April 22, 2016
Mark 6:7-13, Acts 1:1-14
Internship Retreat
By Young Kim
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ who is, who was and who is to come. Amen.
A couple years ago on April 18, 2014, there was a news article in which people are still fighting whether it is true or not. This is what it said on the news. Vatican officially admitted that the second coming of Jesus may not happen now after all, but suggested the followers to continue on with their faith, regardless of the news. Vatican defended Jesus’ seemingly broken promise, claiming “he was probably drinking wine” at the time when he made the comments, and added, “We all make promises that we cannot keep when we’re drunk. Jesus was no different.” What do you think about that? Do you buy that? Many people now believe that it is a fake and satirical news, but it is true that this has confused many believers and non-believers and caused conflicts among religions and denominations. We just laughed at this news and think that it is absurd. But this is our reality.
Yes, it has been 2000 years since Christians waited and waited for Jesus’ second coming and now we are living in a post-modern period where human’s knowledge and common sense rule the world. Living in a world where almost everything is possible through the high technology, human beings are no longer desperate for the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. And living in a world facing the possibilities of having an eternal life through bio-technology, we no longer pursue spirituality nor strive to live a spiritual life. Younger generation - your children and your grandchildren will participate less and less in the church and will lose focus on their spiritual life. And furthermore, if we hear such confusing and defaming news about certain religion or denomination, we should start taking a moment to seriously consider whether or not our faith journey has lost its direction? What’s going on in our world? What should we do to awake and raise the prophetic voice to make the world to return to God? This has been my long term vocational question. And I am sure you, as church leaders, have some similar questions like I do.
So I would like to invite you to come back to the starting point where the first church started in the book of Acts. I hope that we can find the answer from the early churches.
We all know that the author of the book of Acts was Luke who also wrote the Gospel of Luke. So this book of Acts is considered as vol.2 of the Gospel. In verse 1, Luke says that he has dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach in the first book. While Luke’s Gospel is the record of the incarnation of the Son of God and the beginning of Jesus' work, this second book, Acts, is the continuation of what Jesus began to do through men and women who were empowered by the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, the book of Acts is open ended. If you look at the ending of this book, it abruptly closes with an account of Paul in the city of Rome waiting to meet with Caesar. Therefore, it could mean that the work of Jesus still continues to our present day. It is still being written. Our mission and the work we do is the continuation of the Acts and we are the writer of this book. Then, what do we write for the rest of the book? That's something to think about, right?
In verse 4, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit right before he ascended into heaven. This was the very last time to say something important to his beloved disciples before he left this world. So let’s read verses 4 and 5 all together. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” And verse 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is the key point that Jesus wanted his disciples to hear at his last moment and I believe that this is also what Jesus wants us to hear as well. Verse 8 is a long-time favorite and one of memorable verses in churches throughout the world. And it is no doubt that this verse brought passion and compassion into the hearts of so many missionaries who left their homes and families to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But if you look at the verse 8 carefully, there is a sequence in the events. Jesus told them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them; and then they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This means that they needed to receive the Holy Spirit first before they became the witnesses. It is the Holy Spirit, the best promised gift that Jesus could ever give them.
Then, who and what is the Holy Spirit? Why did they need to wait until it came? We all know very well that the Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the Trinity. But then, what do we know more about the Holy Spirit? Though Jesus said a lot about the importance of the Holy Spirit during his earthly work, unfortunately, it is one of the least understood subjects in the Bible. And because we lack knowledge about the Holy Spirit, we don’t talk much about it except for the Pentecost Sunday.
The Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is the power of God (2 Timothy 1:7), that it leads us into all truth (John 14:17, 26), that it enables us to discern spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:11, 14), that it is our guarantee (“seal”) of eternal life in the resurrection (Ephesians 1:13-14), and that without it we are “not His” (Romans 8:9). Then what did Jesus say? He constantly taught that we have to be born again through the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-7) John the Baptist told about Jesus that he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke3:16) When you read the four Gospels carefully, it says that Jesus taught, cured and did so many miracles with full of the Holy Spirit and through the power of the Spirit. But before he did any of these, he went to John the Baptist to be baptized. The disciples must have witnessed how the Heaven opened and how Jesus was baptized by the Holy Spirit. It was only then that Jesus started his mission in this world. Jesus became the model of what happens when a person is baptized by the Holy Spirit. He took every step before the disciples so that they can remember and follow the path that Jesus had preceded for them.
