Preached in May 2012
Order of Service: The Order of Morning Worship, Page 5.
Old Testament Lesson: Joel 2:28-32.
Epistle Lesson: Acts 2:1-13.
Gospel Lesson: John 14:23-31.
Sermon: “The Work Of The Holy Ghost Covers Our Entire Spiritual Life.” Titus 3:5; Phil. 2:13; Phil. 1:6, plus others.
Hymns: 227, 225, 234, 224
Dear Friends in Christ,
Just as there are turning points in secular history, so also there are turning points in the history of God’s people.
Consider just a few of the major turning points. There is of course man’s fall into sin. It changed the entire course of history. Man who was originally made in the image of God fell into sin and death. Even the creation itself suffered the curse of sin. The world was never the same since the Fall.
Then there is the Flood. When the people of the world became so exceedingly wicked such that even the believers numbered only eight, God destroyed the world with a universal Flood. It was as if God had to start all over again in building up the human race and to raise up a church of believers.
Then there was the calling of Abraham and the establishment of the Hebrew race and nation. The Hebrew people would be the vessels of the Gospel promises and the chosen people out of whom the Savior would come.
Still another turning point was the Exodus: God’s miraculous deliverance of the Hebrew nation from Egyptian bondage. God delivered the Hebrew nation for the sake of the Gospel.
Yet rising above all these turning points, the ultimate turning point, was the birth of the Savior into the world. So great was the impact of Christ’s incarnation that to this day history is divided by B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (the year of our Lord). This shall ever be the turning point of all turning points. In the person of Christ, God Himself entered human flesh. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) In Christ, salvation was brought to all mankind.
However, there is another turning point which deserves our attention. It is a turning point which pertains to the establishment and advancement of the New Testament Church. It is the turning point which we celebrate today. This turning point is the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostolic Church on Pentecost. Indeed, before Christ suffered, died and rose again, He several times foretold of this special sending of the Spirit. In John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth.” Again, John 14:26 Jesus says, “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.” Then, prior to His Ascension, Jesus said, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:5) This prophecy was fulfilled on that Sunday when the Holy Ghost appeared to the disciples with the sound of a rushing mighty wind, and cloven tongues of fire on their heads. This appearance of the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak the Gospel in many languages. By virtue of this special outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost, the New Testament Church was empowered to make disciples of all nations. It was a significant turning point
Today as we celebrate Pentecost, we are basing our sermon on more than one text. The reason is that our sermon will show that “The Work Of The Holy Spirit Covers Our Entire Spiritual Life.” As we shall see, there is no facet of our spiritual life which does not involve the working of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s begin with the beginning or the start of our spiritual life. When did our spiritual life begin? It began with our conversion either in Baptism as infants, or by the hearing of the Gospel as grown persons. As we have been taught over and over again, at our natural birth from our mothers, we had no spiritual life. We were born spiritually dead in trespasses and and sins. And just as a dead body cannot raise itself, neither can a spiritually dead soul bring itself to life. It took the power of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and the preached Word to bring us to new life. We had no hand in our conversion. No choosing, no decision making, only the working of the Holy Spirit. As our first text says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5) Our conversion from spiritual death to spiritual life was all the work of the Holy Ghost. This is why the Bible says, “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (I Cor. 12:3) This is why we do not minimize our Baptism. Our Baptism was the instrument of the Holy Ghost to bring us to faith. Yet even for adult converts, their Baptism is used of the Holy Ghost to seal the faith first received through the preached Word. This is why we emphasize the importance of our Baptism. In fact, Scripture makes this same emphasis, saying, “But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Cor. 6:11) This, then was the start of our spiritual life.
What is more, once the Holy Spirit brought us to faith, He came to dwell in our hearts to assure us that we are the children of God. Paul says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal. 4:6) What a blessing is this internal witness of the Spirit in our hearts! Thus, Romans 8:16 also says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Yes, we do know in our hearts that we believe because of this internal conviction of the Spirit. This is why Jesus calls the Holy Ghost the Comforter. He comforts our hearts with the forgiveness of sins and with the assurance that we are the children of God.
