What Do You Do With A Gift?

(alternate title: The Holy Spirit is Unpleasant and Messy)

Pentecost Sunday

with readings from Acts 2 

(God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit)

and 1 Corinthians 12 

(the Holy Spirit gives the church gifts)

• What do you do with a gift? Open it!
(explanation of the stole (the thing a pastor wears around their neck) which was a gift at my ordination, which is a mark of a servant, and this particular one is in celebration of the Holy Spirit.)

• The gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-13)

why? Verse 7: for the common good.
In Greek: sumphero, to benefit, to profit, to collect...

• Gifts: Wisdom, knowledge, faith/trust... 

for congregational leadership!
God will not leave congregation without necessary gifts!
Healing, miracles, prophecy/preaching/speaking for God
discernment, communication, translation...

• Given to whom? To each. To many.
A stool can't stand on one leg, two legs... 

There is stability in the body of Christ 

when essential gifts are given to many.

• The gift of the Holy Spirit is unpleasant. (wait, what?)

Consider a nice day: 

Does it include violent wind? 

Does it include fire? 

Does it include the #1 fear of Public Speaking?... 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is unpleasant.

• The gift of the Holy Spirit is messy.
Suddenly many are preaching.
I wear collar for distinction (not elevation). 

Now there's no distinction.
The power of God is not contained in gender or class (Levites).
The power of God is not contained in geography.

Holy Spirit is not contained. Holy Spirit is RELEASED.

& where Holy Spirit goes, there is fire and the breaking down of walls!

• Holy Spirit sends disciples into the unknown.
We recall Jesus leading the disciples into the storm, accompanying them into storm...

Holy Spirit accompanies into the storm with gifts.

• God will accomplish his purpose through people
not because of the power of the people
but because he will show his power through people.

• What do you do with a gift? WITNESS.
(Homework: read the rest of Acts 2... Peter preaches, referencing current events as well as scripture and theology (Jesus is Lord) and 3,000 are baptized (Acts 2:41)
and the Lord adds daily to their number (Acts 2:47).

• Hymn 2237 As A Fire is Meant for Burning