Greetings in the name of our Crucified, Risen, and Ascended Lord, Jesus Christ!
Today we celebrate the disciples' reception of the gift promised by their Rabbi on the Day of Pentecost. If you would like to hear "The Spirit of Hearing," the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah on this holy day of Pentecost, go to: http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1326 The audio begins with the Scripture lessons, continues with the singing of the Hymn of the Day, and concludes with the Offertory. The sermon begins at the 14:40 mark. Have a blessed week in the Spirit of hearing that has been given to you. Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor Trinity Lutheran Church Layton, Utah Here is the sermon manuscript. Thanks to Rev. Erik Rottmann for the Ascension-Pentecost connection. [Jesus said:] "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. . . . "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 Dearly beloved of God, Imagine that first Day of Pentecost--tongues of fire, men speaking in all kinds of languages. Were it to happen today, the first reaction would probably be to have all of our toddlers, their mothers preschool teachers and child care workers to get everyone with tongues of fire on their heads to stop, drop and roll! To some it was nothing but drunken babbling. But to others, the "wonderful works of God" [Acts 2:11] were being proclaimed in their native language. The interesting thing here is that both reactions were prompted by the exact same event. Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. What's the difference? The Spirit of hearing. Two ears and one mouth. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.@ [Acts 2:41] Not all had tongues over their heads or in their mouths. It was the disciples who were all with one accord in one place over whom the tongues of fire rested and who were filled with the Holy Spirit to speak of Christ in many tongues. But it was the multitude that heard. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.6And at this sound [of the mighty rushing wind] the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. But even of those who heard, not all of them really heard at all. How many untold thousands remained and were confirmed in their judgment with hearts hardened to the same Spirit and Word by which the 3000 were baptized and saved. [1 Peter 3:21] But we know that just as at that Day of Pentecost, even more have rejected, run away, rebelled against this baptism, this liturgy, this sermon, this conf/absolution, this Lord's Supper, this cross, this mighty work of God by which all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Why? Because that Word which was heard also proclaimed that the hearer was responsible for the death of the Son of God. Be not dismayed. That is not the fault of those things of God, but of those who perceive them as babbling rather than "wonderful works of God" that they are. For the same things that proclaim YOU crucified the Son of God also tell you . . . This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. [Acts 2:32-33] "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." [Acts 2:36] The One you crucified is back, not to judge you-yet--but to love you, i.e. forgive you into His kingdom. Take it to the streets where you live. Take it again and again to your friends and loved ones who have yet to hear it or have not heard it for a long time. They might tell you they have Jesus in their heart or that He is everywhere so they don't have to go to church to be with Him. But there is a great difference between Jesus being everywhere and Jesus being there to bless. That is, there is a great difference between being where Jesus is and being connected to Jesus. Where the Ascension marks Jesus filling of all things so that He might be always near to you, Pentecost is the connection Jesus makes to you through the gift of His Holy Spirit. "He [the Spirit] will glorify Me," says Jesus, "for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you." "When the Helper comes. the Spirit of truth. He will bear witness about Me," says Jesus. "He will take what is Mine and declare it to you." So you see, the work and office of the Holy Spirit is to deliver to you and to proclaim to you and to assure you that you now have all the gifts of Jesus Christ's life, death, and bodily resurrection. That He has ascended to bless and keep you now, in His church by the Spirit of hearing until He comes again in all His glory. This is why we confess in the Third Article of the Creed, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins. . . . Confess Third Article, LSB, p. 323 together. Through God's holy Christian church and only through His church, which is the communion or participation of the saints in the Holy things of God-Word and Sacrament--the Holy Spirit forgives the sins of those gathered to hear that they may believe and have eternal life. There is only one baptism, one message, one Word of God that saves and gives eternal life, and you just can't dress it up or put it in a closet for those who don't like facing the ugliness of their own sin. This two edged sword kills you dead and then raises you up again--just like your Savior was crucified, dead, and buried before He rose again from the dead and ascended to the Father. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.[Acts 2:38] What is that gift--THE gift of gifts? It is the Pentecost gift the Holy Spirit now declares to you, the gift the Spirit of hearing For the sake of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God the Father forgives you all of your sins . . . In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen + + + Insofar as this sermon is a true proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, it belongs to Him and His Church. Therefore its use is free to all who deem it worthy and beneficial. ____________________________________________________________ Click here for great quotes from top international movers! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/BLSrjpYZJC3tzh2F5doRDNKy6nzN7ufUOyTnQXwttV33XOoBAMJ1twXAgJi/
