WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:06.320 Well, this is a surprise to me as much as to you that I'm here with you this evening. 00:00:09.179 --> 00:00:17.179 I am very old and I enjoyed preaching for many years and I was thinking that, gee, there 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:21.000 wasn't any need for me to preach anymore and I could just kind of sit back and go rotten. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:28.320 But I'm pleased to have this opportunity and I'm very pleased that my wife Janet is here. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:30.820 Janet, would you wave or stand up or do something? 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:35.600 She's an English girl that I picked up in Iran a few years ago. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:44.020 She and I have known you all, at least indirectly. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:50.420 We knew about Rez when it was just getting started and we have watched with great interest 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:56.100 and joy to see Advent come into being and to bifurcate as well. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:57.679 That's super. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:04.680 And we have a special sympathy and interest in you all because your congregations are very 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:10.319 much like the congregation that we served in Tehran for seven years. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:20.420 We led the English-speaking congregation, which was made up of young professionals who were 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:22.400 most of them on two-year contracts. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:26.040 So we lost half the congregation every year. 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:31.060 But there were always new people coming in and they were lots of fun. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.900 Many of them were grown-up Christians. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:39.740 And so it was just like a wonderful puzzle to put together the talent that was appearing 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:43.399 on the floor, so to speak, every year. 00:01:43.399 --> 00:01:49.119 And to see God bless this very transient, mobile, gifted congregation. 00:01:49.419 --> 00:01:52.039 So we feel at home amongst you all. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:58.780 And we both celebrate and express our sympathy for you all. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:05.480 Many of you who are only here in Washington for a few years and can't hang out for an indefinite 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:05.800 period. 00:02:05.960 --> 00:02:08.360 So we're very glad to be here. 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:18.020 And we'll try to share with you some of the, well, what the Lord's been saying to us in recent years. 00:02:18.440 --> 00:02:19.880 Would you pray with me? 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:27.960 Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight. 00:02:28.760 --> 00:02:31.080 Oh, Lord, our strength and our redeemer. 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:32.280 Amen. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:32.439 Amen. 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.280 Well, today is the Feast of Pentecost. 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:43.659 And I think you are being very well instructed in these things. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:47.400 Pentecost is the culmination of the great 50 days. 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:49.680 Hence the word Pentecost, which means 50. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:53.180 The great 50 days of Easter. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.439 The secular world gets all mixed up. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:03.599 They think that Easter is just one day that happened, what, seven weeks ago or so. 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:10.419 But the Christian community knows that Easter is the great festival of the church's year. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:15.079 And it lasts for 50 years, 50 years, 50 days. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:20.460 I think I was talking about the Jubilee or something like that. 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:23.860 The great 50 days. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:28.760 And it's the celebration of God raising Jesus from the dead. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:35.320 And that has so much meaning that it's certainly not enough to have just one day to celebrate the event. 00:03:35.420 --> 00:03:37.840 And, of course, you also know that every Sunday is Easter. 00:03:37.980 --> 00:03:39.300 You knew that, too, didn't you? 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:44.000 That we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:52.060 The readings for today are wonderful. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:58.919 But the reading from Acts chapter 2, I think, is especially troubling for some of us. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:05.840 Perhaps you have all come from very mature, pious Christian backgrounds. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:13.240 But for those of us who have come from secular backgrounds or agnostic or even atheistic households. 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:24.180 As we hear Acts chapter 2, we either tend to dismiss it as being just this is just wild language. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.500 Who could take this seriously? 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:37.600 Or if we do take it seriously, those of us from a more ordinary background such as Presbyterian, which is my background, it's kind of scary. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:44.779 Also, if you have read history, you know what troublemakers that Pentecostalists are. 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:49.479 They have no respect for worldly authority. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:55.139 And they usually turn into revolutionaries and end up in prison or in the hangman's noose. 00:04:55.579 --> 00:05:01.919 So this Pentecostalism stuff is dangerous, to say the very least. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:09.259 Anyway, who wants a huge wind blowing through church or flames of fire appearing in the midst of the congregation? 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:16.839 It would be reasonable to be kind of afraid of this Pentecostal phenomenon. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:22.319 And should we be bothering with it or much less celebrating it on a day like today? 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:28.180 So I want to share with you three points. 