The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
June 8, 2025. John 14:15-21. Richard Senum
Jesus and the disciples are in Jerusalem. It is the time of Passover. And it is a few short days until he will sacrifice his life for ours on the cross. He spends the time left teaching the disciples – praying for them and for us. But he knows that for them to go out into the world and spread the gospel – after he’s gone - they will need something more than just their own personal abilities, characteristics and initiative. Therefore, Jesus tells them that he will ask the Father to send them an advocate – the Holy Spirit. And this is what we read in John’s gospel this morning:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
And just as Jesus said - the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and the other followers fifty days after the resurrection – the Day of Pentecost. From our second reading this morning;
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
After the resurrection Jesus was seen for 40 days. A number that is mentioned several times in the pages of Scripture and refers to a time of preparation. Then Jesus ascends into heaven (Last week’s reading and sermon from Pastor Ed). Then 10 days after the Ascension the Holy Spirit descends from heaven and comes to everyone of the believers in that upper room.
As I thought about this amazing event and compared it to Old Testament reference about God’s Spirit - I was aware of the difference in the number of people involved. In the Old Testament - and I’ll refer to some of those shortly – The involvement of God’s Spirit in the lives of people was kind of a one-of event.
But the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was more than a one of event. It started with the 120 believers in the upper room. Then filled with the Holy Spirit those 120 believers began speaking in the languages of the Jews from other nation - who had come to Jerusalem for Passover. In Act 2: 9-11a Luke identifies the different nationalities; “…Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs.” After the crowd had heard Peter (and we might assume the others as well) Luke tells us in Acts 2 verse 41; Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
The in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost “kick started” the outreach of the church. The first day of the Great Commission as Jesus told them to do. This is what he says to the disciples in the end of the gospel of Matthew 28:19; “…go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
The Holy Spirit didn’t just happen on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit – Jesus the Son and God the Father indwelt together before time began. The Holy Spirit was there to help create the earth. In the first two verses of Genesis, we read;
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”
In the Old Testament there are numerous references to the presence and the active work of the Holy Spirit.
In Judges, chapter 13 we read about the birth of Samson. The Angel of the LORD told Samson’s mother that she was going to give birth to a son and that he was going to be a Nazarite – that is, a person dedicated to the LORD and that God’s Spirit would be on him. So in Judges 13: 24-25 we read;
“When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.”
In 1 Samuel 16: 13 – we read how the prophet Samuel anointed David to be the future king of Israel. And when we read the birth of Jesus we learn that David was the many times great grandfather of Joseph and Mary.
“So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”
Through the prophets of the Old Testament - God the Father promises to put his Spirit on his people.
In Isaiah 59: 21 he says:
“And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken! “
Then in Joel 2: 28-29 he says:
“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.”
God’s Spirit being poured out upon all people starts on the Day of Pentecost. And his Spirit is still being poured out today.
But - we must be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit. However, I suspect that - because of the sinful nature within us - we have grieved and continue to grieve it more that we ought. Paul is clear about this when he tells us to live as children of the light. In Ephesians 4: 30 – 32;
“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Sometime we ‘Fall of the wagon” (to coin a phrase) either intentionally or unintentionally. – We admit as much in our confessions “we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.” Even King David who had a heart after God was not immune to the temptation of sin. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then conspired with his soldiers to have her husband killed in battle.
I often wonder if he would have acknowledged his transgression and sinfulness if the prophet Nathan had not confronted him. Nevertheless, recognizing his sinfulness he writes Psalm 51. In reading it we can feel the anguish and sorrow that flows from his heart and the deep feeling of regret and repentance. And don’t we feel the same way about the sinful things we say, think and do.
As I read part of David’s Psalm, think of our own sinfulness and how we have grieved the Holy Spirit:
"Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;"
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.”
Just imagine being there! What an amazing - life changing experience. I would be willingly compelled to fall on my knees in submission and humility before my God. Being face to face with the absolute awesome power of God – I mean – at that moment what else could anyone do.
Last week Pastor Ed alluded to one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. It is - that when we read God’s Holy Word in the Bible we understand it. It seems to me that with out the Holy Spirit even a basic understanding of the plain meaning of the words is difficult let alone the deeper meaning of what God is telling us.
(RELATE STORY OF WAR LOCK)
He could not understand even the plain words of God. Yet we – with the Holy Spirit in us can understand the plain words and the deeper meaning of those words. Do you see the wonderful gift that we have because of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.
In our gospel reading this morning - What did Jesus say about the world and the Holy Spirit; “The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.” They just don’t get it.
Do we deserve this divine gift? Can we boast because the God of all things has given it to us? No – we shall not. – We did not earn it. - It was God’s sovereign will – because of his love for us and his pure grace that he gave the Holy Spirit to us. There is nothing that we – sinful people – could do to earn any of the gifts that God bestows on us.
What God gives us is more valuable than silver or gold or anything else the world has to offer. And we sing a hymn that says that; ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus’.
The Holy Spirit along with the body and blood of Christ Jesus is always with us. God the Father works through Christ and the Holy Spirit and in turn they work through us to accomplish the will of God in this fallen world. Interesting – God works through fallen sinful people to heal a fallen sinful world. What a paradox!
He helps us to discern truth from lies – right from wrong – goodness from evil. And do we get those feelings of discernment correct all the time – probably not.
The Holy Spirit helps us to pray, helps us to read and understand the Bible and he always points our heart and minds to Jesus.
Sometime I feel a fire in my heart – like those two on the road to Emmaus in Luke 28: 24-34; “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
Yes, my heart wants to explode outside of me with Jesus on my lips to tell others about him. About his unfathomable love for them - his willingness to forgive them of their sins and his deep desire to save them from the wrath of God.
But then – the business of our lives – the noise of world events – the concerns about life somehow get in the way.
So - LORD – I pray – I pray that you clear a path through our lives so that we can focus more on you and less on the world around us.
AMEN COME LORD JESUS
Copyright © 2025 St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Kamloops
View this sermon presented live here: https://youtu.be/tkbNQ801XDI
