Day of Pentecost

The Spirit Marches Victorious Through the Word

Holy Spirit, God and Lord, come to us this joyful day with your sevenfold gift of grace. Rekindle in our hearts the holy fire of your love that in a true and living faith we may tell abroad of the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our friends and neighbors may say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” More people ask today how they may experience God in their own lives rather than how much they should know about God. Americans are looking for a deeper and immediate personal feeling of God within them. If they have it, the important question is settled; the rest are details. As we live in such a religious culture, quite often we are confused as to what the Holy Spirit does and gives. In today’s Gospel, Jesus clarifies for us concerning the office and work of the Holy Spirit.

HE COMES TO MAKE HOME WITH US AND GIVE US PEACE THROUGH THE WORD

Without his works we have no consolation and peace!

The Office of the Holy Spirit

The office of the Holy Spirit is to bring to our remembrance all and only what Jesus has ever spoken and taught (vv 23–26).

We should not be confused when the Holy Spirit is considered merely as these:

A created motion in things, an impersonal being, a mere power.

A nice “Christian-sounding” name for whatever spirituality anyone wants to invent. (Give examples.) Anything that does not directly lead us to loving Jesus and his Word (vv 23–24) cannot be of the Holy Spirit, because he is one God with the Father and the Son.

Rather, the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance all that Jesus has spoken (v 26).

It happened to the apostles (Acts 2:1–4).

It takes place with us when we read the Holy Scriptures, which record Jesus’ own words.

The Holy Spirit also brings to remembrance only what Jesus has spoken and taught

We are tempted to bring in alien thought from popular religiosity and our reasoning.

We are tempted to replace the words of our Lord with the best of our pious thinking and belief. (Give examples.)

So we are invited to consider oratio-meditatio-tentatio (AE 34:83–88). Before we hear God’s Word, we pray that we may despair of our reason and understanding and that he may give us the Holy Spirit, who will enlighten us, lead us, and give us understanding. This we do because we are in the midst of tentatio, the spiritual attack by the devil, the world, and our flesh.

The Purpose of the Spirit’s Office

The purpose of the office of the Holy Spirit is to comfort us with the peace of Jesus (v 27).

Jesus contrasts his peace with as the world gives.

The world may promise peace with money and property.

The world may promise peace with success and status.

The world may promise peace with good health and long life.

Peace that Jesus gives has nothing to do with the absence of warfare.

We Christians daily fight against the devil.

We daily struggle with the world’s temptation.

We daily battle against our own sinful flesh.

Yet Jesus’ peace gives us comfort.

Because it was earned on the cross in his flesh.

Because it addresses our deepest need: sin.

Because it reassures our conscience.

The Peace of Christ

How comforting that Jesus left his peace right where the Holy Spirit carries out his office!

We don’t have to look for the Holy Spirit to give us the peace of Jesus up above the clouds.

We don’t have to look for the Holy Spirit to give us Jesus’ peace in our hearts either.

The place where the Holy Spirit grants us peace of Jesus is in the Church here and now.

In Holy Baptism. How certain!

In Holy Absolution. How personal!

In Holy Supper. How present!

Served by the Office of the Ministry. How near!

Unlike popular notions about the Spirit and spirituality, the office and work of the Holy Spirit is for our comfort and joy. He is our Helper, Advocate, Counselor, Defender, and Comforter. Constantly attacked by our sinful flesh, the devil, and the world, it may seem to us that we also have lost Christ. In our days of trial and temptation, the Holy Spirit directs us to the place where Jesus gives his peace and consolation. Luther once said, “If you want your sins be forgiven, don’t go to the cross, don’t seek it in your heart, but run to the Lord’s Supper. There you will surely receive the forgiveness Jesus won on the cross for you as the body and blood of the Lord is put into your mouth to eat and drink” (paraphrase AE 37:213–14).

Where the Holy Spirit directs us, there Jesus dwells among us with the Father. He defends you from future wrath and the devil, and he cares for you daily, here and now, body and soul. The gift of the Holy Spirit is beyond measure. Overwhelmingly comforting! Blessed Pentecost!