What a great song to lead into the message. Come on. It’s a real treat to preach in a service like this. Come down spirit. When you move, you make my heart pound. I know you’re among us. We’re looking at the Holy Spirit today. Let me pray as we continue on. That’s our prayer. Spirit of God, come down. You are among us. Help us to realize you’re here. As you descended that first Pentecost and filled. So now fill this place and fill our hearts with your love, your truth. This day as we look into your living word, I ask in Jesus name, amen. Well, welcome to Pentecost here at Victory Lutheran. You know, Lutherans aren’t always known as kind of really majoring on the Holy Spirit. You know what I mean? In fact, I have some friends who like to tease me. They say, oh, you Lutherans. Here’s the way you look at the Trinity. You believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Scripture. Now they’re kind of right in that we hold scripture up high. We believe the Bible is God’s inspired word, and in fact, uh, especially given in the original languages, this is not only the inspired word of God, but it’s the words of God. If you wanna know what God is saying, look no other and no further than the Bible, okay? You know that this is God speaking to you. But I mean, you’re not gonna find a chapter in verse saying, Hey, should I be moving to this town or going, uh, to, to move next to this family member? Or, what about this job? Or, or whatever decision you might be looking at. It’d be nice, wouldn’t it? If you could just kind of have a chapter in verse open up and said, okay, Todd, here’s what you should be doing in this major decision. You’re not gonna find that in the Bible, but I believe the Holy Spirit does speak to us today. Even with the specifics in our life. And so we’re gonna be looking at God, the Holy Spirit today and his working within us. You know, I was in my young twenties and I had a season when I was really searching to be filled with the spirit. I mean, I, I was baptized, brought up in the church, confirmed grew in youth group. I was still following the Lord in my young twenties. And, um, but I was, I searching, I wanted a, that spiritual energy and pizazz that others said they had. And so I got connected with a charismatic church, joyful people, energized worship. And, um, I wonder what they had. And, and they said, well, Todd, what you need is, you need a second, uh, blessing, a second. You need to be baptized with the spear. I. Because you see, when you believe in Jesus, you didn’t get the Holy Spirit. You gotta be baptized with the Spirit and the evidence that you’re baptized with the Spirit is that you can speak in tongues. The gift of tongues, which is listen in the Bible, it’s one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Okay, I’ll seek after that. And I did earnestly. But I never got the gift of tongues. Well, I can tell you some other specific experiences that ended up actually kind of being traumatic for me. Spiritually depressing, deflating, what?

God are you holding out on me? Selling me short? And what I hadn’t grasped yet was the death. And the width and the breadth and the height of what God had done for me in Jesus Christ already given to me. In my baptism, we look at baptism as something we’re gonna do for God. It’s my outward sign of an inward change. Well, which is fine, let it be that. But are we the ones that are really acting in our salvation? Doesn’t the Bible teach? Faith is not something you work up yourself, but it’s a gift from God, not by works. And so too with the giving of the Holy Spirit, something God does for us. And so I needed to learn all that God had done for me in Christ, going all the way back to my baptism, reaching through my life then and actually even to my life today. And so though I was searching for the spirit, I wanted it, I sought it again and again. I was crying out, God, are you holding out on me? Everyone else seemed to have the flame. But I didn’t. Was there something wrong with me? And it took me years and some good Lutheran pastors and friends, and actually, it wasn’t until I was in seminary that I came to finally understand I wasn’t missing the Holy Spirit. He was already with and within me. I didn’t need a second baptism. I needed to fully understand better what God did for me in my first and what he continues to do for me day to day. Amen. For all who are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is given to you. In our confessions, we say are, as the Bible says, to those who believe in Jesus, he gives what? Two things, the power to become the children of God. We’re gonna look at that and he bestows on them the Holy Spirit. When you get Jesus, you get the Holy Spirit. When you believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit, he’s actually the one that causes you to believe. I. That’s biblical words, even out right outta Psalm 51. Now, I want you to grow in it. I want you to own your faith. I want you to want to grow deeper and follow hard after God and and can be continually filled with the spirit. Absolutely. But you need to rest in what God is doing, what He’s done for you in Christ and doing in you. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, calling you through the gospel, enlightening you with his gifts, declaring and making you holy, and keeping you in the true faith. You know, in that time I learned and did a lot of study on spiritual gifts. I discovered that the spirit gives all kinds of gifts, not just the gift of tongues. There’s over two dozen gifts. Lifted in the scriptures and they’re not the same given to everyone, and you can’t demand that the spirit gives you this certain gift because the Bible says they’re given at the spirit’s discretion, not your demand. And the gifts are given not for status, but for service, for the building up of others in love. So let me begin with this assertion today. You do not have to chase fire to be filled with the spirit. If you’re in Christ, the spirit of God is already with and within you and Pentecost. It’s not a mystical experience for a select few.

