Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, May 20, 2018
Jesus’ words to us in our Gospel reading describe the significance of what happened on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples are worshiping in the Temple. The Holy Spirit descends from heaven in the sound of a mighty rushing wind and fiery tongues. In various languages they proclaim the mighty acts of God. This all happened to fulfill Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit. It is a fulfillment of John the Baptist’s words that Jesus will not just baptize with water but with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And even though we changed our interior design, floral arrangements, and wardrobe to be filled with red on this special day. Jesus’ promise was not that the Holy Spirit would make a one-time visit but that he would be our Advocate.
The New Testament word is Paraclete or Advocate. It means “the one called alongside.” The Holy Spirit is our companion. He is our advocate. He is our teacher and counselor. He is the one who equips and the one who convicts. Jesus knows that we need the Holy Spirit. He himself was the disciples’ advocate in his earthly ministry. He came alongside sinners. He accompanied them, advocated for them, taught them, guided them, equipped them, rebuked them. And so now the Holy Spirit has come along our side. He comes in the strength and compassion of God the Father and God the Son. He is not an independent contractor. He is carrying out the mission of Triune God.
The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, is the answer to our loneliness. Jesus knew the sorrow and fear of abandonment in the hearts of his disciples. He knows our sorrows and our fear of being alone too. He is the one who cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He sends the Advocate to assure us that we will not be left as orphans. The Holy Spirit’s vocation is to show up in our lives and come alongside us. He calls others out and gathers us together to walk, pray, and worship alongside one another. That is what the Church is—those called out—same base word ecclesia.
The Holy Spirit teaches us. And he does not just deliver the message from point A to point B. He writes it into our hearts. He opens our minds to understand the Scriptures. And so Paul will say things like, “I planted [the seed of God’s Word], Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.” The Holy Spirit makes us teachable, softens hearts, and illuminates our minds and spirits. He comes alongside us to transform us body, mind, and soul.
The Holy Spirit testifies and enables us to testify—to tell the good news of Jesus Christ. He gives us the words and courage to deliver them. Do you feel the urge to let other people know about the great things God has done for you in Jesus? That is what the Holy Spirit began on Pentecost when they spoke the mighty acts of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to translate into all the various tongues, languages, dialects, and colloquialisms. Those around us need translation! The Holy Spirit equips us learn to communicate in meaningful and culturally relevant ways. Many have not grown up with religious language but our Advocate can help us translate.
The Holy Spirit comes to convict us of our sin—to show us where we have strayed, done wrong, and withheld good to others. This is a compassionate conviction—not to get us into trouble but to get us out of trouble. And so it is when the Holy Spirit comes alongside us and we speak the truth of God’s Word. If we do so to bring shame, guilt, and condemnation we are only going to crush or drive away others. We are called to come alongside people to speak the truth in love. Let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. And when he does—when he shows us and others our sin—he opens our hearts to the rich forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ.
Jesus says, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Thanks be do God that he does not expect for us to drink out of a fire hydrant. Jesus is patient. He realizes that discipleship is a journey that takes time. The Holy Spirit comes along our sides over and over again. The Holy Spirit comes alongside us for our whole journey—though loneliness, burnout, discouragement, speechlessness, purposelessness, and meaninglessness. God gives us the assurance of his grace and presence. God is not just in our corner but on our side—called to accompany us from our Baptism to our resurrection. He comes to us in our Baptism, he comes alongside when we pray, every time we hear the Word, with the Bread and the Wine and the Body and the Blood. He comes to us in our worship. He is our companion as we reach out to each other and encourage each other in Christian fellowship and community.
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