"We Didn't Start The Fire"

By Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

(Acts 2:1-21)

[1]When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

[5] Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. [6] And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. [7] Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? [9] Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." [12] All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" [13] But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. [15] Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. [16] No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

[17] 'In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

[18] Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

[19] And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

[20] The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

[21] Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

(NRSV)

INTRODUCTION:

This morning is a special day in the life of the Church. It is Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. I don't think there's a more appropriate day to celebrate Confirmation. This is the day it all began. There's no better day for our youth to take that first step into adulthood and an adult relationship with Christ than on Pentecost. There's a lot going on in the service this morning and much of what we will be doing is sermon enough, so I want to be brief. But I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the work of the Holy Spirit.

Just what it the Holy Spirit and what part does it play in our lives of faith? The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of Christ in our lives. As we grow in our faith journeys, the Holy Spirit empowers us to answer God's call and to live the Christian life. As it does so, it empowers us to dare, and to share.

I. POWER TO DARE:

A. First it empowers us to Dare. After the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Disciples wandered around in sort of a daze. They were clueless as to what to do.

They kind of remind me of this shy young man who had his first date with a young woman. The young lady seemed to want to take things a little faster than he did. After taking her to a movie, he walked her to her door. She obviously was expecting a goodnight kiss. As he was about to leave, she closed her eyes and puckered her lips. He said, "Good night, Brenda" leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. She responded, "A little lower, please." So he said (with a deeper pitch to his voice) "Good night, Brenda." (1)

Some people just are not ready to jump into action. They are not ready to take the plunge. They test the water with their toe or maybe a foot, but their attitude is "let's not be too hasty, now." That sort of described the Disciples until Pentecost. They were doing what Jesus told them to do but they weren't real sure why. And then came the power God's Holy Spirit.

It set them on fire. And they dared to go public with the proclamation of their faith. They didn't have the gumption to do much of anything beforehand, but once they were filled with the fire of God's Holy Spirit, they couldn't be stopped.

It's the same for us today. The Holy Spirit is the power of God in our lives. The Holy Spirit empowers our lives and our faith.

B. A life of faith is sort of like this glove. The glove can't do anything by itself. It has no life or will or purpose apart from it's purpose. But when I put my hand in it, the glove can do anything that I direct it to do. Granted, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. In a sense our Christian lives are like gloves. Without the Holy Spirit, we are like gloves without a hand, waiting to fulfill our purpose. But with the Holy Spirit we are able to do and to dare anything God calls us to do. (2)

II. POWER TO SHARE:

A. Second, the Holy Spirit empowers us to share. Just prior to Pentecost, when the disciples gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, they had no idea what the Great Commission was all about. Jesus had taught them so many different things and had done so many different things, they didn't know what to do first. There lives had been in such an upheaval and so turbulent that they were confused and didn't know what to do.

Sort of like the woman who called the fire department one day. She was very agitated, "Come as quick as you can," she cried, "my house is on fire." "OK," said the dispatcher, calmly, "just tell us how to get there." It was obvious by her response that she was a little confused because she said, "Oh, uh, well, don't you have your little red truck anymore?" (3)

B. The Holy Spirit helps clarify the message then empowers us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, not just with our words, but with our lives. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus' message, encourages us in our daily life, and empowers us to live faithfully.

CONCLUSION:

Like the title from Billy Joel's song says, "We Didn't Start The Fire." The fire of Pentecost, the flame of the Holy Spirit comes from God in order to empower our lives and the lives of these youth so that together we can dare great things for God, and share the message of Christ with the world.

1. Dynamic Preaching, May - June, 1997, p. 22.

2. Based on a quote from Corrie Ten Boom in Each New Day Christianity Today-Vol. 38, #1

3. Parables, Etc. April 1982