Rev. Dustin ParkerA Poignant Pentecost
(This was a different Pentecost - due to a couple of different trauma's in our church. Please keep the families of Concordia in our prayers, especially one, whose niece/cousin passed away in a car accident on Saturday. Surely the presence of the Holy Spirit was there, yet rather than a grand celebration, the Spirit brought comfort and consolation. It was somber, reflective and absolutely amazing. Truly our God is the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Counselor)
Would That All…
Numbers 11:24-30
† IN HIS NAME †
As you dwell within the love and mercy of Christ’s grace, may you realize that the Holy Spirit truly rests on you, causing you to grow in trusting Him, as you proclaim His light in the dark places of this world!
An Odd Rebuke
An odder desire!
Confusion must have had a field day in young Joshua’s mind, as he heard Moses rebuke answer his plea. Given what he has seen as he grew up at Moses side, these two men in the camp represented trouble, trouble which so often led to trauma, to pain, and to death. Men had risen up to contend with Moses, and the results had been devastating. Moses did not speak for himself, but for God, as the very deliverance from Egypt and all the miracle since so clearly spoke.
It is logical then, that Moses would respond to Joshua’s plea, and stop the actions of Eldad and Medad before God’s anger was raised to toward them. So why would Moses rebuke him?
Why even more, would Moses say such a silly thing as he wished that all people would prophesy, that the Spirit of God would be put into all people?
We celebrate the feast of Pentecost this day. The day when God’s people were gathered together two times in History. The first time as the Spirit of God dwelt on 73 men, who proclaimed God’s glory to His people. The second time, when the people of God gathered around the 120, and all who were baptized realized Moses dream that we see in verse 29 - that the Lord would put His Spirit on them.
How Do We know God is there?
Chaos?
The instructions
The idea that the Holy Spirit would rest on all the people and that they would all prophesy is pretty radical, even for a leader like Moses. Perhaps it is because of excesses we have seen, or heard about, but the picture most of us would come up with would be chaotic and noisy and loud. Imagine young Joshua, having seen this with 71 men, now trying to picture this with the entire community of Israel – some 2 million plus people! It is a bit overwhelming to imagine! So would seeing three thousand people react to a sermon where they were accused of murdering God’s son, by being baptized, gaining all the incredible promises that were pointed to in the Old Testament, promises that belong to all that are baptized, no matter when, or at what age!
As we go through the readings for the next few months, we are going to review these promises, promises given by God to those He called and put in place as His prophets and apostles, promises that are causing us to grow in our trust in Him even to this day! Promises that explain what it means for the Holy Spirit to rest on us, to dwell within us! Promises that see us grow like a farmer’s cornfield, until it is time for the Harvest, and the Feast of all feasts.
The nature of the Spirit’s rest!
Bearing the burden of the people 11:16-17
Looking at the passage in front of us today in Numbers, we need to realize a little more about what it means for the Spirit to rest on these 72 men, even as it did on Moses. The imagery is incredible as God takes His Spirit and places it on these men, and as it comes to rest. In the New Testament – this phrase for resting uses the word from where we get pepto. It falls on them and infuses and is absorbed into them getting into every nook and cranny. It is similar to the picture that Paul uses, of us being clothed in Christ, or perhaps a modern analogy is how aloe vera based sunblock is absorbed into us, nourishing our skin and protects and heals it. It is intimate, and complete, and as God looks to the gathering of His people, the indwelling Spirit always has a purpose and plan.
For these men, those in the tabernacle and the 2 in the camp, the purpose is seen clearly in verses 16-17
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:16-17 (NLT)
The reason for their anointing was not the prophesy, that was a side effect of seeing the grace of God. The purpose was for them to bear the work of caring for the people, working as a team with Moses to care for them, as they journeyed towards the Promised Holy Land. This is part of the reason why Moses is rejoicing that there is 72, not just 70 on whom the Spirit rests – because of the burden for people is now shared, by men God has chosen!
Proclaiming His Glory!
In our day, like that of the apostles, it is not just one man, or a small percentage that are those upon whom the Holy Spirit rests. As noted several times in this service, it is all of us, it is those whom God. What Moses desired becomes reality, the Holy Spirit is given to each of us, no matter what age, when God anoints us in the waters of baptism, granting us repentance. While we so often focus on the fact that every sin is washed away, and we are cleansed from everything unjust, the promise of God’s Holy Spirit, present in every aspect, every moment of our lives is the greater promise.
For the forgiveness of sins tells us what we are saved from… the presence of God I our lives shows what we are eternally saved, and embrace with incredible joy bubbling forth from our hearts.
Even as these men were set aside to bear the burdens of the people of God, so too are we set apart, but with different roles – to do the same. To help each other on the journey, most often by pointing to God’s work, the work consistently pointed to in the Old Testament – our justification and sanctification, our being saved and being set apart for God’s work, in many places and many ways – always guided and accompanied by the Holy Spirit.
Never alone, assured of His presence, His protection, His peace.
Just as we didn’t spend one lone Sunday celebrating Easter, neither is one week enough to celebrate Pentecost! Pentecost is the start…the beginning of working to harvest and the Feast!
The harvest, the gathering of God’s people as His people, a harvest that started at the Sinai, and again in Jerusalem 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. A gathering of lives that Jesus has cleansed, that the Holy Spirit has filled. A harvest that will be completed on the day Jesus returns to bring us into the Father’s presence.
All growth in nature leads to a harvest, and a feast. Our harvest has begun, and in our celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ, given and shed for us, we see a glimpse of the feast to come.
