Sermon – April 5, 2009

Never Alone!

Over the last five weeks I have introduced you to five Biblical characters. Each character portrays certain characteristics that we need in our lives in order to have a deeper and richer Christian life. Each week has been based on a chapter of this book I’ve been reading: 11 Indispensable Relationships You Can’t Be Without by Leonard Sweet.

The first character was Barnabas, the encourager.

The second character was Rhoda, the child who helps keep us believing.

The third character was Nathan, our editor.

The fourth, was Jonathan, our true friend.

Last week, it was Timothy, our protégé.

Well, at the end of the book, Len Sweet throws us a curve and actually includes a twelfth character. That Biblical character (#12) is also a very real and important part of what we will be doing here in a few minutes when six young people are confirmed.

You see, sometimes, Barnabas is away on a mission trip.

Sometimes, Rhoda grows up and goes off to University.

Sometimes Nathan is busy on another line.

Sometimes your VIP’s turn out to be DUD’s.

Sometimes we wonder what happened and how are we going to get out of what we’ve gotten ourselves into. That’s when we have another promise.

In the world of sports, there is a tradition, an understanding of what they call “the 12^th man”. It originated in the world of football, but has spread to most other sporting events. The “12^th man on the field” is the invisible but tangible energy of the home crowd. For disciples of Jesus, the 12th man is known as the Paraclete.

The word paraclete is most often used for the Holy Spirit. But it is also the same word Jesus sometimes uses to describe himself. We translate “Paraclete” as “comforter.” However, the Holy Spirit as “The Comforter” doesn’t mean a cuddly blanket or a hot-water bottle, but more like a bracing friend who helps us bear every burden, lift every load, climb every mountain, ford every stream.

One way we can think of the Holy Spirit is as a garment, given to us and which we “put on.” Think about it. Medical doctors receive a white “lab coat” to put on to battle disease and death. Soldiers receive a Kevlar “flack jacket” to battle forces of oppression. Ministers wear this gown and stole to help spread light and faith.

“Grasped in this manner, the Paraclete can be felt much like the prized robe of the father that the prodigal received upon returning to his senses and returning home. The Holy Spirit doesn’t so much signify a position of power as it does a position of privilege. God says to us, “This is my beloved son or daughter, with whom I am well pleased!”” This garment is given to us as we step into the life God has prepared for us; suiting up to battle the forces of poverty, racism, legalism, and evil; to spread light and faith.

The Holy Spirit is our “12 man” and even though invisible and intangible, is in fact our greatest asset. The Holy Spirit goes out into life’s conflicts with us and protects not only our backs, but our sides, our fronts, our insides, the whole being! In many Bible Dictionaries the word Paraclete means "one called to the side of." This is the job description of the Holy Spirit: to stand at the side of all those who follow Jesus.

This I believe and this I have found to be true: Under no circumstances and in no condition do we not have the comforting, supporting presence of the Holy Spirit. We are never without what we need for life’s missions. “The 12th man” enables us to have the attitude of St. Paul: “With God on our side who can be against us?”

The Holy Spirit with us is one of the sure marks that the most amazing thing has come true. No longer are we separated from God. No longer are we servants, slaves, acquaintances of God. Now, through our faith in Jesus, we are friends; friends with each other, but most of all friends of God.

Think about that for a minute. Through our faith in Jesus, we are friends of God.

Being a friend of God means more than just to love God. It means to be in a right relationship with God where we experience three marks of the Comforter. These three “signs of the Spirit” reign supreme in our lives: confidence, humility, and courage. Out of these three come the fruit of the Spirit which we heard Kris read earlier from Galatians.

Confidence, humility, and courage. With the Holy Spirit, and as a friend of God, we are equipped with a three-pronged strategy that gets us through every challenge in life.

First the Spirit gives us the confidence of “I can do all things”. Of course, this is not the confidence of “I’m the best” or “I’m the smartest” or “I’m the strongest” or “I have the most money.” It is confidence in God’s grace and goodness and greatness within us and working through us. Confidence moves us forward to tackle the challenges life throws at us.

Second, the Spirit leads us into humility. The humility of knowing that the only way we can do “all things” is “through Christ”. A humble person is one who is grounded in reality. Without humility, confidence becomes pride, or boastfulness.

Third, with the confidence and humility of the Spirit as part of our core, we can have courage. Courage to live daily the faith we have in Jesus. Courage to face down the opponents of God. Courage to trust God to care for us, above all others. Courage to be gracious, to forgive, to love mercy, to be generous, to love.

God’s gift to us of the Holy Spirit brings along with it Jesus’ ultimate gift: the courage of his "peace," the "peace" that Paul said "passes all understanding" in this world, and in its storms. The "peace" which will carry us through every challenge in the Spirit’s “courage of humble confidence”.

So today, as we celebrate with six young people who are confirming their faith in Jesus, we recognize in what we do the work of the “12^th man”, the Holy Spirit. Work which brought them, and us, to this point. Work which builds them up in faith, and us too. Work which will continue from this day forward in them, and in us, as together we follow Jesus.

Here’s the good news: the Invisible Comforter means we are never alone, never abandoned, never at the mercy of the world’s whims and wickedness. The Holy Spirit enables us to live our lives to the fullest, to face our greatest fears, to be more than conquerors in life’s conflicts and confusions.

And here’s my hope for our six confirmands and for each one of us; today and in the days to come.

May the Spirit bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you will live deep in your heart.

May the Spirit bless you with anger at injustice and oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth so that you will work for justice, equity and peace.

May the Spirit bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them.

And may the Spirit bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done.

Those are the words you will find on the slips of paper that the ushers have for you as you leave today. Take them home. Put them where you will run into them. May they be true in your life.

AMEN.