Rather, it’s a promise and a gift for all who are in Christ Jesus. Pentecost, it’s the day that that God set his church a flame. And I, I gotta say, I just love having this flame here. I, with my team here a couple years ago, I said, can we get like one of those patio heaters with the glass flute? Wouldn’t that be great? Well, you gotta bring a propane tank. And for that, we thought that’s probably not too safe. So we finally found this. And actually, when you first light it, the fuel is so pure, you don’t even really see it. But I just love this. It’s a, it’s a illustration of God, the Spirit coming down on that first Pentecost with, with, uh, tongues of flame over people’s heads. And so this Holy Spirit is here. He has come and will anoint again. God birthed the church on Pentecost. So in some sense, red is our birthday color. We’re destroy or we’re celebrating it. And God sent out his spirit with fire and a rushing wind, not to destroy it, but to transform his people. He poured out his spirit not as a gentle breeze, but as a violent, rushing wind and fire from heaven, and he’s still doing that today. But if you’re all like me, and if we can be honest with ourselves, sometimes, don’t we feel kind of more like damp kindling than like a roaring fire? And maybe even today, some here might be wondering, well, where is that power now? Where is that wind rushing within me? Where is that flame? And if that’s how you’re feeling, take heart. This message is for you. It’s for all of us who’ve ever felt forgotten or used up or discarded or uncertain. Because you see Pentecost, it’s not about our strength. Rather, it’s about the spirit that God pours into empty hearts and assures us, assures you. You are mine. God says You are not alone and you have an inheritance that you didn’t earn and you can never lose. That’s what we’re gonna look at today in the next minutes. So first PO point, I want to pause it. The spirit comes to fill what’s empty. You know what we didn’t get to do, guys? We didn’t get to see the video in the text. Can we show that by any chance, Tyler? Is that available? Here’s Acts chapter two, red Forest on the screen. They’ll explain afterwards. Here we go. Here’s our Bible text. What does this mean? This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. How’s that for a fun blast for the from the past? That was Pastor Steve Lee, our former associate pastor. Great to see him on the screen again. We recorded that two years ago and wanted to kinda show the, the multiplicity of voices, the cacophony, if you will, on that first Pentecost as you hear God’s word. Uh, spoken in different languages. That’s what the people experienced back then. We wanted to see that again now. But now let me give a little backdrop to that passage out of Acts chapter two. You see, before Pentecost, before the sending of the Holy Spirit, the disciples, they weren’t crusaders. They were cowards, really. They were waiting. They were hiding. They were fearful. Now they had the words of Jesus, but they did not yet have the power. They had the commission, but not the courage, and it was into that space, into that void, that emptiness, that waiting, that the spirit came, and not because they were ready, but because God was. And I think often in our spiritual lives and even in our worship, we wanna bring something to God. And I understand that our devotion, our energy, our readiness, but the Book of Acts shows us among oth other things that it’s God who brings the fire. We just need to be present. We need to be open, ready, receptive, responsive.