So, if we tried to proclaim the Good News without the help of the Holy Spirit, if we tried to teach, preach, or share the love of Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit, we are doing it through arrogance and ignorance. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do his mission work in this world, how can we think that we can succeed without the Holy Spirit? So it is the arrogance and ignorance that comes from the inattentive thought that we can do it by ourselves without the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.
So now we know that one thing is clear: we need God’s Holy Spirit for our salvation and for our mission work. Do you agree with me that we need the Holy Spirit? So far, so good? Then, how do we acquire the Holy Spirit? How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit? What is the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in someone’s life?
We can never come to Christ or believe in Him with our own knowledge or strength until the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ. And this Holy Spirit creates faith through the Word of God. Hence if you don’t keep God’s Word close to your heart, how can the Holy Spirit actively work inside of you and give new meanings in your faith journey? We all heard this phrase from the Bible, “to be filled by the Holy Spirit” or “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire”, right? This tells us that the Holy Spirit stays with us in regards to the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit. Just like we can have a close relationship or a distant relationship with others. It requires a constant fervent prayer and meditation of God’s Word in order to continuously dwell in the Holy Spirit.
Many people tend to have misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. Some say that in order to prove the Holy Spirit in us, we have to be able to speak in tongues or there should be miracles such as lifting the snakes, raising up the cripples and so forth. Of course, it is possible in the work of the Holy Spirit. And I’ve witnessed miracles in my life. But you should see what lies beyond what you see and hear.
The significant change that you will see in a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit is that they will start taking the Gospel personally. The words in the Bible will stir up their heart, because they will know and believe that God is speaking to them to their heart personally. The death of Christ will matter to them, the salvation through resurrection will matter to them, and the work of the Holy Spirit will matter to them, because the Holy Spirit has led them to take God personally.
Lastly, let’s look at what the disciples did to receive the Holy Spirit.
After the ascension of Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem and prayed to obey Jesus’ last words. Do you know what that meant? Jerusalem was a place where Jesus was executed, died on the cross. Going back to Jerusalem at this point meant that they could be arrested and crucified just like Jesus. In other words, they risked their life to get together and pray. And while they were praying, they prayed fervently. ‘Fervently’ means showing intensity of spirit, feeling, and enthusiasm. Their hearts were burning and their souls were glowing. Yes, they were at stake and they were in a life or death situation, but there was something more to that. Their souls were lost from the absence of their leader, and there was nothing else that they could rely on other than the promise of Jesus. They knew from their heart that they desperately needed the Holy Spirit in order to live and survive in this world.
Then when was the last time you prayed fervently? We may not be in a life or death situation and we may not have soldiers outside wanting to get us for our religious belief. But we are living in the same world that has become even more difficult to fully devote our soul to God. We may be better off physically and materially compared to the disciples 2000 years ago, but our souls may be in a severe hunger and thirst because we are not interested in feeding them. We need the Holy Spirit now as much as the disciples needed the Holy Spirit back then.
Of course, Lutheran Theology is Christo-centric and we might say that Lutherans don’t talk much about the Holy Spirit. But Luther’s Large Catechism states, “Creation is past and redemption is accomplished, but the Holy Spirit carries on his work unceasingly until the last day.” The Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us until the second coming of Jesus. Considering the fake breaking news that I shared in the beginning of the sermon, Jesus responds to it in verse 7: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” The only thing that we should work on is to be desperate to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and be his witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus promised in Luke chapter 11 by saying, “Ask and it will given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” So ask God that the Holy Spirit empowers and leads your life and your ministry. And you will take part in the finishing of this chapter of the rest of the book of Acts with your hands and feet, and with the footprints of your life.
