The Promise of a Comforter

Acts 2
Moments before His ascension into heaven Jesus told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the promise of the Comforter (the Holy Spirit whom He would send from the Father) had been fulfilled. The first Pentecost is the
fulfilment of that promise. Empowered by the Spirit of God, the disciples went out into all the world preaching the Gospel of Christ, the good news of salvation.

Christians, you and me, all have been enlightened and empowered by the same Holy Spirit, gifted through God’s Word and the Sacraments. In Martin Luther’s explanation of the Apostles Creed, he writes: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing 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 me and kept me in the one true faith.”

As Lutherans, do we talk about, acknowledge, or preach the Holy Spirit sufficiently? We know God the Father is our true father and creator. We know Jesus is God, the Son, our Saviour. We have a sincere love of Jesus and a deep love for the Bible. But what to do with the Holy Spirit? And how are we filled with the Holy Spirit so that we will have the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

We can only find answers in the Scriptures, so that is where we must go concerning the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Holy Spirit daily empowers you in your faith in Jesus and your witness to Him. Amen

Pastor Darryl