The Day of Pentecost (5/27/07) Sir, we would see JESUS!
Emmanuel, Asheville, NC Acts 1: 1-11
In the Name of JESUS!
"Power from on High"
Beloved in the Lord, please pray with me:
Gracious heavenly Father, who with Your Son, Jesus Christ, kept Your promise to send Your Holy Spirit to those first followers of our Savior, how grateful we are that You have also sent the Holy Spirit to us so that we can trust Your perfect deliverance from sin, death and hell won for us by Jesus! Knowing that without the Spirit we would lose our saving faith and Your blessings for time and eternity, we humbly pray for JesusÄô sake take not Your Holy Spirit from us. To that end, bless now our hearing and meditating upon Your saving Word; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our ascended and triumphant Redeemer. Amen.
In the name of Jesus, our only Savior, precious children of our Heavenly Father:
What an amazing event that first Pentecost of the Christian era is! If it were not recorded in Scripture, I doubt that we would have expected this to happen. WouldnÄôt you have loved to have been there?
The first chapter of Acts tells us that after JesusÄô ascension, His followers came together constantly to pray. Ten days after JesusÄô triumphant return to heaven, all His followers were gathered together in one place. When assembled on the Old Testament Feast of Pentecost, the festival to thank God for the first fruits, suddenly there came from heaven the sound like a mighty rushing wind filling the whole house without damage to structures. There also appeared before them tongues of fire which separated and rested on each of them without their being harmed. Immediately they began to speak in many different foreign languages that they had never learned or heard before proclaiming the wonderful works of God. Many people focus on this as the greatest miracle of the day; but, beloved, while it was an extraordinary miracle, it was not the greatest!
Think back to the evening before JesusÄô death on the cross. Where were the disciples at the close of day? They didnÄôt stand by our Lord to aid their Master when He was taken captive. As cowards they all ran away to save their own hides. Peter later turned back to be near our Savior while He was on trial, but quickly three times disgracefully denied even knowing Jesus. Even on Easter evening, where did our risen Lord find His disciples? Äì Securely locked up behind shut doors for fear of the Jews!
Now 50 days later, note the contrast. Boldly and openly they all proclaimed the wonderful acts of God in the other peopleÄôs native tongues as people rushed to see what had happened. Peter, the denying disciple, even stood up without hesitation not only to tell the assembly what had happened that day on the basis of Scripture, but also courageously reminded the crowd of what evil they had done, namely, put Jesus, the Son of God, to death by nailing Him to a cross. [Cf. Acts 2: 22ff.]
Through the SpiritÄôs power from on high these cowardly folks became bold confessors of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and mankindÄôs only Savior. That was a miracle of God indeed! An even greater miracle we find in the SpiritÄôs using their witnessing to convert 3,000 enemies of Jesus into those who repented of their sin, trusted JesusÄô forgiveness and saving love, and were baptized into the family of JesusÄô forgiven people. All this is a testimony to the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.
In this actual, historical event we can see more clearly the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer in Jesus Christ. He is our Helper, who comes with power from heaven on high, to change those who will be and those who are the children of God in Christ Jesus. Why do we need the gift of the Spirit so much? Well, the Spirit answers that for us bluntly through St. Paul in Ephesians 2:1. He wrote, "As for you, you were dead in transgressions and sins." A dead person cannot help himself, can he? While we came into the world very much physically alive and remain such until we die, spiritually we enter this life absolutely dead, cut off from the source of life Äì our eternal holy God. ThatÄôs because we inherit the sinful nature of our parents and all ancestors. This is the way it is. The Bible tells us this in a number of different ways.
In fact, we could not even come to trust Jesus and His saving love without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. In fact, we canÄôt trust and understand GodÄôs amazing grace in Jesus without the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Helper. Led by the Spirit, St. Paul candidly wrote these words, "Ķ no one can say, ÄòJesus is Lord,Äô except by the Holy Spirit." [1 Corinthians 12:3b]
Beloved, because you now trust Jesus as your Savior, there is great comfort in these words. For when our merciful and loving God does anything, He does it perfectly. There is also assurance in this revelation if anyone comes up to you and asks, "Have you got the gift of the Holy Spirit?" Trust the Bible.The one common possession of each believing child of God is FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR! Take a moment now to thank the Lord for the gift of the Spirit who has brought you to faith in Jesus and kept that trust alive in you.
