Dear Christian friends:

Today we have the beautiful red paraments on the altar. Why red? Most of you know that today is Pentecost, the Feast for the Holy Spirit. But what does the red mean? It means life. Red is blood and blood is life. The Holy Spirit is the life of the Church. Without the Holy Spirit the Church is dead, no spiritual life, and you are dead.

Do you have the life of God in you? In your heart? Are you alive and awake to God or are you sleeping and dead in sin? Has the Holy Spirit come to you? Maybe you have the Holy Spirit a little bit, but you can't win much for God. You need Him more.

Today we honor and praise God the Holy Spirit for our life in God. We consider from our text that the:


He came to the first disciples as Jesus had promised. (Retell the wonderful event.) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were changed men and mature. Surprising gifts of language. Love for their enemies and all people.

Jesus' promise of the Spirit is meant for us also. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7)

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:18)

"I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20)

Our Gospel for today, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

So we have these and other promises of Jesus that the Holy Spirit is meant for all Christians of all ages. Jesus wants you also to have the Comforter, the teacher from Heaven.

Paul says, "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3) Martin Luther: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but by the Holy Ghost has call me by the Gospel enlightened me with His gifts sanctified and kept me in the true faith."

The teachings of the Bible are all beyond mans natural understanding and foolishness to his mind: Trinity, Virgin Birth, resurrection of body from the dead, heaven and hell, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Many people do not believe these teachings of Jesus. Some modernistic ministers also Bishop Pike. Happy to hear that he resigned. If we listen only to our mind and reason and seek proof in science and books or ideas of men we can't accept the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Only the Holy Spirit can give light and understanding to our dark minds. Only the Holy Spirit can give us faith and keep us continuing in faith.

How does He come to us? Not in the same way as the first Pentecost, tongues of fire, rushing mighty wind, but by God's Word and Sacraments. Before He ascended into heaven Jesus prayed for His Church. One thing He prayed was for the Holy Spirit: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17) Paul, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) "how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) There is far more and more.

We lose many spiritual blessings and suffer fear, weakness, and sin and sin wins often because we have not the Holy Spirit. We fail in our witnessing. We fail as parents. We fail to support world wide missions etc.

Let us on this Pentecost Sunday confess our sins and failures of the past. Let us vow to hear God's Word more regularly on Sunday and in Bible Class and daily reading and meditating at home.

Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to give us light and faith and courage and eagerness for Jesus and His kingdom works:

(Holy Spirit Hear Us On This Sacred, hymn, verses 1,5)
Holy Spirit, Hear Us
On This Sacred Day;
Come To Us With Blessing,
Come With Us To Stay.

Lighten Thou Our Darkness,
Be Thyself Our Light;
Strengthen Thou Our Weakness,
Spirit Of All Might.

Amen.