An incredible feast, the feast of Jesus’ victory and the church’s becoming His bride, and sharing His home, forever. Even as Moses desired all would have the Spirit given them, so we are learning to desire that all would be there…
Until that day, we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit, and therefore the Father’s peace – peace that will pass all understanding, and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMEN?
Would That All…
Numbers 11:24-30
† IN HIS NAME †
As you dwell within the love and mercy of Christ’s grace, may you realize that the Holy Spirit truly rests on you, causing you to grow in trusting Him, as you proclaim His light in the dark places of this world!
An Odd Rebuke
An odder desire!
Confusion must have had a field day in young Joshua’s mind, as he heard Moses rebuke answer his plea. Given what he has seen as he grew up at Moses side, these two men in the camp represented trouble, trouble which so often led to trauma, to pain, and to death. Men had risen up to contend with Moses, and the results had been devastating. Moses did not speak for himself, but for God, as the very deliverance from Egypt and all the miracle since so clearly spoke.
It is logical then, that Moses would respond to Joshua’s plea, and stop the actions of Eldad and Medad before God’s anger was raised to toward them. So why would Moses rebuke him?
Why even more, would Moses say such a silly thing as he wished that all people would prophesy, that the Spirit of God would be put into all people?
We celebrate the feast of Pentecost this day. The day when God’s people were gathered together two times in History. The first time as the Spirit of God dwelt on 73 men, who proclaimed God’s glory to His people. The second time, when the people of God gathered around the 120, and all who were baptized realized Moses dream that we see in verse 29 - that the Lord would put His Spirit on them.
How Do We know God is there?
Chaos?
The instructions
The idea that the Holy Spirit would rest on all the people and that they would all prophesy is pretty radical, even for a leader like Moses. Perhaps it is because of excesses we have seen, or heard about, but the picture most of us would come up with would be chaotic and noisy and loud. Imagine young Joshua, having seen this with 71 men, now trying to picture this with the entire community of Israel – some 2 million plus people! It is a bit overwhelming to imagine! So would seeing three thousand people react to a sermon where they were accused of murdering God’s son, by being baptized, gaining all the incredible promises that were pointed to in the Old Testament, promises that belong to all that are baptized, no matter when, or at what age!
As we go through the readings for the next few months, we are going to review these promises, promises given by God to those He called and put in place as His prophets and apostles, promises that are causing us to grow in our trust in Him even to this day! Promises that explain what it means for the Holy Spirit to rest on us, to dwell within us! Promises that see us grow like a farmer’s cornfield, until it is time for the Harvest, and the Feast of all feasts.
The nature of the Spirit’s rest!
Bearing the burden of the people 11:16-17
Looking at the passage in front of us today in Numbers, we need to realize a little more about what it means for the Spirit to rest on these 72 men, even as it did on Moses. The imagery is incredible as God takes His Spirit and places it on these men, and as it comes to rest. In the New Testament – this phrase for resting uses the word from where we get pepto. It falls on them and infuses and is absorbed into them getting into every nook and cranny. It is similar to the picture that Paul uses, of us being clothed in Christ, or perhaps a modern analogy is how aloe vera based sunblock is absorbed into us, nourishing our skin and protects and heals it. It is intimate, and complete, and as God looks to the gathering of His people, the indwelling Spirit always has a purpose and plan.
For these men, those in the tabernacle and the 2 in the camp, the purpose is seen clearly in verses 16-17
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:16-17 (NLT)
The reason for their anointing was not the prophesy, that was a side effect of seeing the grace of God. The purpose was for them to bear the work of caring for the people, working as a team with Moses to care for them, as they journeyed towards the Promised Holy Land. This is part of the reason why Moses is rejoicing that there is 72, not just 70 on whom the Spirit rests – because of the burden for people is now shared, by men God has chosen!
Proclaiming His Glory!
In our day, like that of the apostles, it is not just one man, or a small percentage that are those upon whom the Holy Spirit rests. As noted several times in this service, it is all of us, it is those whom God. What Moses desired becomes reality, the Holy Spirit is given to each of us, no matter what age, when God anoints us in the waters of baptism, granting us repentance. While we so often focus on the fact that every sin is washed away, and we are cleansed from everything unjust, the promise of God’s Holy Spirit, present in every aspect, every moment of our lives is the greater promise.
For the forgiveness of sins tells us what we are saved from… the presence of God I our lives shows what we are eternally saved, and embrace with incredible joy bubbling forth from our hearts.
Even as these men were set aside to bear the burdens of the people of God, so too are we set apart, but with different roles – to do the same. To help each other on the journey, most often by pointing to God’s work, the work consistently pointed to in the Old Testament – our justification and sanctification, our being saved and being set apart for God’s work, in many places and many ways – always guided and accompanied by the Holy Spirit.
Never alone, assured of His presence, His protection, His peace.
Just as we didn’t spend one lone Sunday celebrating Easter, neither is one week enough to celebrate Pentecost! Pentecost is the start…the beginning of working to harvest and the Feast!
The harvest, the gathering of God’s people as His people, a harvest that started at the Sinai, and again in Jerusalem 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. A gathering of lives that Jesus has cleansed, that the Holy Spirit has filled. A harvest that will be completed on the day Jesus returns to bring us into the Father’s presence.
All growth in nature leads to a harvest, and a feast. Our harvest has begun, and in our celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ, given and shed for us, we see a glimpse of the feast to come.
An incredible feast, the feast of Jesus’ victory and the church’s becoming His bride, and sharing His home, forever. Even as Moses desired all would have the Spirit given them, so we are learning to desire that all would be there…
Until that day, we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit, and therefore the Father’s peace – peace that will pass all understanding, and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMEN?
