Pentecost Sunday
\nMay 15, 2016
\nJohn 15:26, 27<\/p>\n
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.\u00a0 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n For hundreds upon hundreds of years God\u2019s Old Testament Messianic Church gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate three glorious festivals\u2014 festivals which emphasized what the Lord God had graciously done for <\/strong>His people.\u00a0 First, they gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread\u2014 the highlight of which was the Passover meal.\u00a0 This festival celebrated the deliverance of God\u2019s people from slavery in the land of Egypt.\u00a0 Then they gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (also known as Pentecost).\u00a0 This festival celebrated the wheat harvest.\u00a0 And every year God\u2019s people gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles which not only memorialized the journey of God\u2019s people as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, but it also celebrated the fall harvest.<\/p>\n For hundreds upon hundreds of years God\u2019s New Testament Christian Church has gathered together to celebrate three glorious festivals\u2014festivals which emphasize what the Lord God has done for <\/strong>us, His people.\u00a0 First we gather together to celebrate the Festival of Christmas which celebrates how the true Son of God being born into this world as the true Son of Man to save us from our slavery to sin, death and the devil.\u00a0 Then we come together to celebrate the Festival of Easter which celebrates how Jesus physically rose from the dead as the Victor over sin, death and the devil, a victory that He now shares with us.\u00a0 And finally the third great festival that we celebrate as New Testament Christians is\u2014 Pentecost.\u00a0 The Festival of Pentecost gives us an opportunity to celebrate the \u201cbirthday\u201d of the New Testament Christian Church as we remember how Jesus fulfilled His promise to His disciples to send them the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 (See John 14:16, 17)<\/p>\n Today, my friends, as you and I gather together here in God\u2019s house to celebrate the Festival of Pentecost let\u2019s rejoice in the gift of the Holy Spirit that our risen and ascended Lord continues to give to us, His disciples today.\u00a0 As we Celebrate the Holy Spirit <\/em><\/strong>let\u2019s see how these two verses of Scripture empower us to celebrate who the Holy Spirit is and to celebrate what the Holy Spirit does.<\/p>\n Who is the Holy Spirit?\u00a0 Our first reaction to that question would probably be, \u201cThe Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity\u2014 God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.\u201d\u00a0 While that is 100% true our dear Lord Jesus gives us a far more \u201cpersonal\u201d answer to that question.\u00a0 Look at what He says, \u201cWhen the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father\u2026.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Here in just this one verse Jesus gives us two amazing answers to the question\u2014 Who is the Holy Spirit?\u00a0 Both of those answers give us a reason to celebrate!<\/p>\n First, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is our \u201cCounselor.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The Greek word which is translated here as \u201cCounselor\u201d<\/em> is the word \u201cparakletos.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It can also be translated as \u201chelper, intercessor, advocate, paraklete.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 In the Greek culture a \u201cparakletos\u201d<\/em> was a legal assistant in court.\u00a0 He was someone who didn\u2019t just \u201cput in a good word\u201d for the accused, but he actively helped the accused.\u00a0 This word is found only five times in the New Testament Scriptures and it is used only by the apostle John.\u00a0 In 1 John 2:1 John uses this word in reference to Jesus.\u00a0 The other four times (John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7) John uses this word in reference to God the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n John\u2019s use of this word on the pages of holy Scripture gives all of Jesus\u2019 disciples a tremendous reason to celebrate, my friends!\u00a0 For the disciples there in the Upper Room with Jesus they celebrated the fact that as their \u201cCounselor\u201d<\/em> the Holy Spirit not only taught them \u201call things,\u201d<\/em> but He also \u201creminded\u201d<\/em> them of \u201ceverything\u201d<\/em> Jesus had said to them!\u00a0 (See John 14:26)\u00a0 For us, Jesus\u2019 disciples today, we rejoice in knowing that when we read the Scriptures we are indeed reading the very words that God the Holy Spirit \u201cinspired\u201d<\/em> these men to write!\u00a0 (See 1 Peter 1:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).\u00a0 This means that when we find ourselves in a situation that is so overwhelming that we don\u2019t even know how to take it to the Lord in prayer, we know that our \u201cCounselor,\u201d<\/em> our \u201cHelper,\u201d<\/em> \u201cintercedes for us with groans that words cannot express\u201d<\/em> (Romans 8:26).