May 28, 2020

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-4, 14-18, 21 – When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the rushing of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw divided tongues that were like fire resting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, since the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak fluently… 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and clearly to them: “Men of Judea, and all you residents of Jerusalem, understand this, and listen closely to my words. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 This is what God says will happen in the last days:
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy…

21 And this will happen: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

Dearly Beloved of the Lord,

This coming Sunday is Pentecost. Pentecost is a word that we do not use much outside of church. Unlike some other Christian holy days, it has not become popular in the culture at large. There is no tradition of gift giving around Pentecost. You are not likely to find an increase in chocolate sales to go with the holiday.

So, what is Pentecost … and why should we care?

Pentecost Sunday is the day when Christians around the world celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit – the Helper, the Advocate, the Comforter. Pentecost falls 50 days (which is what Pentecost means) after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus.

On Christmas, Christians celebrate the Incarnation – when God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

On Epiphany, Christians celebrate the manifestation that Jesus is the Savior for all including the gentiles.

On Easter, Christians celebrate the Resurrection – when Jesus rose from the dead in victory, and as the promise of resurrection from the grave given to all God’s people.

On Ascension, Christians celebrate Jesus taking His place at the right hand of God to rule all things for our good.

And on Pentecost, we celebrate the Holy Spirit – the gift of the Comforter, the Helper, the Advocate for God’s people.

The Christian celebration of Pentecost is rooted in the historical event of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. It is sometimes called the “birthday of the church” because it marks the day that Jesus’ disciples began to share the story of Jesus and call others to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the promised Savior from sin.

But Pentecost is more than just remembering a historical event.

On Pentecost, we recall the same Holy Spirit that filled the disciples and transformed their lives is the same Holy Spirit that has transformed our lives in our baptism. The Holy Spirit has been poured over you at your baptism and dwells with you. It was at your baptism that the Holy Spirit worked faith in your heart to know Christ and to receive His righteousness.

The Holy Spirit has a way of turning things upside down. The book of Acts is all about how the lives of the disciples got turned upside down. The coming of the Holy Spirit has turned our lives upside down as well. He has made us into new people. No longer do we belong to the kingdom of darkness but now we belong to the kingdom of light – to the kingdom of God. We are no longer slaves to sin but free in Christ. We no longer live for ourselves but for God. The old Adam has been drowned so the new man can rise to live eternally. 

We rejoice this festival day of Pentecost, for God has spoken to us in a language we can understand. He has baptized us with the Holy Spirit—in water and Word—and united us into the body of Christ, into the Holy Communion of Saints. 

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

(CW#177)

1 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts your place of rest;
Come with your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill the hearts which you have made.

2 To you, the Counselor, we cry,
To you, the gift of God most high;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul’s anointing from above.

3 Your light to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed your love in ev’ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

4 Drive far away our wily foe,
And your abiding peace bestow;
If you are our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

5 Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And you, from both, as Three in One
That we your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

6 Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!