The Gift of the Holy Spirit

The text for our meditation on God’s Holy Word is the second lesson appointed for Pentecost. I bring grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today, when we think of Pentecost, we think about the New Testament gift of God’s Spirit upon the church and of course that it true. But it was a Jewish harvest festival long before it was a Christian holy day—in fact, that is why the disciples and those Jews from all over the world were there in Jerusalem in the first place—to celebrate the harvest festival of Pentecost.

The really miraculous and wonderful thing is that this harvest feast of physical gifts was transformed by the sending of the Holy Spirit into a harvest of souls that has been celebrated and lived out in the church for the last two thousand years.

Today we will see how God’s sending of the Holy Spirit accomplishes this harvest of souls—1. that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift for the proclamation of Jesus Christ—2. that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all believers so that all can have a part in his mission—3. and that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift given in preparation for our Lord’s return so that many can call on the name of the Lord in faith and be saved. Luke writes:

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. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

In our Old Testament lesson for today we hear the story of the Tower of Babel and how the Lord confused the languages of the world. What may not be readily apparent at first reading is that God did that as an act of his mercy.

Humanity was in a bad place spiritually and was headed in a direction that would lead them farther and farther away from God. Their technological achievements led to a pride in themselves that lifted them up in their own minds almost to the place of God. There’s some important modern applications in their story for another day-- but suffice to say, before they could fall farther into sinful pride, God stopped them by confusing their language.

What happened on Pentecost thousands of years later was the lifting of that curse on account of what happened fifty days before Pentecost in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The curse of Babel and the judgment of God on account of man’s sin was laid upon Jesus-- who really did bridge heaven and earth and once again joined God and man together-- not by the works of man’s hands reaching up into heaven—but by the work of God in Christ who reached down into this broken world and was nailed to a cross—atoning for our sins.

What God divided at Babel on account of man’s sin-- he united on Pentecost on account of Christ’s sacrifice for sins-- and at just the right moment, thousands of faithful Jews from all around the world heard the message of the Gospel miraculously being preached in their own language by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I want you to understand that it was no accident that the gift of God’s Spirit came upon the church on the Jewish harvest feast of Pentecost so that something much more valuable than crops could be harvested—human souls.

It was no accident that Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims so that at just the right time the Gospel of forgiveness could be proclaimed to as many as possible.
It was no accident that people from all over the world were there so that the message of Christ’s peace could be taken to every place.

The God of creation doesn’t do accidents—then or now. We exist at this place and time and with the gifts and abilities that we have been given so that by the power of that same Holy Spirit WE can join in this Pentecost harvest miracle of sharing Christ with the world for the salvation of souls.

Much too often, we have a tendency to look at what we don’t have when it comes to the mission of Christ-- instead of believing that the same God of Pentecost is still present among us--equipping us perfectly for our part in his mission.

We are where we are- and we know what we know- and we have what we have- so that we too can proclaim Christ to our part of the world as Savior and Lord—a message that is for all people. Luke writes that, assembled there in Jerusalem that Pentecost festival there were:

Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

What does this mean? That is a question that people from nations all across the world are still asking about Christians—maybe not the meaning of rushing winds and tongues of fire—but about our lives and faith and message.

What does it mean that Christians teach there is only one way to God? What does it mean that Christians believe that there is forgiveness for even the worst of sinners? What does it mean that Christians will still lay down their lives in martyrdom rather than deny Christ? What does it mean that Christians think very differently about moral issues than the rest of the world? What does it mean that Christians care for and love not just their friends and family but also their enemies?

And these questions about meaning are our God-given opportunities—our Pentecost moments-- to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world. The apostles had an opportunity to proclaim him to the people of the surrounding nations—but not to folks from South Texas—that’s our job for this time—and the gift of God’s Spirit was given for that very purpose—of proclaiming Jesus Christ with power and boldness and clarity where we are-- because still today, there are people who will ridicule and call into question our proclamation.

But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“This isn’t from God—they’re just drunk”. Scorn and ridicule. It is always going to be that way to one degree or the other when it comes to those who faithfully bear witness to Christ and call the world to repentance and faith.

The Bible tells us that the preaching of Christ is foolishness to the unregenerate mind—that it is the height of foolishness to those who are perishing in their sins to believe that their salvation is found in a Jewish man who lived two thousands years ago.

Only God can change hearts like that! That is why God’s gift of the Spirit is so important! God the Holy Spirit empowers those who speak the Gospel and fills their proclamation with the power of God himself so that hearts that are dead in sin and trespasses are made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit-- and what they once regarded as the height of foolishness—Jesus--becomes instead their life—and those believers who once shrunk back in fear-- step forward to bear witness to Christ.

That is what we see so clearly in the life of Peter from Pentecost on. Where just a few short weeks before Peter had abandoned and denied Christ because he was too afraid to answer a little girl’s questions about Jesus, now with the gift of the Holy Spirit he was transformed into a powerful witness for Christ.

That gift and promise of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is not just for the twelve disciples but is promised to all of God’s people and always has been. Peter quotes the prophet Joel:

" 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

From the moment that we are baptized and come to faith in Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. That is how we believe in the first place! That gift is strengthened and sustained in us again and again as we hear God’s Word and receive his sacraments. And it is a gift for all people.

In Joel’s prophecy we see that the gift of the Spirit is for young and old. It is for men and women. It is for people in every station in life no matter how humble-a promise that the power and presence of God himself dwells in the lives of all believers regardless of age, or gender, or status. That promise was fulfilled on Pentecost and the privilege to speak about Jesus on behalf of God—to prophesy--was given to all Christians.

And all Christians need to be about the Lord’s work because the events of our Lord’s death and resurrection—his ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit ushered in the Last Days—this time of grace in which the church has lived for the last two thousand years before our Lord’s return, calling the world to come to Christ and be saved while there is still time.

That saving mission is why we exist as individuals and as a congregation at this moment—it is why all of God’s people are gifted with the Holy Spirit—so that we might be the Noah’s of our day, warning people of the wrath of God’s judgment to come, but also, and especially, inviting them to trust in Jesus and be saved before it is too late. Luke writes of that day when the time of grace will come to an end—a time when there will be:

wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

The Bible tells us clearly that it is the Lord’s will that everyone be saved-- but for that to happen they must call upon him in faith. That is why God has given the church the gift of the Holy Spirit—so that the saving Name of Jesus would be proclaimed to the ends of the earth-- so that people can know him and believe in him and call upon him.

For thousands of years, it was sufficient for salvation to believe in the Messiah to come. But when the second person of the Trinity entered into history and took on flesh and blood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth-- it was necessary for salvation to believe in a particular person who was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth and preached in Galilee and died and rose again in Jerusalem.

To be saved it was necessary for people to call upon the name of Jesus in faith-- and the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost so that Name could be proclaimed by all Christians for the salvation of the world.

The same is still true today--salvation comes only by faith in Jesus. As the day of our Lord’s return in glory grows ever closer and the day of grace draws to an end--we thank God for his gift of the Holy Spirit—a gift that is given to all believers so that Jesus can be proclaimed for the salvation of the world and a rich, abundant harvest of souls be gathered in. God grant that we would all do our part in his mission. Amen.

And now may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.