"It is my heart-warming and world-embracing hope," said Mark Twain, "that all of us - the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, and the savage - may eventually be gathered in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone." Mark Twain obviously held a great dislike for the telephone, probably because, among other things, it renders a person to be easily accessible, even when they prefer to be inaccessible. Of course, someone is always quick to remind us, "You don't have to answer the telephone." We know that. But we also know, with Mark Twain, that the presence of the telephone effects an incredible impact upon our daily lives. Particularly now that mobile telephones and cordless models are so commonplace, the telephone suggests a kind of "ever-presence." Not only is it everywhere, but because of the rapid access it provides, we can be almost anywhere in seconds. To express it in a very unrefined manner, the telephone allows one's presence to be spread around and the very thought of that is not always exhilarating to someone who is not all that keen about anyone having easy access to their presence. Remember this the next time your telephone rings and you answer it to discover a voice on a computer inviting you to purchase siding for your home. Twain may have had a point.
We deal with all kinds of things which appear to be "ever-presences," don't we: responsibilities, concerns, medical conditions, financial obligations, never-ending drudgeries which are to do over and over, and so on. But what occupies a person and the extent to which it occupies them is not the same for everybody. What is considered "ever-present" in a person's life is largely determined by what one chooses to be everpresent.
There is another kind of Ever-Presence, so totally permeating all things, that it abides quite beyond the choice and preference of any of us. It just is and it, let us say, spreads its presence around:
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained' (John 20:19-23)."
"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as offire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were allfilled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-3)."
Moreover, the potential of the Holy Spirit is unlimited. According to Paul, the life which seeks only after things of this world achieves corruption and death, while life in the Spirit achieves eternal life (Galatians 6:8); the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26); participation in the Spirit is the common experience of all Christians (Philippians 2:1); the Holy Spirit unifies the church, enabling it to transcend worldly affairs (1 Corinthians 12:13); the Holy Spirit will transform the natural body into a spiritual body (2 Corinthians 5:5). There are some specific gifts, or fruits of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23)." Whata remarkable "presence." Oh, we will not produce an exhaustive definition of the Holy Spirit and its work here; we can only refer to it in multiple ways. One might as well attempt to produce a photograph of the wind. It is possible to see where the wind is blowing, where it has been, and feel it upon our faces, but to actually see, or describe the wind, that is another matter. So it is with attempting to define the Holy Spirit. It is possible to see where it has been, and feel its presence upon our lives, but it is not within human capacity to satisfactorily describe nor explain exhaustively the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to in the New Testament by the word, "paraclete." Angus Benigus Sanrey, a French theologian, wrote a ponderous volume titled, Paracletus seu de recta pronumciationa tractatus, in the 17th century. The sole purpose of the work was to establish the correct pronunciation of one word, Paradetus. The Bible simply translates the word simply as Comforter. Ironically, neither the French theologian nor the word Comforter ever begin to gather the full meaning of the word Paraclete or the nature and function of the Counselor to whom Jesus referred. Christians, however, do not distress about not being able to construct a succinct, beautifully worded paragraph packaging the sum-total of the Third Person of the Trinity, form and function described in detail. The really distressing thing would be if it were limited to the extent that we could understand it.
It is significant, is it not, that following the resurrection when Jesus appeared to the disciples, showing them his hands and his side, he did not make any explanations. Twice he said, "Peace be with you." Twice he said, "Receive the Holy spirit." The words, "Peace be with you," were spoken as both a greeting and a blessing. The words, "Receive the Holy Spirit," contain something more: invitation, confirmation, and consecration.
1. Invitation: Jesus was inviting the disciples to acknowledge and receive the Holy Spirit - the divine EverPresence. Three years prior he had extended an invitation of a different nature, saying, "Follow me." The invitation was such as would summon them from their fishing nets and tax tables; from their families, friends, and securities. To what?
"These 12 Jesus sent out, charging them, 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons (Matthew 10:5-8).' "
The initial invitation had involved commitment to the person of Christ and his ministry. As Lord of their lives, his ministry would be their ministry. But there was more:
"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me (Matthew 10:40)."