\u00a0 This means that when we fall into the trap of sin, a trap that Satan has set for us, we not only have our Brother Jesus on one side of us, the One whom John says \u201cspeaks to the Father in our defense\u201d<\/em> (1 John 2:1), but on the other side of us we have \u201canother Counselor\u201d <\/em>(John 14:16) to help us and to defend us and to strengthen us.\u00a0 Wonderful reasons to celebrate who the Holy Spirit is!<\/p>\n Our dear Lord then goes on to tell us that the Holy Spirit is \u201cthe Spirit of truth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 We live in a day and age when people are desperately trying to convince us that \u201ctruth\u201d<\/em> is relative.\u00a0 In other words, what may be \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> for me may not necessarily be \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> for you and vice versa.\u00a0 While that may indeed be \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> it is only \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> when it comes to the things of this world!\u00a0 For example:\u00a0 Is it \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> that you shouldn\u2019t eat so much butter and eggs?\u00a0 (Petaluma, California is widely known for its annual Butter and Egg Festival)\u00a0 Is it \u201ctrue\u201d<\/em> that Governor Snyder knowingly poisoned the entire city of Flint, Michigan?\u00a0 Is it true that the Obama administration went to great lengths to put a \u201cspin\u201d on the Iran nuclear deal to make it more \u201cacceptable\u201d to the American people?\u00a0 It all depends on who you ask, doesn\u2019t it!<\/p>\n As the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em> the Holy Spirit does not change or adjust the \u201ctruth\u201d<\/em> so that it fits with the times or so that it lines up with what we mortal sinful human beings think or want.\u00a0 As the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em> the Holy Spirit proclaims to us the objective unchangeable Truth as we find it right here in the Word that He has given to us!<\/p>\n So ask yourselves, my friends:\u00a0 Do you always rejoice in knowing that God the Holy Spirit is indeed the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 Do you always listen to Him as He speaks \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> to you\u2014 even when He speaks \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> concerning your<\/strong> sins\u2014 or are you more focused when He speaks \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> about other people\u2019s<\/strong> sins?\u00a0 Are there certain portions of the Bible that you consciously avoid because you don\u2019t like what the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em> proclaims on certain things?\u00a0 When you have faithfully shared a truth of Scripture with someone\u2014 such as \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> concerning Creation or Original Sin, \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> concerning heaven and hell, \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> concerning Infant Baptism or Close Communion\u2014 and they respond by defensively saying, \u201cThat\u2019s just your opinion!<\/strong>\u201d do you still boldly stand up to defend \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> that the Holy Spirit has recorded here?\u00a0 When someone in your group (your group of friends, family or co-workers) says, \u201cIt really doesn\u2019t make any difference which church someone attends as long as they are attending church\u201d\u2014 do you tend to stay quiet even though you know that there are churches that change and\/or deny portions of what the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em> has given to us here in His holy Word?<\/p>\n We cannot lose sight of the fact that the teachings found here in Scripture have been given to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit whom Jesus describes as, \u201cthe Spirit of truth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That focus on who the Holy Spirit is leads us to celebrate!\u00a0 We celebrate the fact that since our God does not change, so also \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> which God the Holy Spirit has given to us here in His Word does not change!<\/p>\n Who is the Holy Spirit?\u00a0 He is our \u201cCounselor,\u201d<\/em> our \u201cHelper,\u201d<\/em> our \u201cAdvocate.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 He is the \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d<\/em> who reveals God\u2019s Truth to us and enables us to understand and accept that this (Hand on the Bible) is <\/strong>Truth!\u00a0 But, what does the Holy Spirit do?\u00a0 Jesus also gives two answers to that question\u2014 answers which lead us to celebrate!\u00a0 First of all, Jesus says that the \u201cSpirit of truth\u2026will testify about me.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>The primary<\/strong> work of God the Holy Spirit is to point people to Him!\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)\u00a0 You may not feel <\/strong>saved, you may not feel<\/strong> forgiven, you may not feel <\/strong>victorious, but through God\u2019s holy Word and through God\u2019s holy Sacrament God the Holy Spirit points you to Him (Pointing to the cross) and proclaims \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em>\u2014 through faith in Jesus you are <\/strong>saved!\u00a0 Through faith in Jesus your sins are <\/strong>forgiven!\u00a0 Through faith in Jesus you are <\/strong>victorious!