Sermon: "A For Prophet Church” Friends – today is the day of Pentecost. And Confirmation - so we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper. And it’s Mother’s Day – so most of want to have a nice lunch with Mom and with our families. This will therefore be the shortest sermon you will hear all year. And all God’s people said. Amen. Today I want us to hear this word of the Lord – that Beulah Church would be a “A For Prophet Church.” Now we know about “for-profit” companies. Many of us work for – or we are retired from - companies that are “for-profit:” GE and Ford - UPS – Yum and Humana – other companies, and those that provide needed services. Some of us work for non-profit or not-for-profit companies and organizations: Jefferson County Public Schools, various hospitals and retirement homes, government and social service organizations – and even the church. Though not “for-profit” companies, these all make and use and spend money. The pastor, among others, very much appreciates this. But a for-profit church? That doesn’t quite sound right – something about that sounds a bit off from what it should be. I do know of one church that actually publishes its financial reports using the terms of “gains and losses” – “profits and losses” – like a business. That church is having great difficulties. Every now and then, though less often, I hear someone say “the church should be run like a business. Reading this story from the book of Numbers, it looks like Moses wanted to see a for-profit church. But not a for-profit church in terms of money – as is P R O F I T. But rather a for-prophet church in terms of people – a church full of prophets – as in P R O P H E T. We hear this word Prophet – and maybe we think about Moses, or Elijah – maybe John the Baptist, or Jesus himself. Maybe we think of a Martin Luther King Jr., or a Mahatma Gandhi. Maybe we think a prophet is someone who predicts the future – like Joseph or Daniel. Actually, in a broader sense, a prophet is anyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit – who calls others back to God and to God’s ways – who reminds others of what God wants. W W J D – “what would Jesus do” is a question a prophet would ask of themselves, and who would then speak and demonstrate the answer to others. Moses, way back in Numbers, wanted a community of prophets – a for-prophet church – a community of Spirit filled people where all would reflect God’s presence in their lives, in their words and actions. As we heard in the story, Moses was nearly thwarted in this desire. It seems that the then nominating committee came up with names of 70 people – 70 who would become elders and go on the Session, 70 to receive the Holy Spirit in ordination. These all gathered at the tent of meeting, on the edge of the camp. There they were ordained - they received the Spirit – and they prophesied – they spoke of God’s will – of God’s covenantal relationship with the people of Israel. Now there were two others who where not at the meeting tent - Eldad and Medad. They were listed on the active roll of members, but they didn’t get nominated by the committee – maybe the slate was already full. And while the ordination service was happening out in the tent, Eldad and Medad were back in the camp. And there, at the camp – no in the ordination service - Eldad and Medad also received the Holy Spirit. They began to prophesy – they began to speak of the things of God – they started to remind others of the covenantal relationship God desired from all. Though not listed with the 70, Eldad and Medad were made prophets by God’s Spirit. And so naturally, as in other organizations and families, when leaders emerge and things change – others resist. They try to sabotage the new leaders. And jealousy emerges, and turf battles ensue. Someone reports to Joshua, Moses right-hand man, that these two were acting like prophets – talking about God, God’s ways. Horror of horrors - “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua – maybe trying to protect Moses, likely a real Book of Order type who wants everything done decently and in order – he wants Moses to intervene – “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses replies: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” Would that we would have a for-prophet church! A community where all would have God’s Spirit upon them – where all would reflect God and God’s ways in their actions and in their words – every day of their lives. And would that all of us would be open to listen to a prophetic voice - when it comes from the unexpected person – like an Eldad or a Medad – or from a young person, or someone not on the slate of church leaders. Friends, today we are confirming three young people – something we do nearly every year – recognizing those in our community of faith who have matured to a point when they are ready to accept this faith for themselves. These three, Aden, Jordan, and Josh were baptized right here as infants or as young children – and now they are coming themselves to affirm their faith in Jesus Christ. And as was done in their baptism – and in all of our baptisms - we will lay hands on them and pray again for the Holy Spirit to come upon them in fresh and new ways - that they would have to power to do God’s will, and continue to be disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. In this service of Confirmation, we are fulfilling what Moses asked for: a for-prophet church – where “the Lord would put his spirit on them all!” Here today we are showing again the power of that day of Pentecost, when the Spirit came upon that gathered group of disciples – filling them with a vision and a passion for following Jesus Christ. In his sermon that day, Peter says this was a fulfillment of the word of the Prophet Joel – when God Spirit will come upon all – when “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young shall see visions, and your old shall dream dreams.” That vision find a tangible expression right here and right now – as we say and hear words of faith and commitment – as we confirm those promises made by parents and all of us, to live the Christian faith, and to teach that faith to our children. By this continual giving of God’s Holy Spirit, let us strive to really be a for-prophet church – where we all are mindful of the Holy Spirit within us – and where we are all prophets - bold enough to speak of God ways, and to demonstrate what Jesus would do. May this be so for you and for me – for our three confirmands – and for us all. And all God’s people said. Amen.
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