Acts 2:1-21         “God Works From the Inside Out”

     A little girl who was visiting her grandmother one day walked outside to see her grandma’s flower garden.  As the grandmother was inspecting the progress of the flowers, the little girl decided to try to open a rosebud with her own two hands.  But she had no luck, for as she pulled on the petals to open them, they simply tore off.  Finally, in frustration, she said, “Gramma, I just don’t understand it at all.  When God opens a flower, it looks so beautiful but when I try, it just comes apart.”  “Well, honey,” Grandmother answered, “There’s a good reason for that.  God is able to do it because he works from the inside out!”

     God works from the inside out.  That’s the message the disciples finally came to understand on that first Pentecost.       Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.  And it was while they were there in the Upper Room that they heard a sound.  The breath of God began to blow on that place like the rush of a mighty wind.  Images of fire appeared among them.  Suddenly, their fear was gone and was replaced by peace and confidence and courage and strength and unity.  They began to speak and communicate the word of God boldly and amazingly people from all different backgrounds heard and responded and 3,000 people were converted that day.

     It’s interesting to note that the three classic symbols for the Holy Spirit in the Bible remind us of how God works through us and how God works from the inside out.  This morning I’d like us to look at these three traditional symbols – breath: symbolizing life; fire: symbolizing power; and the descending dove: symbolizing peace.  

     First, there is breath: the symbol of life and vitality.  You may remember that in the Garden of Eden when God created Adam and Eve, he shaped them, but they were lifeless until he breathed into them the breath of life.  They didn’t really come alive until he breathed his spirit into them.  Again, we see it here at Pentecost.  The breath of God, like the rush of a mighty wind, blew upon that place and the disciples came alive.

     How is it with you this morning?  Is God in your life?  Is the Holy Spirit in your soul?  Has God’s spirit breathed on you the breath of real life?  If not, you’re not really living!  You may be existing, coping, you may be floating along but until the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, you’re numbered among the lifeless.  You’re numbered among the walking dead.

     The hymn writer years ago recognized the importance of this and he wrote these words: Breathe on me breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love all that you love, And do what you would do.

     The first sign of the Holy Spirit in the Bible is breath: the symbol of life and zest and vitality.  The kind of life created only by the presence of God.

     Second, there is fire: the symbol of power.  We often put those two words together, don’t we?  We talk about firepower.  In the Bible, fire is often used as the symbol of God’s presence and power.  For example, we see it in book of Exodus and the story of the burning bush and again here in the New Testament story of Pentecost.

     The story is told about a man who had been suffering with a headache for several days.  Finally, he went to see a doctor.  However, the office nurse who looked and acted like a Drill Sergeant greeted him gruffly.  When he told her about his headache, she barked in a stern voice: “Go into that examination room, take off your clothes and put on this hospital gown.  The doctor will be there in a few minutes.”  The man protested, “But ma’am,” he said.  “I really don’t need to go through all of that.  I just have this chronic headache.”  To which the nurse answered, “Sir, did you hear what I said?  You go into that examination room and put on that hospital gown right now!”

     And so the man did.  When he got into the room and closed the door, he discovered another man already sitting in there wearing a hospital gown.  The man with the headache said to the other guy, “This is ridiculous.  I don’t know what in the world I’m doing in here.  I just have a headache.”  The other man said, “You think you’ve got problems.  I just came in here to read the meter!”

     Now that nurse had power, didn’t she?  But that’s not the kind of power I’m talking about.  Not the power of brute force or blatant intimidation… not the power of political clout or wealth or weapons.  But rather the power of knowing God’s presence in our lives… and what that presence produces… integrity, honesty, commitment to a great cause.  The sense of being God’s co-worker, the assurance of God’s love… there’s nothing stronger than that.  That’s the fire power of Pentecost that fuels and mobilizes and energizes us… and enables us to do great things.  Being totally convinced that God is with us and for us… and that he will ultimately win… and that nothing not even death can separate us from him… there’s incredible power in that.

     Third and finally, there is the descending dove: the symbol of peace.  The early Christians in creating this symbol were very wise to show the dove descending because peace does indeed come from above.  Inner peace, a peace that passes understanding, the courage and confidence to meet life and its troubles comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

     Norman Neaves some years ago told about a teacher asking the students in her fourth grade class to name the person they considered the greatest person alive in the world today.  Their responses were varied and interesting.  One little boy said, “I think it’s Joe Montana because he led the 49ers to all those Super Bowl wins.”  A little girl said, George Bush… and still another named Oprah… and on and on it went with the students mentioning a wide variety of celebrities.

     But then it was little Donnie’s turn.  Without hesitation Donnie said, “I think it’s Jesus Christ because he loves everybody and is always ready to help them.”  Mrs. Thompson smiled and said, “Well, I certainly like your answer, Donnie, because I’m a Christian too, and I also admire Jesus very much.  But there’s one slight problem.  I said the greatest living person… and of course, Jesus lived and died almost two thousand years ago.  Do you have another name in mind?”  I love the simple, innocent, yet confident response of little Donnie.  He said, “Oh no, Mrs. Thompson, that’s not right at all.  Jesus Christ is alive!  He lives in me right now!”

     That’s the good news of our faith and the message of Pentecost: God is with us right now working from the inside out, giving us the breath of life, the fire power of commitment and the peace that passes all understanding.

                                                AMEN