Thus, even as we are troubled by our sins, and even as we sometimes get discouraged, the Holy Spirit comforts us with the peace of Christ. Christ says, “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 trouble, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) While Jesus earned this peace for us on the cross, it is the Holy Spirit who pours that peace of Jesus into our hearts. The Comforter comforts us with the peace of knowing that all our sins are paid for. Through the promises of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit assures us that even the worst of sins have been paid for and forgiven. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Another facet of our spiritual life that is covered by the Holy Spirit is that of growth in faith and in a life of sanctification. The Bible plainly says, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18) Growing in knowledge and understanding is a significant part of our spiritual life. So many professing Christians give evidence that they are not all that interested or concerned about growing in knowledge and understanding. Luther once remarked that so many Christians hardly know anything more than they knew a year ago! That is a dangerous condition. It leaves the believer more vulnerable to falling back into unbelief.
Though it may sound trite, it is a fact that if we are not growing, we are dying. Thus, Hebrews 5:12 says, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
Yet a Christian need not remain a babe in the faith. The solution to spiritual immaturity is to avail ourselves of the power of the Spirit in the Word. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Word of God uses that very Word which He inspired to continue to teach us of the things of God and to grow in understanding. In other words, growth in knowledge and understanding is not something far- fetched. Every Christian, through the Word and the Holy Spirit working through that Word, is able to grow in knowledge and understanding. As the Bible itself explains, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect (mature), thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16-17) Indeed, the Holy Spirit is ever teaching us to know Christ better. Jesus says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13-15)
Still another facet of our Christian life which the Holy Spirit covers is related to growth in knowledge and understanding. By the power of the Spirit, we are also able to grow in sanctification or holiness of living. Now this phrase “holiness of living” is too often misinterpreted as a life which is virtually free of sin. Not so! Every Christian, just like Paul, can say, “The good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not that I do.” Thus, growing inholiness of living is not some unobtainable perfection in living. However, as we grow in knowledge and understanding, there comes with it the desire to live a God-pleasing life. We want more and more to conform our lives to the Word of God. We desire more and more to grow in love and kindness.
Yet not only do we grow in our desire to be sanctified, but by the power of the Spirit we realize actual progress in sanctification. The Bible clearly says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) Notice, God, and that includes the Holy Ghost, not only instills the will to do God’s good pleasure, but He also brings about a doing of God’s good pleasure. The Holy Spirit works in us both the willing and the doing. Thus, the Holy Spirit brings forth in us the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Also included in the sanctification which the Holy Spirit works in us is the will to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. We do not want to sin. We want to be obedient children. Again, the Holy Spirit works this through the Word. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11) And again, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9) O how wonderful it is that the Holy Spirit actually enables us to grow in sanctification!
Finally, the work of the Holy Spirit includes something we all have a concern about. And what is that? We all wonder, will I remain a true Christian unto the end? We wonder this because Jesus Himself says, “but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt. 24:13) Also we are warned against falling away. Thanks be to God, we are not left hanging on this important matter. Scripture gives us the answer of whether we shall endure unto the end. The Apostle Paul writes, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6) Like Paul we can be confident because the very God who began a good work in us will perform, will make good on, all He began in the first place. Thus, the Holy Spirit who began our spiritual life in Baptism will make good on what He started. He will keep us until the day of Jesus Christ. That means He will preserve us in saving faith until the day our Savior comes back for us. Yet the same is true if we should die before the Lord comes back. The Spirit will preserve our souls up to our dying breath!
At the outset of the sermon we pointed out how the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost was a turning point in the New Testament Church. O what a turning point! Disciples have been made of all nations! Yet as we think about it, when the Holy Spirit began His good work in us in our Baptism, this was the turning point of our entire life. When the Holy Spirit brought us to faith, we became altogether new people! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Cor. 5:17) We are new creatures in Christ and shall remain new creatures in Christ because of the wonderful work of God the Holy Ghost. This is truly something to celebrate! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.