famous march to the sea that uncovered his deep respect for his commander. He wrote, "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive." That brings up an interesting question.

Who do you depend on when life is hard? I hope you have someone because we were never meant to live alone. We live in community because we are social animals. Does anyone here depend on their spouse when life is hard? Does anyone here depend on a sibling or a child when life is complex? Maybe you would call an old trusted friend. Is anyone one here trying to shoulder life alone? How is that working out for you? Let me tell you something you already know. People need people!

The disciples needed Jesus! What does the Bible tell us? For three years Jesus had been everything to them - beloved companion, staunch friend, never failing guide, provocative, exciting teacher. Do you really blame them for needing Jesus, for being dependent upon Jesus? They were on the inside track of a world altering ministry. They had seen the miracles, heard the teachings and felt his presence. When they wanted to know how to pray, they asked Jesus! When Peter attempted to walk on water it was Jesus who saved him. Jesus was everything to them! The disciples wanted him to stay but Jesus had to leave to be the perfect Savior for the sins of the world. Jesus didn’t just come to lead the disciples, he came to save us.

The disciples were on the edge of a new era in world history, the era of the Holy Spirit. That is the era we live in. In the near future the disciples would become as dependent on the Holy Spirit, as they were Jesus. They would begin the church which would tell the world about the redemptive acts of Jesus! The disciples would learn that human effort would not be enough. They would need the Holy Spirit to make all this possible. It is as true today as it was two thousand years ago. We can depend on the Holy Spirit to help us proclaim the Good News of Jesus! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

The question of the weekend is “How Does the Holy Spirit Help Me?” The Holy Spirit will not help you with your worldly problems. The function of the Holy Spirit is not to help you loose weight or be more popular. The Holy Spirit does not exist for personal gain. The Holy Spirit only exists to bear witness to Jesus. So this weekend I am looking at three ways the Holy Spirit helps us in our witness. Let me lay them out to you up front. First, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by reminding us why we exist. Second, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by correcting our theology. Third, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by helping us discover new ministries in our ever changing world. So if you are ready to answer the question, How can the Holy Spirit help me?” say, “Amen!”

Remembering

First, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by reminding us why we exist. In the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his departure. The twelve are upset and filled with many questions. They feel inadequate for the task that is lying ahead of them. Jesus tries to comfort them. In verse 26 Jesus says,“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Did you hear what Jesus said? He said the Holy Spirit would remind them of everything he said. Why do they need reminded? We need to be reminded because it is easy to forget the words of Jesus. I believe in the life of the church it is easy to forget why we exist.

Several weeks ago I went to the Cleveland Clinic to see Elaine Shaffer. She had just received the bad news about her cancer so I wanted to go as soon as possible. So I drove up on Sunday afternoon. I don’t want to shock you and I don’t want to sound like I am complaining. However, this is the truth. I was tired on that Sunday afternoon. I had preached four times that weekend and talked to a countless number of people. Some had complaints, some had concerns. Several had suggestions on how I could do my job better. I found out that morning our financial situation. I was physically and spiritually spent. I felt like a loser. I wished I could have taken a nap but I drove to Cleveland. When I got to the Clinic I was disoriented. The area had changed completely since my last visit. I couldn't find an open parking deck so I parked near an old church. I entered the Clinic through a side door. I went to the information desk and got Elaine’s room number. I found the elevator and got off at the right floor. When I walked into her room she saw me. It was at that moment Elaine did something that changed my entire attitude. This terminally ill women looked at me and smiled. She held her arms out and said, “Thank-you for coming. I needed to see you today!” That was the most humbling experience I have had in years. You would have thought I had the pill that would have healed her. When I saw the reaction she gave to me everything changed. She reminded me I wasn’t a loser but I was a minister who represented God to people at their lowest point. Elaine ministered to me that day more than I ministered to her. The Holy Spirit reminds us why we exist.

There is nothing simple about church. The church is complex and we get involved in so many good things that it is easy to forget why we exist! It is easy to get consumed with Vacation Bible School. It is easy to get consumed with the budget. It is easy to get consumed with everyone’s problems and diseases. It is easy to get consumed with the latest mission’s project. It is easy to get consumed by those things and hard to remember why we exist! We exist to make disciples for Jesus. Nothing else really matters! The Holy Spirit reminds us why we exist. And all of God’s people said, “Amen”

Correcting

Second, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by correcting our theology. I love the story of Stephey Belynskyj. He is a pastor, who starts each confirmation class the same way. He pulls out a glass jar full of beans and asks the students to guess how beans are in the jar. He writes their guesses down and places them on a large pad of paper. Then, next to their guesses, he helps them make another list of their favorite songs. When the lists are complete, he reveals the actual number of beans in the jar. The whole class looks over their guesses, to see which guess was closest to being right. Belynskyj then turns to the list of favorite songs. “And which one of these is closest to being right?” he asks. The students protest that there is no “right answer”; a person’s favorite song is purely a matter of taste. Belynskyj, who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Notre Dame asks, “When you decide what to believe in terms of your faith, is that more like guessing the number of beans, or more like choosing your favorite song?” Is your personal theology more like counting beans or picking songs?

Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” In the words, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by correcting our theology. We live in a society which builds her theology like we pick our favorite song. It is all a matter of personal taste. It is a great time to be an American. No one is every wrong! But the church is called to make disciples for Jesus Christ. We are called to tell people the truth. The church is put in a difficult situation. We have to tell people from time to time they are wrong and when we do we are called narrow minded and judgmental. I am glad we do not have to minister to people alone. I am glad we have the Holy Spirit to do what we are unable to do. I have to ask you this question. When it comes to your theology are you picking counting beans or choosing songs? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Dreaming

Third, the Holy Spirit helps our witness by helping us discover new ministries in our ever changing world. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” What is Paul saying in that text? The key word in that text is “transformed.” He says we can not afford to become stagnant. The world is changing and the world can not afford to stay the same. I have said it a million times. We are to learn from the past but we should never the worship the past. How many churches do you know who worship the past? The research is clear. Mainline Protestant churches hit their peak in 1957, we have been declining ever since. Would everyone here today agree the world has change a little since 1957. Would anyone here like to have surgery today using 1957 knowledge and equipment? No! The world has changed. So why is it the church is the only organization that insists on remaining the same? We are standing at a critical point in church history in America. We can change to meet our changing world or we can become the Amish of a new century. That puts us into a difficult situation because research tells us only 2.6% of our population is open to any change. Here is the Good News! The Holy Spirit helps our witness because he helps us find new ways to minister. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Over forty years ago a group of Methodists decided to do something crazy. They decided to merge two congregations into one. Everyone said, “You are crazy!” They said it would never work because the congregations were so different. One was a large membership congregation, the other was a small membership congregation. One was urban, the other was rural. Everyone said they were crazy when they bought twenty-two acres in Canfield Township. Everyone said, “You are crazy! There is nothing in Canfield but a bunch of farmers. No one likes people from Canfield!” Everyone said it wouldn’t work but they didn’t listen. Instead they borrowed money and built a completely handicapped accessible building!” Everyone said, “You are crazy! Churches dig in the ground and have basements! Basements are cool!” But they didn’t listen and because those crazy people didn’t listen we are here today! Some of those crazy people are here today and I respect you deeply because you were not afraid of change.

On July 1, I began my sixteenth years as the pastor of this crazy church. My greatest fear is that I will grow stale and my voice will become deaf to your ears. I am more dependent upon you now than ever. I am dependent on your crazy ideas for a new form of ministry. My request for you this weekend is that the Holy Spirit speak to you so we can do some more crazy things. Our world is changing and we can’t afford to just retread old tires. What new forms of ministry and worship would you like to see here at Western Reserve? Don’t let the fear of money or man power limit your dreams. The Holy Spirit will eliminate the obstacles so our world can experience Jesus in a brand new way. The Holy Spirit helps our witness by helping us to discover new ministries in our ever changing world. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story.

One of the most colorful characters of World War I was Manfred von Richthofen. Perhaps you know him by his nickname, The Red Baron? The nickname came from two facts. First, he came from an aristocratic German family. Second, he flew a red tri-plane. The Red Baron was credited for downing eighty Allied planes. History tells us he was killed trying being down number eighty-one. The date was April 21, 1918. The Red Baron was attacking a rookie Canadian pilot by the name of Wilfred May. Richthofen was over confident of the kill so he made a series of mistakes. He left his formation and flew into enemy territory at a low altitude. He was actually killed by a single shot from the ground. Answer a question for me. What killed The Red Baron? Was it a single shot from the ground or was it his own arrogance that he didn’t need anyone else?

If the church has learned nothing else in the past fifty years it is that we can’t do it alone. We need some help if you are going to live to see another day. We need the Holy Spirit to remind us why we exist. We exist to make disciples for Jesus Christ! We need the Holy Spirit to tell people the truth. Is your theology built on personal opinions or Biblical truth! We need the Holy Spirit to help us change with our ever changing world. And all of God’s people said, ”Amen!”