Sermon in Minneapolis 31.05.2009

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let us join our hearts in opening prayer and thanksgiving. Dear Heavenly Father, already this morning we have felt your love and warmth and enjoyed a beautiful morning which you have created for us. We thank you, dear Father, for your great and wondrous blessings. And as we come before your Holy Word, we pray that you would reveal your will unto us to comfort and strengthen our faith through your Word. And that you would yet remember those brothers and sisters in lonely places of watching, times of illness and distress. Let us protect them, keep them in faith, wherever their journey, their place of watching may be. And we remember those loved ones who do not own living faith and all those in the world of unbelief around us. Let your Word be heard. Let the light of your kingdom be seen according to your will.

Lord, we thank you for your kingdom, your brothers, our brothers and sisters in faith. And we yet pray, as your Son has taught us, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

We will read this morning a portion of God's Word found in the Gospel of St. John, chapter 14, verses 25 through 27. The words of Jesus we read in his name.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Amen.

Amen.

It's been already nice for me to be here this morning, brothers and sisters, and see again many of you whom we do not see so often. And also to share in this occasion where you have remembered our young brothers and sisters in the milestone of their lives graduating from high school. And certainly those scripture portions that we heard already this morning and the words of our brothers to on one hand congratulate you and on the other hand give you words of encouragement as you go forward. I join in those as well.

And as our brother was speaking about a new chapter beginning in your lives and how we do experience this from time to time, I thought of that time in my life also when the time of high school education ended and I was then going forth in life. And I'm sure that the feelings I had are similar to feelings of everyone at that point in time and you brothers and sisters here today.

On one hand there's a great sense of relief and joy that that time is now over. But on the other hand there might be those worries and anxieties of now what will the future bring. And I remember thinking myself that now I may leave that safe haven and security of my parents' home. And although they would still love me and help me in life, their responsibility toward me perhaps isn't the same. But now I am truly responsible for myself and what happens in my life. And this can be unsettling, can be daunting to think in this way.

But yet as God's children we have no matter what phase of life we are in the security of the kingdom and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And so this portion which we read also to me seemed fitting for this occasion in two ways. One, how Jesus here spoke of the Comforter which would come and notice how he refers to the Holy Ghost as the Comforter. And also how Jesus says he shall teach you all things.

And then also today is Pentecost Sunday and so we celebrate commemorate that time when the Holy Ghost came upon the disciples in a powerful way. And so you've had the security, brothers and sisters, of many teachers in your lives. Teachers in God's kingdom and also teachers in your school life. They've taught you many things and even if you haven't thought of it this way, their role in your life has been very, very significant and important how they have led you and taught you to learn to study many things that will help you in life as it goes forward.

And now those teachers aren't going to be there in the same way as they were in the past. But you yet have a teacher. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, He will teach you all things. As God's children we have this teacher always with us when we endeavor to keep faith in a good conscience, the Holy Spirit of God who's guiding us, warning us when we go astray and leading us unto the paths of righteousness.

What a wonderful teacher we have. Because it isn't dependent on where we're going to school or what stage of life we may be in. That teacher is always there. Prayer. And so that truly is a comforter unto us all and a comforter to you, you young brothers and sisters, now as you go forward. And we pray on your behalf and I know that you have this prayer in your heart that I would always want to hear that teacher, the teacher, the Holy Ghost, what it says unto me and unto God's congregation.

And in this way you can take each step as life continues with confidence and know that the most important matters will be in order when this is my guide and this is my light, the Comforter.

So today is that day of Pentecost and in this portion Jesus has been speaking with his disciples answering their questions and telling them about that which would soon happen that he would be taken from their midst. And he told them of the Comforter which the heavenly Father would send in his name to teach them and to bring all things unto remembrance to help them remember all of these things that he had been saying unto them when later they have need to remember them.

And that he would leave them with peace and give them peace but not as the world would think of peace in outward way among men, among nations but rather peace and joy of the conscience. Peace. And so in this way he said let not your heart be troubled and neither let it be afraid.

And this work of the Holy Spirit is the same today, bears the same fruit, it has the same result in the hearts of us all who have been given grace to believe.

If we pause for a moment here and remember that time when the Holy Ghost came unto the disciples as it's written in the Acts of the Apostles the second chapter it tells us that the day of Pentecost was come and they were all with one accord in one place. And here the disciples had been gathered again fifty days after the time of Easter.