Mark 6:7-13, Acts 1:1-14
Internship Retreat
By Young Kim
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ who is, who was and who is to come. Amen.
A couple years ago on April 18, 2014, there was a news article in which people are still fighting whether it is true or not. This is what it said on the news. Vatican officially admitted that the second coming of Jesus may not happen now after all, but suggested the followers to continue on with their faith, regardless of the news. Vatican defended Jesus’ seemingly broken promise, claiming “he was probably drinking wine” at the time when he made the comments, and added, “We all make promises that we cannot keep when we’re drunk. Jesus was no different.” What do you think about that? Do you buy that? Many people now believe that it is a fake and satirical news, but it is true that this has confused many believers and non-believers and caused conflicts among religions and denominations. We just laughed at this news and think that it is absurd. But this is our reality.
Yes, it has been 2000 years since Christians waited and waited for Jesus’ second coming and now we are living in a post-modern period where human’s knowledge and common sense rule the world. Living in a world where almost everything is possible through the high technology, human beings are no longer desperate for the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. And living in a world facing the possibilities of having an eternal life through bio-technology, we no longer pursue spirituality nor strive to live a spiritual life. Younger generation - your children and your grandchildren will participate less and less in the church and will lose focus on their spiritual life. And furthermore, if we hear such confusing and defaming news about certain religion or denomination, we should start taking a moment to seriously consider whether or not our faith journey has lost its direction? What’s going on in our world? What should we do to awake and raise the prophetic voice to make the world to return to God? This has been my long term vocational question. And I am sure you, as church leaders, have some similar questions like I do.
So I would like to invite you to come back to the starting point where the first church started in the book of Acts. I hope that we can find the answer from the early churches.
We all know that the author of the book of Acts was Luke who also wrote the Gospel of Luke. So this book of Acts is considered as vol.2 of the Gospel. In verse 1, Luke says that he has dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach in the first book. While Luke’s Gospel is the record of the incarnation of the Son of God and the beginning of Jesus' work, this second book, Acts, is the continuation of what Jesus began to do through men and women who were empowered by the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, the book of Acts is open ended. If you look at the ending of this book, it abruptly closes with an account of Paul in the city of Rome waiting to meet with Caesar. Therefore, it could mean that the work of Jesus still continues to our present day. It is still being written. Our mission and the work we do is the continuation of the Acts and we are the writer of this book. Then, what do we write for the rest of the book? That's something to think about, right?
In verse 4, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit right before he ascended into heaven. This was the very last time to say something important to his beloved disciples before he left this world. So let’s read verses 4 and 5 all together. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” And verse 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is the key point that Jesus wanted his disciples to hear at his last moment and I believe that this is also what Jesus wants us to hear as well. Verse 8 is a long-time favorite and one of memorable verses in churches throughout the world. And it is no doubt that this verse brought passion and compassion into the hearts of so many missionaries who left their homes and families to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But if you look at the verse 8 carefully, there is a sequence in the events. Jesus told them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them; and then they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This means that they needed to receive the Holy Spirit first before they became the witnesses. It is the Holy Spirit, the best promised gift that Jesus could ever give them.
Then, who and what is the Holy Spirit? Why did they need to wait until it came? We all know very well that the Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the Trinity. But then, what do we know more about the Holy Spirit? Though Jesus said a lot about the importance of the Holy Spirit during his earthly work, unfortunately, it is one of the least understood subjects in the Bible. And because we lack knowledge about the Holy Spirit, we don’t talk much about it except for the Pentecost Sunday.
The Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is the power of God (2 Timothy 1:7), that it leads us into all truth (John 14:17, 26), that it enables us to discern spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:11, 14), that it is our guarantee (“seal”) of eternal life in the resurrection (Ephesians 1:13-14), and that without it we are “not His” (Romans 8:9). Then what did Jesus say? He constantly taught that we have to be born again through the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-7) John the Baptist told about Jesus that he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke3:16) When you read the four Gospels carefully, it says that Jesus taught, cured and did so many miracles with full of the Holy Spirit and through the power of the Spirit. But before he did any of these, he went to John the Baptist to be baptized. The disciples must have witnessed how the Heaven opened and how Jesus was baptized by the Holy Spirit. It was only then that Jesus started his mission in this world. Jesus became the model of what happens when a person is baptized by the Holy Spirit. He took every step before the disciples so that they can remember and follow the path that Jesus had preceded for them.