Martin Luther writes in his small catechism about the meaning of who we believe in God, the Holy Spirit. Here’s how he starts off the meaning. I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. Did you get that? I believe that I can’t come to Christ on my own, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel. Enlightened me with his gifts sanctified, which is a way to say, made me holy, declared me holy before God, and kept me in the true faith. Did you catch that? It’s not about us trying to climb up to God. It’s about him descending down to us right where we’re at, even in our emptiness. Emptiness. That’s what the spirit fills. And did you kind of catch it? It’s The spirit’s job is not to give us some kind of spiritual fireworks. It’s to give us faith. Let’s read the Bible carefully and where faith exists. So it is the Holy Spirit. A Christian research group called Barna Great outfit reports. Recently over 60% of Christians in the US describe their spiritual life as stagnant, dry, or going through the motions. And nearly half they report say they’ve never experienced a moment that they would call being spiritually alive. Whew. Boy, that’s, that’s sad. And it’s actually even tragic. But Pentecost tells us something different, that God is not done with dry hearts. He specializes in reviving them. In fact, God specializes in raising to life that which is dead. So if you’re feeling dry or empty or even dead spiritually. Look to God. He excels in bringing faith and new life. The spirit comes to fill what’s empty. Second, the Spirit assures us, we belong to the Father. Jesus says in Luke 11, if you then who are evil. Know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? God doesn’t play with your heart. He doesn’t play games. He’s not holding out on you. If you’ve ever asked for his spirit, he grants it. You have it, and God delights to give the Holy Spirit, not to the deserving, but to any who ask. Because you see the spirit. It’s not a prize for the perfect, but it’s a gift for the child who calls out Abba Father. It’s a term Abba, a term of endearment like saying, daddy. It’s a term of not just familiarity, but intimate divine love. The Apostle Paul uses this word in Galatians four. He writes, and because we are his children, God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts prompting us to call out Abba Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child, and since you are his child, God has made you an heir phenomenal. Let’s be clear about what this means. The Holy Spirit is God with you now and God within you. Before Pentecost the all the way back into the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come upon people. You can read it. In numerous places throughout the scriptures, come upon them for specific tasks. Think of King David or the prophets or even artisans and musicians. For the, for the tabernacle or the later on the temple. The Holy Spirit would come upon people but not remain. It wasn’t until Jesus came and at his baptism, the Holy Spirit came and remained on him. And then after he ascended and at Pentecost, then God sent the Spirit who came to indwell every believer in Jesus Christ.

It’s true then it’s true today. Jesus himself set it up this way with his disciples. The night he was betrayed, the night before he is gonna die. He said, very truly, I tell you, it’s for your good that I’m going away unless I go the advocate. Capital a great word, great name for the Holy Spirit. The advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you and go. He did and sinned. He did. So the Spirit is now for all who are in Christ within us. To whisper the most important truth you may ever hear, you are a child of God and that cry, Abba, it doesn’t come from your own emotional experience. It comes from the spirit himself testifying with your spirit. You belong to the Father, let that sink in. The Holy Spirit teaches us not only to believe that God exists, but to know him in this personal way as a loving father in heaven. You’re not a just a servant in God’s kingdom. You’re a child in his family. And as such an heir of everything that Jesus has won for you. And it’s the spirit’s job to remind you of that, especially when your own heart can forget. In one of our Lutheran confessional writings called The Apology to the Augsburg confession, it’s not a a, a statement of, sorry. It’s in a defense of our faith. Puts it this way, the Holy Spirit was given to those who hear the gospel. And get this to Kindle in them. Faith and other godly affections. And those godly affections include things like assurance, belonging, love our identity, and that’s so key for us in our culture today. Do you know what the number one fear among Americans over age 65 is? According to Pew research, it’s not dying. It’s the fear of loneliness. Of feeling irrelevant, discarded, unneeded, but you see in Christ Jesus by the working of the Holy Spirit, calling out Abba Father, you’re not forgotten your family because it’s the Holy Spirit working in you that brings about that relationship that you have with your father in heaven of Haba. The spirit comes to fill what’s empty. The spirit assures us we belong to the Father. And finally, today, the spirit secures our inheritance and guides our steps. As Andy read for us earlier on from the Old Testament. Prophet Joel, he prophesied this. I will pour up my spirit capital S on all flesh. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy. Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out my spirit. Did you catch the, the whole sweep of that? The spirit is for all people. All kinds of people, young and old, male and female, wealthy and poor. The Holy Spirit turns ordinary believers and the bold proclaimers of truth and hope. And the spirit doesn’t just empower us.

The spirit secures us. God’s spirit isn’t picky. He’s he’s generous, he’s inclusive, poured out on all flesh. In other words, not just on pastors, not just men, not just the spiritual elite. All ages, all vocations, all everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. And if that’s you, what means you’re, you’re a part of God’s family. And even beyond that part of God’s spirit filled mission in the world. ’cause you see that flame from heaven didn’t stop at Pentecost. It didn’t stay in Jerusalem. It spread and it’s still spreading even here in Mesa and the East Valley. Because you see the spirit doesn’t just send us forward. It secures our future. The Apostle Peter writes it about this way. He has caused us. There. I love that. Who’s doing the work? God. He has caused us to be born again to a living hope, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you. Guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wow, that is thick and rich. I could preach a five week series on that. Can I do that right now? It’s just so good. I won’t, but get this. You see, the Holy Spirit guarantees that your future, it’s not up for grabs. You’re not guessing your way through life. Now you’re sealed with the spirit and he guides you day to day with his word and your walking toward an inheritance that can’t be taken. You have this inheritance notice. It’s not a 401k. You hope won’t run out. It’s not a reputation you have to preserve. It’s a heavenly inheritance, kept by God, secured by Christ, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Another one of our confessions that we believe teaches what the scripture says is called the Book of Conquered. It says it this way, the Holy Spirit gives faith. Which justifies before God, and by this faith we are born anew and we receive the Holy Spirit so that we may become heirs of eternal life. That’s phenomenal. And it’s true for us individually, but it’s also true for us as a church. That’s why I mentioned to you, victory forward, our heart, our desire that God would use us to extend and expand his kingdom here in the East Valley and be and beyond well as it’s really meant to live into our, our vision. And so our vision ends with a very important phrase, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Let me, you can, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll give myself a test. I’ll close my eyes. I’ll tell you I think what verbatim, what our vision is for victory. Okay. In follow on screen, see if I got it right. Victory Lutheran Church is a joyful and loving community.