And in that Old Testament form of worship that God had commanded they had remembered as we know on Maundy Thursday they had gathered for the feast of the Passover to commemorate that time when the children of Israel escaped bondage in Egypt and began the wilderness journey. And when that journey had continued for fifty days then came the time when God through Moses on Mount Sinai gave the Ten Commandment law.

We remember that that was a harsh and demanding law. The earth trembled, the people trembled and it was written in hard tablets of stone. And this event fifty days following the Passover was celebrated every year as well as Pentecost.

But now when these disciples had been gathered on this Pentecost after Jesus had died and arose victorious and ascended into heaven, something marvelous happened. Scripture says suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing wind, mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This is another one of those moments where I think we all could envision what it must have been like or would imagine what it would have been like to be there. Would have been nice to have been there.

We remember that those disciples had been in great fear. They had fled when Jesus was taken captive from their midst. And as the events of Jesus' death had happened, they gathered behind locked doors. They were afraid to be out. They were afraid to be seen as followers and believers in Jesus Christ.

And now, even 50 days later, even though they had gone through that time when Jesus had appeared unto them on several occasions to comfort them and to give them instruction. Yet, I think they were fearful and it was hard for them to go forth to know what to do.

But now when they were gathered suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the house where they were sitting.

Maybe sometimes we have experienced those kinds of moments, brothers and sisters, where the winds of heaven have blown, have warmed our hearts, comforted us, and encouraged us.

Maybe it's been at such a time where prodigal sons and daughters have returned and given grace to return unto God's kingdom. Maybe it's been when one from unbelief has entered through the door of repentance into God's kingdom. And their time of worry and fear and distress has gone away when the preaching of the gospel of forgiveness has been preached unto them and they have been able to believe.

How wonderful has been that sound and how good has it felt to feel those warm winds of heaven as a rushing mighty wind. And here it filled the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a fire and it sat upon each of them. These tongues like fire, the fire of the love of the heavenly Father. And it wasn't just to one or one more than the others, but it sat upon each of them.

And it tells us here they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. All of them. And so this Holy Spirit of God came upon each one. It was sufficient and abundant for all.

God and then with this power and these grace feelings, the disciples began to speak with other tongues. But it wasn't their own words. It says the Spirit gave them utterance. God through His Holy Spirit told them what to speak. And they spoke with other tongues.

Certainly this was a great miracle taking place. But we know even today that the message of God's kingdom through the Holy Spirit really doesn't know any language. It passes by the language of our temporal tongues. And it is heard in many languages. And if it isn't heard and understood in words, it is felt.

We have all, for example, been able to meet our brothers and sisters in faith from Finland and other lands. We haven't always been able to speak with them word for word, but yet we have known that they are brothers and sisters in faith. Because we have had the same spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

And this bond of the spirit and the love which comes forth through it has been something that has gone beyond our earthly language. It goes from heart to heart.

This work of the spirit also continues today. So it tells us that the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.

This was such an amazing event to those watching from a distance that the people wondered whether they might be drunken from the wine. The speeches, the rejoicing. Others didn't understand. Were they drunken?

But then Peter began to speak. And this too is amazing when we think brothers and sisters that not long before Peter had denied Christ, had denied faith. And now he among the others who had been behind these locked doors trembling and in fear with the new power and encouragement of the Holy Spirit were able to boldly go forth and to preach to speak of the matters of God's kingdom and the salvation work through Jesus Christ.

And as Peter spoke to those around as to what was happening he began to preach from the words of the Old Testament prophet Joel. Joel had been given the vision to see and prophesy of this time by God.

When God said through him I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit and they shall prophesy.

And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath.

Joel speaking the word of God prophesied of this day that his spirit would be come would pour out upon all flesh sons and daughters of prophesy. Men see visions dream dreams.

Again it speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit where it affects in many ways hearts and hearts of God's children.

We often speak of God's word for example that it is a closed book unless one has the Holy Spirit to open it and in this way it is enlightened and that understanding is given with the correct heart and mind and Spirit of God.

In this way also the Holy Spirit guides warns us of that which is to come and of the dangers along the way. In some ways it gives the vision of the journey.

As Peter was emboldened to continue to speak on that occasion he also spoke very clearly and to those who did not believe that the man whom they had crucified and put to death was truly the Son of God who now had been exalted and ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father and now the promise of the Holy Ghost had come.

When Peter had been able to speak boldly in this way through the power of the Holy Spirit it tells us that when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles men and brethren what shall we do then?

Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And with many other words did he testify and exhort saying save yourselves and this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together and had all things common and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need.

And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter on this occasion of Pentecost was emboldened to speak unto those hearers and encourage them to repent and to offer God's grace unto them and that if they in this way could believe they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And it tells us again what the fruits of this Spirit were they continued steadfastly in doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread.

We know that the work of the Holy Spirit or effect of the Holy Spirit is to draw together and unite. We have felt this ourselves. We are one body in Christ, one kingdom.

And it isn't man's work that has created the unity among God's children it is God's work it is the effect of his love and of the Holy Spirit.

And when we think of how Paul describes the fruits of faith he warns of the fruits of the flesh fornication adultery murders envying strife and so on and then he speaks of the fruits of the Spirit and he speaks about long suffering and love and peace and joy and that's what God's kingdom is peace and righteousness and joy because of the work of the Holy Spirit and God's great blessing to us God's love.

When we remember even the Apostles Creed how it speaks of those three portions of the triune God I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and we remember he was a creator and he had his creation work in the beginning.

And then we believe in Jesus Christ his Son our Lord and we remember this redemption work of our Lord Jesus Christ and his time on this earth as man fulfilling the will of God being the perfect sacrifice and arising victorious over sin and hell and death.

But how he said that he must leave but he would send the Comforter.

And so we also believe I believe in the holy Christian church the communion of saints the resurrection of the body the Holy Ghost.

And this is the time we live today where God works through his kingdom the kingdom which is united by his spirit the Holy Spirit.

And what a beautiful kingdom it is.

I remember one brother who's now gone to rest often saying to us who were young in his home if the time ever comes in your life that the kingdom doesn't seem beautiful to you there's a serious matter to care for.

We know the enemy of souls is working to create just that feeling that the kingdom is no longer beautiful to us and when that begins to happen we no longer see our brothers and sisters as precious brothers and sisters but instead we see their faults and we're critical of them and that which they do and the things which happen even in our home congregations or in our very homes don't seem to look right they don't go well.

Bitter hearts begin to develop and we don't have any longer peace and joy because everything around us is faulty and it is true that the work is often imperfect because it is done with fleshly carnal hands and minds but yet when we see the love of God and the work of the Holy Spirit taking place as God has willed through his flock of believers through his children then in spite of its flaws it is beautiful and we know that the work goes forward as God leads and guides and blesses.

And so we have many words in scripture and in our songs about the Holy Spirit the Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit our true defender the Comforter the spirit of truth all of these describe that beautiful spirit of God.

It wasn't a new God or a new spirit on this first I shouldn't say first even this Pentecost occasion when it came upon the disciples that first time after Jesus' death and resurrection but it was a powerful moment where God revealed unto them encouraged them to go forth and do that work which he wished and which Jesus had commanded.

And Jesus himself had said when he appeared unto the disciples to receive ye the Holy Ghost whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained.

And in his baptismal command he said to go forth and teach and preach the remission of sins and to baptize among all nations and that he would always be with them unto the end.

And this is how then the work goes forward with the power not of man but of the Holy Spirit.

And when we preach forgiveness to one another as God's children to God's children they aren't the words of man it isn't man's forgiveness but it is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And in this way what is forgiven here among man is forgiven by our Father in heaven.

And when we have felt this warm rushing mighty wind of heaven the love of the Holy Spirit in our hearts we too have wanted to speak of God's grace in our lives to preach forgiveness unto our loved ones and those around us to relate of the good news and the peace and joy which we have been able to experience in this way offer to those who do not own this peace that it too could belong to them.

So we read in the beginning that the Comforter the Holy Ghost as Jesus prophesied would teach unto us all things that it would come from the Father in his name the name of Jesus and that then he would leave peace with us and let not our hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.

Our young graduates and all of us who have been given grace to believe have a teacher with us always the Holy Ghost.

We want to hear that voice and we don't ever want that spirit to leave us this is God's grace and his gift to us and we nurture it when we are able to keep faith and a good conscience.

Even this morning brothers and sisters uplift your hearts to believe all sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

I too want to hear that gospel message of forgiveness can you forgive me for all my sins I want to believe with you and be joyful and happy today brothers and sisters believe all sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood be happy and joyful today.

This is Pentecost and that marvelous time which those apostles experienced yet happens today when we feel those warm winds of heaven God's love through his spirit in Jesus' name. Amen.

Let us close with the Lord's benediction.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And who Jesus we have some can see him say prze sudden he