“Renewable” Energy
(The Holy Spirit empowering the church)
Zachariah 4:1-6
People look for security and approval in their lives. That is like the
day when Charlie Brown stops at the psychiatric help stand to talk with Lucy.
He confesses, "My trouble is I never know if I'm doing the right thing. I
need to have someone around who can tell me when I'm doing the right
thing." Lucy says, "Okay. You're doing the right thing. That'll be
five cents, please!" Charlie Brown walks away with a smile on his face.
In a few minutes, he returns with a frown. "Back already?"
asks Lucy. "What happened?" Charlie Brown says, "I was wrong. It
didn't help. You need more in life than just having someone around to tell you
when you're doing the right thing." Lucy says, "Now you've really
learned something! That'll be another five cents please."1
The disciples were with
Jesus. They felt secure and encouraged. Jesus promised them that they would not
be left alone. The Holy Spirit would come. Today is the day, when we
celebrate the coming of the Spirit of the Lord. It came like burning tongues,
filled the hearts of the disciples and gave them the power. That turned them from
disciples to evangelists. Life was different after Pentecost. It was the day of
the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. And till today it continues. It turned
a simple fisherman Peter into an expert preacher. It turned the Turkish History
teacher Krikor into a fired up pastor Rev. Krikor. It transformed my life. It can transform your life
provided you allow the Spirit of the Lord into your life.
Pentecost is a good day for
the church to assess where we are and how much are we filled with the Spirit.
Do we feel we are empowered by God?
Once a man called John Wimber, who started the Vineyard Christian Fellowship,
attended a church. After attending three Sundays, he went to one of the elders
and asked, “When do you do it?” “Do what?” the man replied. “The stuff” Wimber answered. “What stuff?” “The stuff
in the Bible.” “What do you mean?” “You know, multiplying loaves and
fish, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind….” The
man replied. “Oh, we don’t do that. We believe in it, and we pray about it. But
we don’t do it.”2
Jesus was very clear. We are
called to be the feet and the hands of our Lord. We are called to be the ambassadors
of our Lord. We are called to believe and act. We cannot just watch and do
nothing. Pentecost day is the day that moves the church. If you feel you are
inadequate to do ministries of the church, fine. You are exactly the right
person who is called to be empowered by God to take action.
What are the symbols of the
Holy Spirit?
Usually the first images that
come to our minds are the dove, the fire, and the wind.
Today I would like to present
four new symbols:
1. Oil
We read in Zachariah about the
rebuilding of the
WOW, these days the headlines
of the news are often about the ongoing increase of the price of gas.
Almost everyday gas stations change the price of the gallon. Incredible rise of
the price is making people complain about the situation. Some are thinking to
use public transportation; others are carpooling; others are changing the
location of housing, and scientists are working on renewable energy.
What I mean, everyone is looking for alternative power, which can last.
God’s olive oil, which is pumped
from those two trees, is supplying the lamps with everlasting power.
This is a great image for our churches and lives.
Perhaps our energy has gone
down lately. Perhaps our souls and bodies are tired. There could be
“opposition” in our lives. Obstacles can discourage us. Pentecost is the day of
receiving the oil to enlighten us and empower us, to energize our weak bodies.
The secret is in this verse: “Not by might nor power,
but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” (6)
To be continued in the English
sermon.
1 William G. Carter, Water Won’t Quench The Fire, CSS Publishing
Company.
2 Vance Havner, In Times Like
These (Grand Rapids, MI.: Fleming H. Revell, 1969)