Acts 2

(This drama needs a professional dancer, dressed in long flowing red skirt and top if it is a woman, and dark or red clothing if a man, who will be carrying American Style pom- pom sticks, and will  keep on interrupting my talk at certain intervals, on key words which are underlined. (The words in brackets describe her actions.)

 Begin seriously, and continue the sermon regardless of interruptions, but reactions to the interruptions can obviously be expressed.

I first saw this kind of sermon, though not the same one, in St Michael –in-the-Belfrey, York in a sermon by the late David Watson. The memory of the visuals of this drama has stayed with me all these years) It is a delight to watch, and so funny, yet so relevant.

An old American Indian legend tells of an Indian who came down from the mountains and saw the ocean for the first time. Overawed by the scene, he requested a jar. As he waded into the ocean, and filled the jar, he was asked what he was going to do with it.

‘Back in the mountains,’ he told them, ‘my people have never seen the Great Water. I will carry this jar to them and show them what it is like!’

For me to explain the work of the ‘Holy Spirit’ to you in the time allowed to me, will be like trying to capture the ocean in that jar, but I’m going to try.’

Today, the church celebrates its birthday! The Day of PENTECOST, was when the power of God, fell upon the disciples in the upper room. God’s breath was breathed into the m.

The reason the Holy Spirit comes is to help us be truly good, and to fill our lives with Christ himself.

Unfortunately the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives and the life of our church has largely been ignored, overlooked, misunderstood and misused, through the ages, and it’s about time we stopped doing this! We so much need God’s power to filter through into our world today.

When Jesus was alive, he made his disciples a promise, ‘I will send you a Helper, a Comforter’ he said …’I will not leave you orphans!

I will send you the Advocate, the Counsellor, One who will come right alongside you.’

(*Holy Spirit rushes in and dances)

Er excuse me, could you sit down please? Latecomer are we? Well I’ve just begun my sermon, so if you don’t mind I’ll continue! (*Holy Spirit sits back down)

Jesus had said ‘Unless I go to the Father, the Holy Spirit cannot come to you!’

And so when Jesus died and returned to his Father in heaven, the Holy Spirit DID come **~ BIG TIME!

In fact people in the streets thought the disciples were either drunk or crazy when they stumbled outside to tell them what had happened!

But what was happening was exactly what Jesus told them WOULD happen to them when he said, ‘Wait in Jerusalem for God’s power from on high!’

The bible gives us this account of what went on in the upper room where they had been praying and waiting.

‘And when the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven a noise, like a violent rushing wind, filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues of flame distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.’ And the Holy Spirit came

(*Holy Spirit rushes into the front centre of the church and whirls around excitedly)

…and filled them, and they began to speak in many different languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance!   Excuse me! What you’re doing? Do you have a name?

Holy Spirit: “I am the HOLY SPIRIT, and this is the Day of Pentecost. I have come!”

Yes, and I’m Margaret Thatcher. YOU happen to be distracting everyone from what I’m saying, and I’m the one who’s been asked to speak here today. I have control over what goes on here! So would you please take your seat and listen along with everyone else? You might learn something! Thank you!

So on that same day, in a very powerful sermon, Peter told the people the truth, that Jesus had been killed at their hands.

They had crucified God’s own Son, the Author of Life and so the people cried out,

‘What must we do to be saved?

Peter told them they had to repent, be baptised and they too would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 Three thousand people responded that day.

Now we need no longer wait FOR the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is waiting FOR US!!!

(*the Holy Spirit stands up, raising arms to everyone) SIT DOWN …PLEASE! (pause)

And so the early church was born and many went through a real change in their lives.

More and more people were added to their number daily. The Holy Spirit had at last come among them! They continued to meet together to pray, and break bread; they shared their possessions, they were generous to people in need.

And so throughout history the Holy Spirit has come to live in people’s lives, to give them gifts with which to serve other people, a whole variety of gifts, given in various ways as the Spirit chooses, so we can work together for the common good.

He still comes to us today if we ask him to…. He is still available to every single one of us as long as we don’t shut him out and ignore him.

(*The Holy Spirit moves around the church imploring people to receive that same power. The speaker grabs hold of the ‘Holy Spirit’ and guides her to a member of the congregation who is seated beside an empty chair)

I wonder if this… person could sit beside you, and would you make sure they sit still please. Keep an eye on them. I’m rather tired now of the interruptions! Thank you!

So who is this person that Christ promised to send to earth in his place?

Who is this person who can utterly transform our lives and change us from within?

Who is this gift Giver?

Who is this person who can give supernatural power to help us face any crisis?

(*Holy Spirit: “I am that person!”)

Will you be quiet?     . . .     Please!  Or we will have you removed from this place.

The Holy Spirit is a REAL person and not an ‘IT’.

The bible says the Holy Spirit has intellect, emotion and will.

He speaks to us.   (*The HOLY SPIRIT gets up and mimes these nine phrases)

He prays for us.

He talks to us about God.

He leads us.

He commands us and guides our steps.

He appoints leaders over us.

He can be lied to.

He can be insulted.

He can be blasphemed…

That does it! I’ve had enough! Could the (*church wardens/stewards/ marshalls*) take this lunatic right out of here please?

 How can I continue with all this going on?

(*Holy Spirit looks very hurt as he is marched away down the aisle)

That’s better! I am most terribly sorry- I do apologise to you all! I hope you’re all still following the gist of what I’m saying! I’ll go on…

The bible also says that the Holy Spirit can also be hurt and upset by our attitudes, our ignorance, our refusal to have anything to do with HIM!

The Holy Spirit, let us remind ourselves, is also ‘of God’ himself.

He is eternal, all powerful, present everywhere

He is all-knowing, he was there at Creation, he is there in the book of Revelation speaking to the churches. He is the third member of the Triune God!!!

But he cannot be shut up for long, but will break free if anyone tries to hold him prisoner or shut him out!

(*The Holy Spirit comes rushing back in dancing freely and joyfully. The Speaker is annoyed, but continues, even though the Holy Spirit surrounds him in dance)

(shouts to block out the distraction) In order to receive him we must admit that we are in need of God in our lives and we must believe in Jesus.

We must ask if there any sin blocking the way to receiving him?

Any fear within, that closes the door to renewal?

 We need to question whether there is anyone we do not LOVE as fully as God wants us to love them for this would block the channel of his grace?

(*Holy Spirit comes back to stand alongside me, smiling)

Next we need to be willing to TURN AWAY from the wrong we are doing.

We have indeed gone our own way, done our own thing, and taken no notice of what God is trying to say to us through his Spirit.

Now is the time to embrace Christ and follow his way, filled with the Spirit of God.

(*Holy Spirit embraces me)

And finally we need to be willing to obey what it is we know God wants us to do; to be truly set free to serve him and only him.

A life touched by the Holy Spirit will want to sin no longer!

(*Holy Spirit makes cheerleader sticks dance around and behind me, right until the word. Amen)

No longer must we be lukewarm, half-hearted, or ineffective, stubborn, proud.

No longer must we live a sub-normal life

We ALL need REVIVAL not just today, but every single day!

The Spirit alone gives us God’s own breath to breathe life into us.

Then we’ll find we’re forgiven…. fully committed…humble…joyful...at peace within ourselves and bringing peace to others.

Let us always be ready for the Holy Spirit to fill us and use us to the glory of God.