Text: John 14:23-31
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
The Day of Pentecost which we celebrate today begins the work of the church. In a dramatic way the Spirit comes.
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 work of the church begins with the Spirit; the rushing wind, the fire, speaking in foreign tongues, hearing in one’s own language, quite a dramatic scene. The Festival of Weeks – grain harvest – those Jews gathered together in Jerusalem – and the Spirit comes just as Jesus had said 50 days after Easter and 10 days after Christ ascended.
In our gospel reading for today and in answer to the question, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest [make known] yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Love, Word, Father, Peace!
23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Last week we learned that by the work of the Spirit we have unity with the Father and the Son but that Christ’s hope and purpose was that through this unity
the world may believe [may know] that you have sent me-and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:21b; 23b
Love
A long marriage – say one of 50 years - does not in and of itself proclaim Christ to a world that needs to hear. But in the case of Pastor and Nancy Merrell, it is a testament to that faith in Christ and by the working of the Holy Spirit that we celebrate with them that reality today.
The blessing of a long marriage can be joy filled but also full of the ups and downs of life lived in the Spirit through the bonds of the flesh. The loss of dear loved ones is part of a long marriage. Parents, grandparents, siblings and dear friends are remembered fondly but with sadness at this time of separation but also this sadness is tempered with new joys we share with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, filling each day with the blessings that a long marriage can provide.
We celebrate with Pastor and Nancy this joy today and the hope for the future God has for them and their family, but also for the thankful joy of their service to our Lord and his mission by the Spirit’s work here at Peace for so many years.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Word!
The Holy Spirit worked in the lives of those first disciples as the day of Pentecost came. Tongues of fire rested on the disciples.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 1:4
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. Acts 1:6
By this working of the Spirit through the word Christ is made known.
St. Peter’s sermon to those first ears to hear the word of promise in a new way by the working of the Holy Spirit is proclaimed:
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 1:21
By the Spirit through the word many were brought to repentance, they were baptized and the fullness of the Holy Spirit was made new in the lives of these believers.
By that same Spirit those who wrote as they were led, bring the promise of Christ to we who hear today
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39
Father!
On Christ’s ascension we now build by the working of the Holy Spirit.
Proceeding from the Father and the Son the Spirit of truth brings to our remembrance all that Christ has said and done for us. By this working we know the unity of the Godhead in Christ and the Father’s love for you and me.
For we who have been blessed to be fathers also know the joys and trials of being sons.
At times punishment needed to be meted out. As my dad would often get home from work he would say to my mom, half jesting.
“Okay, line them up and tell me which one I need to hit.”
It was usually me, as the oldest, who had found some disfavor with my mom probably in relation to my siblings.
My dad would say, “Go to your room and wait for me!”
The word of truth from my father had both command and promise. It commanded me to go to my room with the promise that there would be a resolution in his favor!
After a long and tedious wait dad would come in usually with this question.
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 work of the church begins with the Spirit; the rushing wind, the fire, speaking in foreign tongues, hearing in one’s own language, quite a dramatic scene. The Festival of Weeks – grain harvest – those Jews gathered together in Jerusalem – and the Spirit comes just as Jesus had said 50 days after Easter and 10 days after Christ ascended.
In our gospel reading for today and in answer to the question, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest [make known] yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Love, Word, Father, Peace!
23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Last week we learned that by the work of the Spirit we have unity with the Father and the Son but that Christ’s hope and purpose was that through this unity
the world may believe [may know] that you have sent me-and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:21b; 23b
Love
A long marriage – say one of 50 years - does not in and of itself proclaim Christ to a world that needs to hear. But in the case of Pastor and Nancy Merrell, it is a testament to that faith in Christ and by the working of the Holy Spirit that we celebrate with them that reality today.
The blessing of a long marriage can be joy filled but also full of the ups and downs of life lived in the Spirit through the bonds of the flesh. The loss of dear loved ones is part of a long marriage. Parents, grandparents, siblings and dear friends are remembered fondly but with sadness at this time of separation but also this sadness is tempered with new joys we share with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, filling each day with the blessings that a long marriage can provide.
We celebrate with Pastor and Nancy this joy today and the hope for the future God has for them and their family, but also for the thankful joy of their service to our Lord and his mission by the Spirit’s work here at Peace for so many years.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Word!
The Holy Spirit worked in the lives of those first disciples as the day of Pentecost came. Tongues of fire rested on the disciples.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 1:4
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. Acts 1:6
By this working of the Spirit through the word Christ is made known.
St. Peter’s sermon to those first ears to hear the word of promise in a new way by the working of the Holy Spirit is proclaimed:
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 1:21
By the Spirit through the word many were brought to repentance, they were baptized and the fullness of the Holy Spirit was made new in the lives of these believers.
By that same Spirit those who wrote as they were led, bring the promise of Christ to we who hear today
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39
Father!
On Christ’s ascension we now build by the working of the Holy Spirit.
Proceeding from the Father and the Son the Spirit of truth brings to our remembrance all that Christ has said and done for us. By this working we know the unity of the Godhead in Christ and the Father’s love for you and me.
For we who have been blessed to be fathers also know the joys and trials of being sons.
At times punishment needed to be meted out. As my dad would often get home from work he would say to my mom, half jesting.
“Okay, line them up and tell me which one I need to hit.”
It was usually me, as the oldest, who had found some disfavor with my mom probably in relation to my siblings.
My dad would say, “Go to your room and wait for me!”
The word of truth from my father had both command and promise. It commanded me to go to my room with the promise that there would be a resolution in his favor!
After a long and tedious wait dad would come in usually with this question.
“Did you think about what you did?”
[Yes] You just nodded yes. You didn’t speak in his presence.
“Are you going to do it again?”
[No] Shaking head back and forth in the negative.
That’s repentance.
“You’re lucky your mom and I love you!” Dad would say, “Okay you can go play. But don’t do it again”
That’s forgiveness.
At lease it was until the next time I had to go to my room!
The Father’s love for you will never stop forgiving and by the Spirit’s work pointing you to Christ and all he’s done for you. He will continue to pursue you each day of your life through repentance for the purpose of forgiveness.
Peace!
The Father and Son by the working of the Spirit have made their home with you. They dwell with you and in you because you are theirs. You keep the word by the working of the Spirit and when you fall short – and need to go to your room so to speak - the Spirit by the word draws you back to repentance so that God’s blessed forgiveness once again frees you from the burden of your sin and its consequences.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
By God’s Spirit we have confidence in his work in us and his love for us so that though we wrestle and are burdened by sin, death and devil daily we have the hope of God’s victory for us now and always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
[Yes] You just nodded yes. You didn’t speak in his presence.
“Are you going to do it again?”
[No] Shaking head back and forth in the negative.
That’s repentance.
“You’re lucky your mom and I love you!” Dad would say, “Okay you can go play. But don’t do it again”
That’s forgiveness.
At lease it was until the next time I had to go to my room!
The Father’s love for you will never stop forgiving and by the Spirit’s work pointing you to Christ and all he’s done for you. He will continue to pursue you each day of your life through repentance for the purpose of forgiveness.
Peace!
The Father and Son by the working of the Spirit have made their home with you. They dwell with you and in you because you are theirs. You keep the word by the working of the Spirit and when you fall short – and need to go to your room so to speak - the Spirit by the word draws you back to repentance so that God’s blessed forgiveness once again frees you from the burden of your sin and its consequences.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
By God’s Spirit we have confidence in his work in us and his love for us so that though we wrestle and are burdened by sin, death and devil daily we have the hope of God’s victory for us now and always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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