<\/p>\n I find it both ironic and sad that there are churches today who on the one hand claim that they proclaim the \u201cfull Gospel\u201d and then on the other hand they say that unless you<\/strong> can speak in tongues (at least once in your life) or unless you<\/strong> can perform miraculous healings or unless you<\/strong> feel <\/strong>saved, you don\u2019t have the Holy Spirit!\u00a0 That\u2019s why their church services very often resemble pep rallies.\u00a0 That\u2019s why their preachers very often look and sound and act like motivational speakers trying to sell you their latest book or their latest step-by-step course on what you<\/strong> have to do in order to become a \u201cbetter _____\u201d\u2014 you fill in the blank.<\/p>\n Do not short-change the \u201cSpirit of truth,\u201d<\/em> my friends!\u00a0 Do not treat the powerful, soul-saving, life-changing message of the Gospel\u2014 as God the Holy Spirit brings it to us through God\u2019s holy Word and God\u2019s holy Sacrament\u2014 as though it is in some way \u201cinsufficient.\u201d\u00a0 Do not allow anyone to convince you that how you feel<\/strong> is a more accurate barometer of your salvation than what God the Holy Spirit proclaims<\/strong>.\u00a0 Do not gloss over what Jesus says here in our text, \u201c\u2026the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Let me say it again, the primary <\/strong>work of the Holy Spirit is to keep you focused\u2014 <\/strong>focused on Him!\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)<\/p>\n Once we understand that the primary work of the Holy Spirit is to keep us focused on Jesus and what Jesus has done for <\/strong>us\u2014 His life, His death, His resurrection\u2014 then it will not be difficult to understand the second reason as to why we celebrate what the Holy Spirit does.\u00a0 Look at what Jesus says to His disciples in the closing verse of our text, \u201cAnd you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Here we see the amazing depth and the unparalleled power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The same disciples who were there in the Upper Room with Jesus, the same disciples who would soon desert Jesus and deny Jesus, the same disciples who were so slow to understand why the true Son of God came into this world as the true Son of Man, the same disciples who on that first Easter Sunday cowered in fear in that locked room instead of anxiously waiting for Jesus outside of His tomb, these very same disciples would become amazing \u201cwitnesses\u201d<\/em> for Jesus \u201cin Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth\u201d<\/em> (Acts 1:8).\u00a0 How did that tremendous transformation?\u00a0 Through the power of God the Holy Spirit\u2014 the power that was poured out on them on that first Pentecost Sunday, the power that led the people in Jerusalem to proclaim, \u201cWe hear them declaring the wonders of God<\/strong> in our own tongues!\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:11)<\/p>\n Here we see the amazing depth and the unparalleled power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 You <\/strong>who by nature were born spiritually blind, spiritually dead and spiritually the enemy of God, you <\/strong>who stand alongside of Martin Luther on the rock-solid foundation of Scripture and confess \u201cI believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him,\u201d (Luther\u2019s Small Catechism, explanation to the Third Article), you <\/strong>have not only been \u201cborn again\u201d<\/em> as a dearly beloved child of the heavenly Father, but you <\/strong>have been entrusted with the most precious privilege on the face of this earth!\u00a0 Yes, you <\/strong>have been called by Christ to be a \u201cwitness\u201d<\/em>\u2014 a \u201cwitness\u201d<\/em> for Him!\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)\u00a0 How do you do this?\u00a0 Do you do this all on your own?\u00a0 Do you use your own logic and your own reasoning, your own strength and your own smarts?\u00a0 Not at all!\u00a0 You simply share \u201cthe truth\u201d<\/em> that God the Holy Spirit has given to you here in the Scriptures and then you step back and let the Holy Spirit do what only <\/strong>the Holy Spirit can do!\u00a0 As Paul told God\u2019s people in Corinth, \u201cI planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.\u00a0 So neither he who plants or he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 3:6, 7).\u00a0 That\u2019s the work of God the Holy Spirit!<\/p>\n While the Festival of Pentecost may not receive the same level of emphasis as Christmas and Easter it is indeed the third great festival in the Christian church year because it so clearly and so beautifully emphasizes what the Lord our God has done and is doing for <\/strong>us!\u00a0 My prayer this morning is that the Festival of Pentecost will always indeed lead you to Celebrate the Holy Spirit!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Celebrate who the Holy Spirit is!\u00a0 Celebrate what the Holy Spirit does!<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pentecost Sunday May 15, 2016 John 15:26, 27 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.\u00a0 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV1984) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, For hundreds upon 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