Have you given serious consideration to the invitation which the minister extends near the end of a service of worship? In the minister's mind, it is the extension of an opportunity for someone outside of Christ to come forward and publicly embrace Jesus Christ as Lord. Whatever else we might say about this invitation is redundant unless one first embraces Jesus Christ as Lord. That is how the invitation is understood from the minister's perspective. What about from the laity's perspective? It may or may not be a case of being in concert. We have known for some time now throughout the church that we can no longer assume that everyone (even in the same congregation) is on the same wavelength. In fact, any assumption about doctrine, interpretation of Scripture, attitude toward mission, or most anything else, is clearly inappropriate. Is everyone even reasonably in agreement then regarding the invitation? This concern was brought into clearer focus for me once because of a remark made by a very keen-minded associate minister. We had both spoken before about the possibility of not standing in the narthex following morning worship to greet people because whatever door we would stand by, it seemed 90 percent of the people would exit by another door. People were obviously in a hurry to get off the premises, beat worshipers from other churches to the cafeteria, eat lunch and be on their way for whatever the rest of the day might hold in store. The associate minister and I alternated standing at the various doors but there were just too many doors. One morning, we were discussing a new family in the community with whom we had visited and knew to be interested in transferring their membership to our congregation. I remarked to the associate, "Now if they come forward this morning, after we have received them into membership, you will want to accompany them to the narthex and I will invite everyone to welcome them." The associate said, "Following the benediction, I will just whisper to the new family, 'I invite you to join me in the narthex to be ignored'." We both smiled at each other about the prospect of such a thing, but as it turned out, it would have almost been appropriate. No more than a half-dozen people greeted the new family. Only moments before there had been well over 300 people in the sanctuary. I do not know how many other congregations are of the "get-out-of-my-way" mentality following worship on Sunday mornings, but there is at least one and when a new member or a new Christian is invited to the narthex to be welcomed, there is the real possibility that it could turn into an invitation to be "ignored." Please do not suggest that I proceed to chastise, shame, or even try to charm the congregation into a more congenial spirit. In the first place, I no longer pastor that congregation. In the second place, that "modus operandi" was attempted until it wore exceedingly thin. What is the invitation extended to new Christians or new members by your congregation? Is it an opportunity to celebrate with fellow Christians in the extension of the fellowship of Christ? Or, are these new friends in Christ invited to stand at the chancel or in the narthex and be largely ignored by a fellowship which has only moments before assumed certain responsibilities pertaining to their spiritual life? Invitations, like personal characters, come in different sizes.
Billy Sunday's music director, a Mr. Rodeheaver whose first name is not known to me, recorded the following story about a young boy who sang in his choir. The boy's name was Joey and Rodeheaver delicately noted that Joey was not "quite right." However, the lad would not leave the tabernacle at night until he had managed a hand shake from the music director. "It was sometimes embarrassing the way he would stand against me and wait until the last person had gone before he would say goodbye," Rodeheaver admitted. One evening a man came to speak to him and made it a point to thank him for being so kind to Joey. "He isn't quite right," the man said, "but he has never enjoyed anything so much as coming here and singing in the choir. He has worked hard through the day in order to be ready to come here at night, and it was because Joey invited my wife and our five children that we are here. Joey's 75-year-old grandfather and his dear wife are also here tonight and we want to do whatever is necessary to come to the Lord." People come in different sizes and so do invitations.
Jesus initially invited his disciples to receive him as Lord: "Follow me." Two thousand years later, this remains the initial step which we are invited to make. Then later, Jesus extended the invitation to the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit- "The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father," as he expressed it. Two invitations. The second being offered as the ever-present manifestation of the first; an invitation appropriately extended to all those of any age who confess Jesus Christ as Lord: "Receive the Holy Spirit."
2. Confirmation. Jesus made so many promises. For the most part, they were rather spectacular promises, weren't they? "Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be Opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened (Luke 11:9-11)." Sweeping words spoken privately to the disciples without any reservations whatsoever. "The Holy Spirit will teach you (in times of trouble) what you are to say (Luke 12:12);" "Fear not, little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32);" "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division (Luke 12:51)." So many more. And then there was all that business about the Son of Man being "mocked and scourged and crucified and raised on the third day (Matthew 20:19)." To name only these few, stop and consider what an incredibly mind-bending spectrum of remote possibilities Jesus was laying out before his disciples as absolute certainties. He was asking them to gather in a great many things for which they would have to stretch to reach. In time, however, they would slowly come to understand that if something had been promised, no matter how spectacular, it would be accomplished. Even the part about "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name." One by one, the promises were confirmed. Take notice of that. See in your mind's eye Jesus standing in the Spirit before his disciples, showing them his hand and side confirming all that he had promised.
The post-resurrection appearance to the disciples confirmed some things, connected some things, which reached back considerably beyond the life and ministry of Jesus. (a) It confirmed the consistency of God's plan through the ages. In Old Testament times a great procession was conducted through the streets of Jerusalem on the last day of the feast of tabernacles. The procession moved slowly from the temple through the city streets, out the Water Gate, down the hill of Zion to the pool of Siloam. There, the white-robed priests who had marched at the front of the procession filled their golden vessels with water. The procession then retraced its steps to the temple where the priests gathered around the altar of sacrifice and emptied their vessels of water against the side of the altar. As the vessels were being emptied the Levitic choir chanted the words of Isaiah 12:3: "With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation." The New Testament records that seven and a half centuries after Isaiah wrote these words, Jesus of Nazareth stood near the temple watching the traditional procession, listening to the music of the trumpets and the chanting of the Levites on the last great day of the feast of tabernacles. Above it all, the voice of Jesus was heard to proclaim, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (John 7:37)." We can almost hear the click of the link as it snaps into place, connecting God's great chain of redemptive events. But there is more:
"Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some of the people said, 'This is really the prophet.' Others said, 'This is the Christ.' But some said, 'Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?' So there was division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him (John 7:39-44)."
