February 26, 2022 – “Johnny on the Spot” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

“With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.” 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

“Johnny on the Spot”

Oxford English Dictionary, which dates its genesis in print to the same year (though it must be somewhat older in the spoken language). The writer explains where it came from: “The grammatical genesis of ‘Johnny on the spot’ cannot be traced very clearly, but the phrase certainly originated from the longer and less expressive one, ‘Johnny is always on the spot when wanted.’ … The expression is to some extent a variation or rather a continuation of that other phrase, ‘He gets there.’” Johnny here must be a general name for any young male and doesn’t refer to a real person.

We like to believe and trust that the Holy Spirit is always active and always working in our lives. As Lutherans, we also teach that the Spirit comes and goes wherever and whenever the spirit wants to work. We read these words from the Gospel of St. John: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8)

Martin Luther, in his explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed on the working of the Holy Spirit writes this:

“…..the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day, He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.”

While the Holy Spirit may seem ethereal, it has power beyond our understanding and will do work we just cannot imagine in our lives and the life of the church. And we live trusting that it will be “Johnny on the Spot” at just the right time.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, you are always Johnny on the Spot when we are desperate for love, mercy, grace, and presence. Through your Holy Spirit, you are always available, but life can distract us from your presence. Empower us with your love always. Amen.

Pastor Dave

February 25, 2022 – “Push Comes to Shove” (Acts 20:7-12)

“On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. (Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.) A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!” Then Paul went back upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them a long time, until dawn. Then he left. They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.” Acts 20:7-12

“Push Comes to Shove”

The earliest reference for the exact phrase “Push Comes to Shove” is from a 1898 newspaper in Georgia: “When ‘push comes to shove’ will editors of the Yellow Kid organs enlist?”. Earliest reference at all is from 1873 in United Methodist Free Churches’ Mag.: “The proposed improvement is about to fail, when Push comes up behind it and gives it a shove, and Pull goes in front and lays into the traces; and, lo! the enterprise advances, the goal is reached!”.

The account we have in Acts about Eutychus mentions that he falls to his death because he fell asleep. No one pushed him out the window — he fell on his own accord. However, it is a warning for those who choose to fall asleep during sermons, that there can be perilous consequences for drowsiness.

Why do so many people wait to have a relationship with G-d until “push comes to shove” — until they are forced because of an illness, a death or a tragedy? It is true that there are no atheists in fox holes and few in cancer wards, but I am here to tell you that G-d does not want a relationship with us when our backs are against the wall, and we believe we have no other choices.

We all know someone who needs a gentle nudge when it comes to igniting their interest in a relationship with G-d. Notice I said a gentle nudge – and not a push. I believe it is better for you and me to give gentle nudges, and to allow the Holy Spirit to do the pushing.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, your spirit flows in and through our lives daily. When we feel that spirit, nudge us to follow the spirit and share your love with all whom we encounter. Amen.

Pastor Dave