Sermon for John 14: 15-21
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 1st 2005
Say Amen! Say Hallelujah! Say Praise the Lord! What’s up with these strange looks? What is it about the Holy Spirit that makes us squirm in our seats? I mean we all believe in God right? And I probably preach about Jesus 90% of the time, and we like hearing those messages, right? But when it comes to the third person of the Trinity people from the Lutheran tradition aren’t quite certain how to react. We might get uptight, worried, even concerned.
Do we really believe what we recite in the Apostle’s and Nicene Creed were we say, “We believe in the Holy Spirit?” Do we believe the Holy Spirit is intended for us or is it something that resides in those ‘other churches?’ Do we believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity—actually God’s self? You see, the Holy Spirit can be so much more than we often allow it to be. We believe, but our disbelief is also present.
In the first lesson of Acts, the writer Luke tells about how Paul goes to Athens Greece. Here he runs into a Greek culture with many gods. He stands in front of the people and says, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. I even found an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.”
And in many ways we live in a culture not so much different than what Paul runs into…an extremely religious culture. That’s right! There is not a shortage of gods in the world today and we worship them all…god of money, god of family, god of job, god of pleasure, god of self—but as Paul claims we ought not think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or images formed by the arts and imagination of our minds. God is the One who gives mortals life and breath and all things. God is the One who overlooks our ignorance and commands you and I to repent.
And as Peter writes, God is One who suffers the death on the cross for your sin, even went to the spirits in prison. It is through passage such as this one where we derive our descended into hell from our creeds—or as I like to put it, Jesus descends to even to our darkest places—even in our hell God is there. God is One who raised Jesus from the dead and will judge the world. Can I get an Amen?
Yet so much of the time to us extremely religious people, this God who does so much remains simply an unknown God.
However, in today’s passage of John we read that Jesus promises an Advocate, a Helper, a Comforter—the Spirit of truth, whom the world has such a difficult time in receiving. The text goes on to say, “But you know him, because he lives with you, and he will be in you.” Once again Jesus comes to us in our darkest places, our hell and says, “I will not leave you orphaned. I will not leave you alone.”
And it’s interesting that today our society is petrified of being alone. We have more gizmos and gadgets than any generation before us, all intended to keep us in touch with one another. Just this past week I counted 10-10 mind you cars in a row talking on their cell phone. Is that because we can’t stand being left alone?
But Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit of God will come so that we would not be left alone, Say “Not Alone! Praise the Lord!”
Jesus also tells us that although he would be leaving, those who love him and follow his commandments will never die. How that for a promise! Because I live, you shall live also. Say permanent house guests. Hallelujah!
Jesus also tells us that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach all things and help us remember all things that have been taught. This is the Spirit of Truth. Say “All Things! Amen.”
Martin Luther says, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith, even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth.”
So using Martin Luther’s teaching and Scripture we will see and understand the Holy Spirit is the one shows us this unknown God and who calls us to follow Christ, who gathers us into community, who enlightens us with His knowledge and His gifts, and actually keeps us in the faith. Say, “Come Holy Spirit!”
First, the Holy Spirit calls!
Everyone who claims to believe and hopes they have found forgiveness in Christ Jesus has been called to do so by the Spirit! You did not come to this conclusion on your own. This is what the Spirit does.
You see, some, including myself years ago had great difficulty accepting that by myself I cannot believe. Worse yet, by myself I can do nothing that is good. Man that used to really bother me. Why? Because this statement means that I am not in charge of my salvation.
Yet as time has passed, it is a very good thing I’m not in charge. Now one of the greatest moments in living comes when I do something that is acceptable and good, I know that it is not me, but the Holy Spirit of God working through me. Did you hear that?
God the Spirit is with me, God Almighty is with my sorry behind causing me, cause you to do what we are meant to do. God is actually with us! Say Praise the Lord!
And now just like Abraham, Moses, Peter and Paul, you are a chosen person and have been called. Called by the God who created the heavens and the earth. Call by God incarnate in the person of Jesus.
The person that cleans the church is just as called as the church council president. The greeter at the door is just as called as the pastor in the pulpit, and you all sitting in the pews are just as called as our illustrious bishop. Called to serve and worship God!
Say, Amen!
Yes it is the Spirit that does the calling, not you! But the Spirit does more than call. The Holy Spirit gathers us into this community. We are not only created to be in a relationship with God, we are created to be in relationships to others.
It is in community we study the Holy Word of God. It is in community we share the elements. It is in community we feel our sorrows and celebrate our joys together. It is in community we are lifted up when we’re beaten down, and given the opportunity for forgiveness when we go astray. Jesus says, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” Say Thank you Jesus!
The Holy Spirit calls! The Holy Spirit gathers us into community.
And the Holy Spirit enlightens us. Enlightens us not only with knowledge of God, and the Love of Christ, but enlightens us with gifts to make miracles in the community happen.
Every single one of you has important role to play with the gifts the Spirit has given you. This is why this particular Lampstand of God is growing, not because of our own efforts, but because the Spirit is working on all of us together. Yes, we are enlightened with gifts so that the body of Christ, the community of all Christians may be built up until that day when we see Christ face-to-face. Say face-to-face, Amen!
Finally the Holy Spirit sanctifies! Sanctifies is one of those fancy religious terms that simply put means, to live a good life. Yes, of course in this life we are simultaneously saints and sinners, but we are called to give ourselves to God, who through the Holy Spirit brings transforming power to our lives. One of the best daggone ways to make a powerful statement of faith to the people around you is the way you live your life. Say transforming power, Hallelujah!
So you see, even though God created the heavens and the earth in a mystical fashion, even though Jesus, God incarnate came and lived among us some 2000 years ago, and ascended into heaven, God though His only Son has not left us alone! We have the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Helper, the Comforter any time, any time we call upon the name of Jesus. Say any time! Amen.
As you all know baseball season is underway, and some may say God is at work because the Cubs and White Sox are both in first place, but that not my point. The other night I was watching the Dodgers and the Braves and they were talking about Jackie Robinson. I thought to myself, “Self this is sort of what the Holy Spirit does.”
Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play major league baseball. The story went on to talk about how this young man faced jeering crowds night after night, at every stadium he played in.
Because of his color Jackie was held to a higher standard. One day while playing in his home stadium in Brooklyn he committed two back to back errors at second base and crowd really began to ridicule him.
He stood on second base humiliated while the fans would not let up. All of a sudden the shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and simply put his arm around Jackie and stood there with him. Robinson was no longer alone and the fans grew quiet.
Later on Robinson said that Pee Wee’s act of solidarity, that simple arm around his shoulder saved his career and gave him the strength to go on.
When we grope or search for answers, God finds us and calls us by name.
When we need support, we are gathered in community.
When don’t have the knowledge or abilities, we are enlightened with gifts.
When we commit errors, we are sanctified by the Spirit’s presence.
Yes we as Christians like Jackie Robinson are held to a higher standard, and as the world continues to ridicule and humiliate when we miss the mark, our God has given us part of Himself—the Advocate, the Helper, the Comforter, when we need him the most. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit come to us in our darkest places, simply puts His arm around us and saves our lives, giving us the strength to carry on.
Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit!
Can I get a Praise the Lord? Praise the Lord! Amen.
