A New Day

John 14:8-17; 25-27                                                                                      May 30, 3004

          Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

          "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the 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.

          "All this I have spoken while still with you. 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Acts 2:1-4

          When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

CCI: The Holy Spirit has come to bring a new day.

Introduction: Thirst from “Alternative Worship” by Johnny Baker and Doug Gay – 5-6 minutes.

          The disciples were thirsty. Jesus had warned them that they would betray him and deny him and desert him. He had warned them that he was going to be leaving them and that they would be persecuted on his account. The disciples felt drained. Their hearts were heavy and empty; their souls were parched.

          That is when Philip, a spokesman for the group, spoke up and said what was on the mind of all of them, “Show us the Father and that will be enough.” All he wanted was to understand a little bit more. The disciples believed that if they could reach this next step, seeing the Father, then they would have enough.

          Isn’t that the way think all the time? “If I only had 10% more income. . .” Or, “Once I graduate things will be better.” Or, “If I can get this bill paid. . .” Or, “If Horace would only act different, everything would settle down.” Or, “If I only understood exactly what God wanted me to do. . .” We believe that next step will be the one to make us fulfilled.

          But we have all experienced the reality that the next step, only leaves us wanting something else. When I have the boat, I need the fishfinder; when I have the fishfinder, I need the GPS; when I have the GPS, I need the bigger motor; when I get the bigger motor, I need a set of skis. And the process spirals on. Frank Sinatra's daughter, Tina Sinatra, recalls her father's unceasing drive to succeed and make money, even when his health was at risk. She wrote:

          His health was in tatters and his life mired in financial wrangles, but my father refused to stop giving concerts, "I've just got to earn more money," he said. His performances, sad to say, were becoming more and more uneven. Uncertain of his memory, he became dependant on tele-prompters. At one show he forgot the lyrics to "Second Time Around," a ballad he had sung a thousand times.

          I couldn't bear to see Dad struggle. After seeing one too many of these fiascos, I told him, "Pop, you can stop now; you don't have to stay on the road."

          With a stricken expression he said, "No, I've got to earn more money. I have to make sure everyone is taken care of." Since his death the family has had constant battles over his fortune.

          A little more money, or even a lot more, will not bring contentment. More knowledge will not bring fulfillment. Instead, when we have achieved all we set out to do, we often find ourselves with Alexander the Great, weeping because there are no more worlds to conquer.

          But when the disciples wanted the next step that would let them see the Father, Jesus told them they had all the needed. “Don’t you know me, Philip? Haven’t you seen the Father in what I have done? You are able to do all I have done.” You have what you need right now.

          “Even so,” Jesus said, “I will give you another. God’s plans are so much greater than you will ever know. I am sending the Comforter: He will be with you, he will teach you, he will give you peace.”

          And on the day of Pentecost God poured out the Spirit upon the people and a new day dawned. The wind of God blew, the water of God flowed, the fire of God burned and the life of God revived their vision for the world, animated their dreams, and anointed their speech.

          It was a new day. Now the good news was heard in every language. The division of humanity that had occurred at Babel when Genesis tells us God confused the languages, was set right that day. Symbolically, all the world was once again made one through the work of God’s Spirit.

          It was a new day. Men and women declared the word of God. Young and old dreamed God’s dreams. Sons and daughters were given God’s vision for the world. The barriers that had been in place were now torn away.

          The wind of God blew with refreshing power and shook the very foundation of the place where they were gathered. The Fire of God burned and purified all those who had gathered. And the thirst of their souls was quenched.

          Today we are thirsty, we need to feel the refreshing of the Spirit of God in our lives. A little more knowledge will not satisfy us. A bit more money will not meet our needs. Even seeing the Father will not be enough. We need to find our contentment in what God has given us right now. And what God has given us is the Holy Spirit to actually dwell within us. This indwelling is a picture of the intimate love that God longs to share with us.

          Yesterday, as I shared with the Harman family, I had the privilege of watching Tim and Tanya Chartier interact with Clair’s grandson Noah. Within moments it became crystal clear that little Noah was the center of their life. To hear them talk and to watch them play together, was to see a glimpse of God’s love for us. Parents build their lives around their children, and God, in sending Jesus, and pouring out the Spirit upon us has chosen to build a life around us. God loves you that much, we might even say that God dotes on you. It is a new Day!

           This morning, we have experienced the joy of God that was displayed through dance this morning. We have shared in the refreshment that the living water offers. And our souls have been fed through the Word of God.

          In Acts 2, Peter, while quoting the prophet said, “In the last days (even in the midst of terrible upheaval and conflict) all who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved.” And so today, we join with believers all over the world praying, “Come Holy Spirit, revive your church, lead us into your new day.”

“Lord Most High”