The Holy Spirit is also the One who brings power from on high for us to do good works in the eyes of holy and righteous God. Note well: I said, "in the eyes of God." For it is true that both the unbeliever and the hypocrite can do many good, helpful, humanitarian acts. Tragically, they may outshine Christians in their going about doing good by earthly standards, and that should not be. But in the eyes of GOD, only those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior can do "good works." Again, hear what the Word of God has to say about this in Hebrews 11:6 Äì "Ķ without faith it is impossible to please God Ķ"You see, even the good works that we do here on earth are still tainted by our sinful natures Äì still polluted by our corrupt, sinful motives and desires. ThatÄôs why GodÄôs judgment is that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. [Cf. Isaiah 64:6] GodÄôs grace is so wonderful and amazing that He not only forgives all our failings, but He also accepts our works as being pure and acceptable through the cleansing blood of Jesus. Again, let me stress: Only a believing Christian can do a good work in GodÄôs judgment.
Our precious Savior in promising to send the disciples the Holy Spirit also called Him our Comforter. Indeed He is that. For even in the darkest days of our earthly pilgrimage, this Helper points us to the sure promises of GodÄôs Holy Word. The Greek word Jesus used for "Comforter" also means "Confirmer" or "Strengthener." He is the One who equips us for battle and in the midst of lifeÄôs earthly forays gives us His strength and guidance.
For all these reasons it critical for us to know how the Spirit does does His work? Here both the Bible and our Lutheran teachings based on the Scriptures are very clear. The Spirit works through what Lutherans are accustomed to call the Means of Grace; namely, GodÄôs Word and the Sacraments Äì Baptism and the LordÄôs Supper. Both Baptism and the LordÄôs Supper are not primarily something we do. These precious gifts are primarily GodÄôs reaching out to us in saving love. ThatÄôs true because JesusÄô strong Word and promises always get done what He desires through the SpiritÄôs power in the Word.
Since the Word of God is the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit brings us power and help from on high, every pastor should be constantly urging people committed to his care by our God to be faithful in attending not only worship, but also Bible study. It pains me to walk through the halls during Sunday School Äì Bible Class hour when IÄôve been delayed after service to meet someoneÄôs needs and see adults visiting in the hallways. ThatÄôs not only a horrible example for our children who see this, but itÄôs in effect saying to the Spirit, "IÄôve had enough of You!" Nor should a late night out on Saturday be an excuse for our absence from worship and Bible study. For us older folks who are not severely physically limited, not gathering up strength to be in GodÄôs Word is an abomination. If we had a doctorÄôs appointment, weÄôd make it on time.
Because the Spirit does His work through the Word of God, I also urge you not to the leave the Bible a closed book in your homes. Parents, please spend time each day with your children reading Scripture and/or wholesome Bible based devotional materials. If any of you parents donÄôt know appropriate materials for home use, see me or one of our teachers in our school who are members of Emmanuel for suggested materials appropriate for your childrenÄôs ages. The Lord wants you to be in His Word from the cradle to the grave. For the Word of God is the SpiritÄôs "pipeline" to bring you and your family power and GodÄôs love and help from on high. In JesusÄô name and for your own spiritual growth I plead with you: DonÄôt cut yourself off from the Spirit and Him as your source of light, guidance and power!
As we realize once again how essential it is that the Spirit be at work in our hearts and lives on this Pentecost Sunday and how God forgives us for JesusÄô sake when we shut Him out, what but awe and thanksgiving can arise from our hearts for the faithful love and care our God has for us. He has not given up on us. Surely we have every reason to pray with earnestness from our hearts, "Dear God, take not Your Holy Spirit from me, for JesusÄô sake." For each of us needs GodÄôs help to be daily in the Word of our loving God to remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Amen.
To God alone be the glory!
© The Rev. Frederick A. Stiemke
Vacancy Pastor
May 28, 2007