That intentionally transforms and deploys Christ-centered disciples who lead others into God’s mission, frontiers. And here it is, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Did I do it? Okay. All right. I think I added the word intentionally in this I, because you gotta do it by intention, but that, but get that. It’s gotta be empowered by the Holy Spirit. You see, we’re not just here to consume spiritual goods, though. I want you to be fed on God’s word and on Christ. But by the work of the Holy Spirit, we are being shaped, transformed, and then deployed and sent as spirit empowered disciples into God’s mission in his world. ’cause without the spirit, it’s just a strategy, but with the spirit, it becomes a living mission. I think I got time to do a quick pastoral aside here. How does God’s spirit speak to us today, individually and corporately as a church? I believe the Holy Spirit does speak to us this way, but I want us to be wise and cautious. So first of all, the Holy Spirit speaks. Through his word, pastor Denton taught on this last weekend. In the sermon, you can know God’s word and you need to be bathed in scripture. But God also speaks secondarily in our hearts and it’s confirmed through prayer and godly counsel, lemme give you an example. I, I had mentioned, there’s no specific verse you can open up and say, okay, Todd, this is for you specifically with what’s going on in your life right now. Wish it was, but God’s spirit still doesn’t leave you hanging. God’s spirit still speaks to you in the specifics of your everyday life. And how does that, how do you discern that? Well, you pray over it and you search the scriptures. God’s spirit will never tell you something contrary to the Bible. But then as Pastor Susan taught us last fall in a great study called Hearing God’s Voice, then share what your sensing, God’s spirit say to you with a couple of trusted, mature Christian friends. And ask, does this sound like something God might be saying to me? And pray with me on it. And then with them, discern it. And what this does is it keeps you from kind of casually sanctifying your own thoughts and calling that God’s will. Well God, the Holy Spirit said this to me. I be careful when you say that, but through prayer and other counsel, you can discern what God does say to you. He’ll speak to you through his word and he may use a circle of Christian friends to help confirm what he would be saying to you specifically. So lemme wrap this up. What does Pentecost mean for you today in your daily life? Well, it means a few things. First, you don’t have to fake your faith. Okay? God knows. He knows when your tank is empty. He’s just waiting for you to turn to him. He is already on his way to fill it. Second, you don’t ever have to wonder if you’re wanted or if you belong anywhere you are and you do. And if you have the spirit, you belong. You’re a child of the Father and a member of his family, and an heir of grace. And third, you don’t have to fear the future. There’s an inheritance kept for you, not in a vault, but in heaven, guarded by God himself. So whether your faith feels a blaze, like a big flame of fire or just a flicker take heart, God’s spirit is still at work within you no matter how you feel. And if you’re tired, he’ll give you rest.

If you’re doubting, he’ll remind you of who you are or maybe better put whose you are. And if you’re dry, he’ll send your spirit to revive and refresh you again. So today, if you’re feeling kinda like a burnt out match, used up, maybe flickering, just holding on, not sure even maybe where your faith stands. Well, Pentecost today stands as an invitation to you. You don’t have to try to relight your flame. You just need to receive the fire that God is already offering. Pray, ask, receive. For as Jesus said, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? Whereas Martin Luther once said, where Christ is there, the Holy Spirit must be and where the Holy Spirit is, he brings Christ and His kingdom. May that be true for you today and through you to others. Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that we’re not slaves, but daughters and sons, heirs of yours through Christ. So come Holy Spirit, fill us again with your fire. Remind us of our inheritance and help us to live boldly that we might serve in your strength. Amen. And walk in the way of Jesus to the glory of his name, I pray. Amen.