So, if we tried to proclaim the Good News without the help of the Holy Spirit, if we tried to teach, preach, or share the love of Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit, we are doing it through arrogance and ignorance. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do his mission work in this world, how can we think that we can succeed without the Holy Spirit? So it is the arrogance and ignorance that comes from the inattentive thought that we can do it by ourselves without the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.
So now we know that one thing is clear: we need God’s Holy Spirit for our salvation and for our mission work. Do you agree with me that we need the Holy Spirit? So far, so good? Then, how do we acquire the Holy Spirit? How do you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit? What is the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in someone’s life?
We can never come to Christ or believe in Him with our own knowledge or strength until the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ. And this Holy Spirit creates faith through the Word of God. Hence if you don’t keep God’s Word close to your heart, how can the Holy Spirit actively work inside of you and give new meanings in your faith journey? We all heard this phrase from the Bible, “to be filled by the Holy Spirit” or “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire”, right? This tells us that the Holy Spirit stays with us in regards to the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit. Just like we can have a close relationship or a distant relationship with others. It requires a constant fervent prayer and meditation of God’s Word in order to continuously dwell in the Holy Spirit.
Many people tend to have misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. Some say that in order to prove the Holy Spirit in us, we have to be able to speak in tongues or there should be miracles such as lifting the snakes, raising up the cripples and so forth. Of course, it is possible in the work of the Holy Spirit. And I’ve witnessed miracles in my life. But you should see what lies beyond what you see and hear.
The significant change that you will see in a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit is that they will start taking the Gospel personally. The words in the Bible will stir up their heart, because they will know and believe that God is speaking to them to their heart personally. The death of Christ will matter to them, the salvation through resurrection will matter to them, and the work of the Holy Spirit will matter to them, because the Holy Spirit has led them to take God personally.
Lastly, let’s look at what the disciples did to receive the Holy Spirit.
After the ascension of Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem and prayed to obey Jesus’ last words. Do you know what that meant? Jerusalem was a place where Jesus was executed, died on the cross. Going back to Jerusalem at this point meant that they could be arrested and crucified just like Jesus. In other words, they risked their life to get together and pray. And while they were praying, they prayed fervently. ‘Fervently’ means showing intensity of spirit, feeling, and enthusiasm. Their hearts were burning and their souls were glowing. Yes, they were at stake and they were in a life or death situation, but there was something more to that. Their souls were lost from the absence of their leader, and there was nothing else that they could rely on other than the promise of Jesus. They knew from their heart that they desperately needed the Holy Spirit in order to live and survive in this world.
Then when was the last time you prayed fervently? We may not be in a life or death situation and we may not have soldiers outside wanting to get us for our religious belief. But we are living in the same world that has become even more difficult to fully devote our soul to God. We may be better off physically and materially compared to the disciples 2000 years ago, but our souls may be in a severe hunger and thirst because we are not interested in feeding them. We need the Holy Spirit now as much as the disciples needed the Holy Spirit back then.
Of course, Lutheran Theology is Christo-centric and we might say that Lutherans don’t talk much about the Holy Spirit. But Luther’s Large Catechism states, “Creation is past and redemption is accomplished, but the Holy Spirit carries on his work unceasingly until the last day.” The Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us until the second coming of Jesus. Considering the fake breaking news that I shared in the beginning of the sermon, Jesus responds to it in verse 7: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” The only thing that we should work on is to be desperate to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and be his witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus promised in Luke chapter 11 by saying, “Ask and it will given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” So ask God that the Holy Spirit empowers and leads your life and your ministry. And you will take part in the finishing of this chapter of the rest of the book of Acts with your hands and feet, and with the footprints of your life.