A Gift, Not a Debt

Why did God go through that whole “day of Pentecost” thing? I want to answer that question this morning for us, and for those who will hear this wherever they are listening. But first, I have a question:

“If God called his Holy Spirit out of the world, about 95 percent of what we are doing would go on and we would brag about it.”

This blunt statement about church programs by Dr. Carl Bates of Amarillo, Texas, was coupled with an equally blunt question to ministers at the annual Baptist Statewide Conference on Evangelism in Columbia, S. C.: “What are you doing that you can’t get done unless the power of God falls on your ministry?”

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1126). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

There were 12 major feasts in the sacred calendar of Israel:

The Sabbath was weekly

The New Moon was monthly

Passover was annual, taking place on the 14th day of the 1st month at twilight.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was for 7 days beginning with the 15th day of the 1st month.

The Feast of Firstfruits, mentioned only in , was on the 16th day of the 1st month. Thus, it would have been celebrated as part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Feast of Pentecost (50 days), also called the Feast of the Harvest, or the Feast of Weeks (7 weeks), took place on the 50th day after the Feast of Firstfruits, or the 6th day in the 3rd month.

The Feast of Trumpets, also the New Year, is on the 1st day of the 7th month. It is a day of memorial and dedication.

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, takes place on the 10th day of the 7th month. It is a day of repentance.

The Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), also known as the Feast of Ingathering, took place on the 15-21 days of the 7th Month. It was a time of thanksgiving.

The Day of Sacred Assembly, "the last day of the feast, the great day” (), took place on the 22nd day of the 7th month.

The Feast of Chanukah, the “Festival of Lights,” celebrates the rededication of the Temple recorded in the Books of 1 and 2 Macabees on the 25th day of the 9th month.

The Feast of Purim, which actually was not commanded by God, but comes from a celebration that is recorded in , takes place on the 14 and 15 the days of the 12th month.

Our Gospel text takes place during the 7th month. During a time of repentance followed by thanksgiving, Jesus tells of a coming outpouring of “living water.” According to Werner Herman Franzmann, author of the Bible History Commentary: New Testament (Electronic ed. Milwaukee, WI: WELS Board for Parish Education, 1998), Jesus was less than 6 months from His Crucifixion.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

John 7:37–39 ESV

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Less than 6 months, and these words will be fulfilled. Six months, and everything that Jesus said concerning Himself, and concerning the Kingdom of God, would be fulfilled. Six months is not a long time to see the fulfillment of what was promised.

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

As Jesus said before the high priest at His trial, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.” (). What would their excuse be, who had, so recently, heard and seen what Jesus had said and done?

Our Epistle text covers the day in which Jesus word began its fulfillment:

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Those who followed Christ were in that room, at the least, the Apostles, and possibly up to 120 more, including “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers” ().

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

It is clear that more than the 11 were present, for they chose between Joseph and Matthias regarding Judas’ open place among the Apostles. These people heard Jesus say, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” ().

What about us? Again the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews challenges us, “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” The Apostles’ response to the coming of the Holy Spirit was to tell “the mighty works of God” under the power and control of the Holy Spirit, “as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

God has given us, in the Bible, the record of “all things that pertains to life and godliness.” In the Gospel, the Divine Service, and the Blessed Sacraments, we hear “His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” ()

All these things are ours - this blessed assurance of God’s love for us, through Jesus Christ.

Some people sing, “When I think about Jesus and what He’s done for me…I can dance dance dance all night!” Jesus didn’t say anything about dancing; He said “You shall be My witnesses.” Jesus didn’t make us into His “chorus line,” He didn’t tel us to add to our faith, rhythm. You want to celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit in you?

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

2 Peter 1:5–8 ESV

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Add to your faith - how? “The same thing it took, to get your baby hooked it’s gonna take the same thing to keep her” - How many of you remember that song by Johnny Taylor? What did it take to birth faith in Christ in you? “For faith comes by hearing , and hearing from the Word of Christ.”

SA IV

We will now return to the Gospel, which does not give us counsel and aid against sin in only one way. God is superabundantly generous in His grace: First, through the spoken Word, by which the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world []. This is the particular office of the Gospel. Second, through Baptism. Third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth, through the Power of the Keys. Also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, “Where two or three are gathered” () and other such verses [especially ].

Romans 1:12 ESV

that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

I am not alone! I am not the only one. God didn’t just put this in me alone. I am just the tip of the spear. I am just the shepherd. I can only do what I do, in the company of you, God’s sheep. God called Noah’s family, after they came out of the ark,

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

We will now return to the Gospel, which does not give us counsel and aid against sin in only one way. God is superabundantly generous in His grace: First, through the spoken Word, by which the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world []. This is the particular office of the Gospel. Second, through Baptism. Third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth, through the Power of the Keys. Also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, “Where two or three are gathered” () and other such verses [especially ].

Genesis 9:1 ESV

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

McCain, P. T. (Ed.). (2005). Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (pp. 277–278). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

If God gave that task regarding those who came through the antitype of baptism, what does He say to us who went through the reality?

Isaiah 43:10 ESV

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

McCain, P. T. (Ed.). (2005). Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (pp. 277–278). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

God didn’t give you a new set of burdens to carry, He set you free from the bondage and condemnation that comes through sin. You’ve been set free from all that!

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

You are Chosen!

You are Royal!

You are Holy!

Who do you belong to?

You better ask somebody!

God gave us a gift - the gift of salvation through faith in His Son, Who gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. With all that God has placed within us, all that He has promised us

Hebrews 13:1–6 ESV

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

It is a gift, not a debt! A gift of witness, a gift of mercy, a gift of life-together: with one another, and with our Lord!

Hebrews 13:6 ESV

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

A Gift, Not a Debt

Why Did God Do It?

Is this most certainly true?