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:29.519 I mean, this is a sermon, isn't it? 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:35.300 So I want to say, first of all, I want to talk briefly about don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:42.319 And secondly, we who follow Jesus need to know how to cooperate with Holy Spirit. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:47.480 And then thirdly, I want to share with you a best kept secret. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:50.460 In fact, most preachers don't talk about it at all. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.660 And there are reasons for that. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:56.699 So these are the three things I'd like to share with you briefly today. 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.019 First of all, don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:08.560 Could I embarrass you by asking how many of you come from a Pentecostal background after all? 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:14.099 You see, you have some of these wild revolutionaries in your midst. 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:28.620 And they're not troubled at all about these things like manifestations of the Holy Spirit or speaking in tongues. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:34.579 In fact, some of them may come from churches that think that if you don't speak in tongues, you're not the real McCoy. 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:35.680 But we won't go there. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:44.759 In the 1970s, and most of you weren't even born then, were you? 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:53.840 There was a movement called the Charismatic Movement across large parts of the church. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:02.979 And here in Washington, from time to time, different congregations would kind of light up with the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:06.399 And there were people who would go wherever the action was. 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:14.979 And we, those of us who had been Presbyterians, for example, we used to refer to them with some disdain as Beltway Charismatics. 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:21.980 Because they wanted to have the experience. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:32.379 Experience is important, but it's not the main thing. 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:40.240 And for those of us who may come from kind of a stiff shirt, straight-laced, skeptical, or however you want to describe us poor things, 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:45.600 who are uneasy about spiritual experience, 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:48.459 what I want to say is, cool it. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:49.860 Don't worry about it. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.219 The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.759 He's very gentle. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:57.139 He does not force himself on anyone. 00:07:57.139 --> 00:08:04.139 And unless people invite him and are waiting on him and ask him to come, 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:07.139 he usually doesn't show up and scare people to death. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:13.039 But he is very much present and at work. 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:21.519 And so it's really important for us to learn how to cooperate with him. 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:22.740 And I'm getting ahead of myself. 00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:25.079 I wanted just to touch on one other thing. 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:34.100 And that is that our Pentecostal charismatic friends will tell you that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are really important 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:38.960 and that we are all to expect to receive them and use them. 00:08:39.079 --> 00:08:41.079 And I'll get back to that in a minute. 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:48.360 But this is why I want to say don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.740 He's very gentle. 00:08:50.199 --> 00:08:53.179 He doesn't usually turn up with fireworks unless he's invited. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:09:03.399 In other words, he's at work quietly and patiently among us all the time. 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:04.939 And he just wants our cooperation. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:07.659 So don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:12.120 Secondly, how do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit? 00:09:12.199 --> 00:09:15.919 If he's so gentle most of the time and so quiet, 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:20.199 it seems to me that most people just ignore him. 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:25.240 And certainly those of us who are followers of Jesus shouldn't be in that camp. 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:30.720 We should be really paying attention to the Holy Spirit. 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:35.920 After all, on the evening of the first day of the resurrection, you remember, 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:39.600 Jesus appeared in the midst of his disciples and he said, 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.659 My peace be with you. 00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:46.139 And he breathed on them and said, 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.180 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:51.560 Whose sins you remit, they are remitted. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.639 And whose sins you retain, they are retained. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:00.779 And as the Father has sent me, so I send you. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:12.699 So there's an essential connection between the fact that God sent Jesus into the world to do his work 00:10:12.699 --> 00:10:15.699 and Jesus sends us into the world. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:24.399 And the only way that we can be of any use at all is if we are cooperating any use at all to God 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:31.399 is by cooperating with the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:37.779 which is a really shocking thing to say in Washington, D.C., 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.699 especially during the election season. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:44.059 Nobody believes there is any such thing as truth. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.399 Certainly not in the political process. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.399 And our culture tends to think that all truth is relative anyway. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.879 Your truth is yours and mine is mine. 00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:55.959 And whether they connect or not doesn't make any difference. 00:10:56.340 --> 00:11:00.860 And that's a lot of baloney. 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:06.459 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:08.639 What does he do? 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.620 What's the connection between Spirit and Truth? 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:17.740 Well, the first thing is suggested by today's gospel. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:26.279 Philip, one of the Greek-speaking disciples, comes to Jesus and says, 00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:29.840 Lord, show us the Father. 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:34.799 And Jesus says to him, have you been with me all this time, Philip? 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:42.779 And you do not realize that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:49.159 The primary, the first job that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth does, 00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:54.319 is to enable us to recognize God in Jesus. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:12:02.139 That the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Yahweh, the God of Israel, Emmanuel, 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:07.319 comes among us in the human life of this peasant from Galilee. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:13.519 It's the Holy Spirit that enables us to say, yeah, that makes sense to me. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.659 I got it. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:15.779 That's terrific. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.960 This is the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.679 I think as Peter said, nobody can say, or is it Paul? 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:28.279 No one can say Jesus is Lord apart from the Holy Spirit. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:34.360 So that's the first thing and the most basic and important thing that the Spirit of Truth does. 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:39.439 The second thing that he does is he leads us into all truth. 00:12:40.339 --> 00:12:45.720 One of the most touching things I think that Jesus said to his disciples when he was about to leave them 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:53.100 was said, I have so much to say to you now, but you cannot bear it all right now. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.839 And I think that's true of all of us. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:02.259 A lot of you are raising little kids, and you know you have to speak their language, 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:05.759 and there's only so much that they can understand at one time. 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:11.519 And over the years, they gradually are able to understand more and more. 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:17.300 And by the time they get past adolescence, they realize that you're not as stupid as they thought you were. 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:24.219 But there is a process of being able to apprehend the truth. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:29.500 So it is the Holy Spirit all through our lives, all through the maturation process, 00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:33.979 that enables us to recognize truth. 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:40.219 And this is really important because the truth that we're talking about is our worldview, 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:50.879 our perception of reality, and not having a realistic, true worldview is the definition, I think, of mental illness. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:57.939 And that's where an awful lot of our fellow human beings are. 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:09.059 More, well, I shouldn't say more important, just as important. 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:15.419 Third thing that the Holy Spirit does is enables us to speak the truth in love. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:22.240 Now, our culture, well, I come from suburban Chicago, 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:29.139 and we were all taught to be polite and to not get into any kind of conflict. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:36.419 I was told, at least at the dinner table, never to talk about religion, politics, sex, or money. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.839 So, you know, what use is there to talk about anything at all? 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:44.779 But the main thing was to avoid conflict. 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:55.659 And there are some congregations that function as though table manners were the absolute top priority norms, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.980 and that you have to avoid conflict at all costs. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:06.240 And I know some clergy, basically, who have gotten fired from congregations 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:12.019 because they were not able to suppress or avoid conflict in the life of the congregation. 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:19.620 I have the audacity of believing, for example, that the job of the preacher is to comfort the afflicted 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:21.819 and afflict the comfortable. 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.500 But the comfortable... 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:29.340 The comfortable do not like to be afflicted. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:34.279 And if they think you're paying your salary to keep them comfy, you're in trouble, gentlemen. 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:47.799 But we have been given the spirit of truth, 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:54.919 and if we're paying attention to him, he will enable us to speak the truth in love. 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:59.979 And this is a skill, of course, that all married couples desperately need to learn. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:07.219 We need to be able to speak truth to one another, 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:14.039 but not in order to win or assert dominance over the other, 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:16.799 but in order to establish relationship. 00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.699 And, of course, this isn't just in the family. 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:25.379 The definition of sin that I find most useful is sin is broken relationship. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:29.620 Sin is not, first of all, bad morality. 00:16:29.900 --> 00:16:32.759 It is, first of all, broken relationship. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:38.820 And we've all been there, done that, and struggled with it all the time. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:46.240 Truth speaking in love enables the creation of healthy relationships. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:52.340 It enables us to live together, which is kind of basic. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:58.220 And this is why, by the way, of course, I think it's wonderful that Advent and res 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:02.440 and such congregations have core groups or house groups or small groups, 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.539 whatever you want to call them, 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:07.120 because I think this is where the action is, by the way. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:12.980 And if you want to have or recognize the work of the Holy Spirit from day to day, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.120 make sure you're participating in a small group. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:20.299 Where people are learning to speak the truth in love. 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.180 You can usually tell. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:28.460 A group has to be meeting regularly enough over a long enough period of time 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:33.220 that not only do you get to know each other, but you begin to annoy each other. 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:40.240 If you know someone well enough to be really irritated by them from time to time, 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:44.019 then you can sense that this is a real relationship. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.980 And the Holy Spirit makes this possible. 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:53.700 And, of course, one of the other characteristics of this kind of authentic community is laughter. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:57.339 If you really feel accepted as you are, 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:04.660 you will often find that your time together is characterized by laughter. 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:16.920 One of the texts in the New Testament says the Lord loves a cheerful giver. 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:23.660 Well, actually, the Greek root word is the same root for the word hilarious. 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.880 And I think that's much better. 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.440 The Lord loves a hilarious giver. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:34.539 And he wants us to enjoy laughing together. 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:42.600 And this is one of the characteristics of relationships where people know that they are accepted as they are. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:45.039 And they can enjoy each other. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.559 They can laugh at themselves. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:53.599 And they can find amusement together just quite spontaneously. 00:18:55.919 --> 00:18:57.500 Finally, cooperating with the Holy Spirit. 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:01.460 And finally, he says, I wasn't told to watch the clock. 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:03.819 And I'm trying to be responsible here. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.779 There's so much to know and learn and share about the Holy Spirit. 00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:11.619 But the critical thing is listening. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:13.319 And it's really strange. 00:19:13.479 --> 00:19:17.739 In Hebrew, the word that says, that's translated listen. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:21.059 Listen this day to what the Lord is saying. 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:23.399 It also means obey. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:26.159 So in English, we have to use both words. 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.779 Listen and obey. 00:19:28.419 --> 00:19:30.859 Listen for the nudges of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:36.099 And do what has been gently suggested. 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.019 Now, that sounds like a very dangerous thing to do. 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:46.619 I mean, how do you know that the voices that you hear within yourself are Holy Spirit and not some other presence? 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:49.119 And this is where we need each other. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.460 And we need to know the scriptures. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.940 We need to know, most of all, of course, our Lord. 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:58.480 And recognize whatever kind of activity is consistent with who he is. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:05.279 But if we do that, we will find that the Spirit is wanting to talk to us all the time. 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.779 And he nudges us. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:11.440 He gives us ideas, which may seem strange or irrelevant. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:15.039 I hadn't thought of that before. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:17.680 Sometimes he gives us dreams. 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:21.379 But one way or another, he very gently speaks to us. 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:28.299 And when we have a sense that this may be the Spirit speaking to us, then we should act on it. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:35.639 And if it is the Spirit, one of the proofs is that doors open, to use that very familiar metaphor. 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:37.139 Things fall into place. 00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:38.079 Things happen. 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:45.879 And, for example, if you've got the feeling that you should pick up a phone or send an email to Jack. 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:50.980 And you pick up the phone and you call him and he says, oh, I was just thinking of you. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.900 Or I'm so pleased to hear from you. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:58.140 Or, as a matter of fact, I've just been facing the most terrible situation. 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:07.240 You get this kind of resonance that confirms the fact that the little voice that you heard, in fact, was Holy Spirit. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:07.600 Okay. 00:21:07.780 --> 00:21:09.720 That's one and two. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.220 Don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.540 And by all means, listen and obey. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:16.540 Cooperate with Holy Spirit. 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:21.759 Finally, and this is very brief, but it's huge. 00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:25.200 It's what I consider to be a best kept secret. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:35.659 And I think it may be a secret because so many of us old mainline clergy, anyway, are scared to death of the book of Revelation. 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:38.980 Or Revelations, as it is incorrectly called. 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:52.019 But some of our Christian friends read it as though somehow this was telling the future or could be in any way. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:22:00.460 That could, should be, you're probably all too young to remember the Left Behind series of books and movies. 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:08.779 But this is what happens with one kind of reading of the book of Revelation. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:18.660 And I think because codependent mainstream clergy tend to be afraid of stirring the pots, as it were, 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:23.940 they have stayed away from this whole subject about last things. 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.519 Eschatology. 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:26.539 Oh, yes. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:34.579 But this is so important, and this is so exciting, and it's so liberating. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:39.639 The experience, and this is where I think this experience is so important. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:42.599 The experience of Holy Spirit in community. 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:44.180 I've hyphenated that in my notes. 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:49.859 The experience of Holy Spirit in community, and that's where he turns up mainly, 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:56.939 is a foretaste of the new creation, of the age to come. 00:22:57.899 --> 00:23:08.939 It is an experience of the future that God has planned for all his children beyond the grave. 00:23:09.459 --> 00:23:10.959 A new world. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.379 A new age. 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:15.520 A new creation. 00:23:16.280 --> 00:23:20.400 This creation brought to his fulfillment, not thrown away. 00:23:22.780 --> 00:23:27.260 This world and our life in it here is not junk. 00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:30.880 It's not going to be just thrown in the ash heap. 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:34.640 But it's going to be taken up into this new reality. 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.740 The new creation. 00:23:37.060 --> 00:23:38.320 The age to come. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.039 And why is this important? 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:44.079 This is important because this is our destination. 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:50.359 Here we have no lasting city, but we look for a city not made with human hands. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:54.399 And the new Jerusalem, we won't build it here ourselves. 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:57.220 It will come down out of heaven to earth. 00:23:57.960 --> 00:24:02.839 When we pray the Lord's Prayer, that thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:10.379 And what we are praying for is the transformation of the present creation into something new and wonderful, 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:15.299 but in continuity with this world and this life. 00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:18.659 And what this means is that what you achieve here, 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:22.819 what struggles and sacrifices you go through here, are not wasted. 00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:28.079 They're part of your preparation for the new creation. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:34.220 And we as community are commissioned by God through Jesus. 00:24:34.419 --> 00:24:37.500 As the Father has sent me, so I send you. 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:45.319 We are commissioned to be places in the historical process where other people can catch a glimpse 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:49.519 of the future that God intends for all of us. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:53.480 That's our job, our function as the people of God. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.639 We don't have to do it all ourselves. 00:24:55.640 --> 00:25:02.320 We don't have to fix all by ourselves this messed up world. 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:08.060 And that should be a great relief, especially to you type A personalities. 00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:16.360 That doesn't mean for those of us who are type D personalities that we sit back and do nothing. 00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:20.040 But it means that whatever we do is worthwhile. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:28.299 And what counts is that the presence of the Holy Spirit is manifest in our relationships 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:33.319 in such a way that other people can hear the good news of the kingdom of God 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:41.480 and can experience, can feel what it means to be loved unconditionally by the creator of the universe. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:44.380 All of this is anticipated. 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:46.860 All of this, what I've been trying to say this evening, 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:52.599 is anticipated in what God has done by raising Jesus from the dead. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:57.960 All of this is implicit in the meaning of his resurrection. 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:02.000 And so we gladly say, 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.440 Alleluia! 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.360 Christ is risen! 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:08.059 The Lord is risen indeed! 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.559 Alleluia! 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:12.559 Alleluia! 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.559 Alleluia! 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.559 Alleluia! 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.059 Alleluia!