It does not matter that there was division over him. What was done, was done. Later, as Jesus appeared in the Spirit to the disciples, another link snapped into place, confirming the consistency of God's plan through the ages; (b) it confirmed the incalculable power of God. Someone has told that engineers in New York, years ago, sought a base for one of the buttresses of a bridge they were constructing. In the process, they happened upon an old scow full of bricks and heavy stones that had long ago sunk and remained almost totally buried in mud. Skilled, experienced divers were send down to place giant chains beneath the scow in order to raise it. Laboring with even such "modern" equipment as was available at the time, every effort failed. The heavy load could not be raised. Finally, one of the younger engineers declared that he was confident that the project could be accomplished if he be allowed to proceed. It was agreed that his plan would be allowed. He brought two barges to locate near the sunken scow. The huge chains were attached around the scow and secured to heavy beams on the barges. After tightening the chains at low tide, they waited. In time, the tide swept up the harbor in mighty heaves, raising the buried scow. It was raised by the lift of the Atlantic Ocean. This observation accompanies the story: "So it is by the life and lift of the Holy Spirit that our lives are energized, and that which is a hindrance is carried away, thus enabling our lives to be placed on a sure foundation."
When Jesus appeared to the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit," he was dramatically, by his very presence, confirming the incalculable power of God to be of such magnitude so as even to raise the dead! And if the power of God is of such inestimable magnitude, indeed the Holy Spirit is capable of lifting and removing burdens and weights of any nature as might come into our lives.
3. Consecration. It is not all greeting, invitation and confirmation. Something more was confirmed upon the awe-stricken, wonder-eyed band. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you (v. 21)." The disciples were being consecrated into service imbued with the power of the Spirit, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
At age 30, Florence Nightingale made this entry inth her diary: "I am now 30 years of age, the age at which Christ began his mission. Now, no more childish things, no more vain things. Now, Lord, let me think only of Thy will." Someone asked her years later, as her illustrious career and exceptional life began to wind down, "What is the secret of your good life?" She replied, "I can offer only one explanation and it is this, I have held nothing back from God." Jesus was asking the disciples to hold nothing back. The Holy Spirit stands ready now to consecrate us into his service, but we must hold nothing back.
There is a rather well-traveled poem which has been passed around to such extent that the author's name has become obscured. It is a somewhat unsettling bit of verse in that it relates an all-too-common response to the alternative of total consecration:
"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, real service is what I desire.I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, But don't ask me to sing in the choir.I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,I like to see things come to pass,But don't ask me to teach girls and boys, dear Lord.I'd rather just stay in my class.I'll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,I yearn for the kingdom to thrive.I'll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord.But please don't ask me to tithe.I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord.I'll say what you want me to say.I'm busy just now with myself dear Lord,I'll help you some other day."
That which has not been dedicated cannot be consecrated. If something has not been given you, it is not really yours to use, much less bless into your service. The person whose mind is not made up is a candidate for compromise, but the consecrated life whose spirit has been dedicated to the leadership of the Holy Spirit can never be compromised.
United Methodist Bishop, Woodie White, was the preacher for the Little Rock annual conference. The last evening of the annual conference is always a highlight because of the ordination service. The sanctuary is always packed with people - lay delegates, clergy, families and friends who come to share in this high moment for the ordinands. Because the large attendance had created close seating throughout the sanctuary, and because I was one of the elders who would participate in the actual ordinations, I sat with the other participating elders at the front of the sanctuary, on the main floor, and to the side of the pulpit. Bishop White stood at the pulpit to preach. I could not see him. I could see his hands when he gestured. A large flower arrangement between the pulpit and chancel obscured my vision. I could hear his voice well enough and see his hands when they came into play, but I could not see the source. There was something mildly frustrating about that. It was like trying to watch television with someone standing in the way. The thought occurred to me of how frustrating it must be for thinking people who are looking for strong, convincing evidences of God. They can see the Bible, read it and hear it read. They can see the church and observe its program, see the gestures. But what people are really looking for is eye-to-eye contact with the Source. There are obstacles aplenty. Christian friends, the Bible says in so many ways that if the almighty God, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit are ever to be visibly evident in human affairs, it will be through the human witness. The dedicated, consecrated witness! If religion is ever going to get beyond words and gestures, it will be because it has gotten into a person. You can be that person.
Jesus invited his disciples to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, to witness to the confirmation of his promises, and be consecrated into the service of the "Ever-Presence." As Christ spoke unto them, so I speak his words unto you: "Receive the Holy Spirit."
