Feast of the Ascension

"A Time of Great Expectations"

by The Rev. Barbara Dyke
San Angelo, TX

The disciples are full of joy as they return to Jerusalem after seeing Jesus ascend into heaven. They gathered together and devoted themselves to prayer. Throughout the entire reading of ACTS 1:4-14 there contains a certain feel of expectance. With this in mind, let us consider some specific instances where expectancy is implied.

In Acts 1:5: "For John baptized with water but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Something is about to happen that has never happened before. This baptism of the Holy Spirit will be different than John’s water baptism. John’s baptism was commonly practiced by the Jews for generations. It symbolized religious purification. John had baptized both Jews and Gentiles from a tradition symbolizing moral purification for the approaching Kingdom of God. John’s baptism would prepare those who were baptized to meet the "Day of the Lord," but Jesus is now promising something different, a baptism with the Holy Spirit.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit consists not in symbolic gestures of purification, but in the receiving of "power." It does not ordain anybody for, or against, the future but rather manifests itself in a spiritual experience in the present. There is an element of expectation contained in the selected scripture by the phrase, "you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now."

The disciples are still expecting the restoration of Israel. Jesus responds instead by informing them that it is not for them to know all the mysteries of God, but they are encouraged with the promise of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are still focused on earthly desires instead of God’s kingdom.

As they return to Jerusalem they devote themselves to prayer. It is safe to assume that their prayers contained expectancy. Expectancy for what? What did it mean to be baptized by the Holy Spirit?

Today we too come to be in prayer and worship God. We gather and pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to mold us and strengthen us for God’s glory here on earth. For it is through Christ that we are one in the Spirit. John Wesley explains that it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are transformed to be more like Christ.

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are called to be the church. Jesus gave us the command to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For us to be faithful to this command we need the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that God’s kingdom materializes here on earth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit there is no limit to what we can accomplish. Lets us be in an attitude of expectancy as we, like the disciples, wait for the new things God is doing through our baptism by the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

The Rev. Barbara Dyke is a United Methodist minister and lives in San Angelo, Texas. She is part of Ecumenical Relations with the Diocese of Texas and has participated on both the state and national level of events and celebrations in the American Orthodox Catholic Church. Currently, she is the pastor of First United Methodist Church of Mertzon in Mertzon, Texas.

The Sixth Sunday in Eastertide

This Sunday's sermonette is by Sister Kandis Glasgow of Colorado. Kandis is a Third Order Oblate in the Benedictine Order of St. Michael the Archangel. She is the Former Missionary to New Zealand and is currently the Chairperson of Missions for the Order.

My name is Kandis Glasgow. I am not an expert on religion. I am not an educated spiritual leader of any kind so the words I say are only the thoughts and ideas of a person in love with Christ Jesus. My opinions are my own. I pray that the words I say touch your life and if you disagree with me I hope that you wrestle with my ideas and concepts as I do. Be wise in your study and question every thing you read. Bless your heart, mind, soul and spirit in the Glorious Name of our Savior, Yeshua Jesus. Amen

From the Holy Scriptures in the Book of Acts.

17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,
17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.

It is not God who is served by human hands. God has no need of our service. What an interesting concept. All throughout the Church we see the I.H.S In His Service acronym. In sermon after sermon we are encouraged and admonished to 'serve God'. Work for God. Do for God. Be for God. It seems that the very center of all this 'following' of God that we do is service to God. I have said many times in my past that 'I serve God'. The real question comes to mind as I read Paul's sermon to the Athenians is this, if I God doesn't need my service where does that leave me? Are all these things that I do, which I call service, for naught? Have I done these small things for no reason? In the words of Paul, "God forbid." Of course the service is for good. All good deeds are for good and good alone. Our good deeds show our faith in Jesus Christ. But if God in not in need of our service, then what are we to suppose?

I have thought on this question many times. I have had many different views when it comes to service, but one thought that has made a great deal of sense to me is that service is NOT for God, but for worship. Yes, there are more purposes for service, but this in the one I wish to address at the moment I believe that God's desire is for us to Serve in His name as He has served us through the example of Jesus. The works of our hands that are for the benefit of those around us sing praises to God in a voice louder than any choir could produce. My hands clothing the naked or feeding the hungry prove my love and thankfulness to a God whose grace is beyond my understanding. I worship Him in service.

Paul said that though he could speak with the tongues of men and angels, but had not love he was but a clanging cymbal or gong. The love he is speaking of in this passage is the Greek word agapeo or unconditional love in action. He is saying that no matter how holy I might consider myself or how others might see me, without that serving, active love of others I am not worshiping the God who saved me. The praise that is coming from my lips is made to be a lie. If my hands do not move to help, clothe, feed or quench in the name of God, then I do not understand the mercy that is offered me each and every moment I take a breath.

James 2:18 says I will show you my faith by my deeds. He didn't say I am going to show you my faith by preaching to you, condemning you or showing you how much scripture I can quote. No, he said my faith has produced a desire to serve. The God who has give me life eternal is so amazing that I want you to know Him and His love through my works. When a person of service says, "Praise the Lord!" those words have a meaning and reverberate with truth! And how do we know this? Because there is proof in his hands. His hands in service have already proven the words of worship that come from his heart.

Our actions are the first thing by which we as Christians are judged. Are we living testaments in our places of work? Do our neighbors know that we are Christians by our deeds and not our bumper stickers or bible thumping? I would implore you to service not FOR God but BECAUSE of God. Just as we sing Praises to the name of Jesus let us lift our hands to Him in service.

I want to end with a quote that was sent to me via e-mail. "I saw the children starving and screamed at God until I realized that the starving children were God screaming at me."

I implore you today to worship God for all He has done,
Through the service we give for Him and His Son.
Amen.