Today’s Scripture

Psalm 143        Ezekiel 37:1-14            Acts 2:22-36                John 7:37-39a

 

The Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and Explanation

LW p. 301 - 302

sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? 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.

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.

On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true.

 

 

Acts 2:28

            You have made known to me the paths of life;

                        you will fill me with joy in your presence.

 

            It is fun to watch that little pink rabbit who just keeps on going and going and going.  He represents a battery called the “Energizer.”  I cannot speak for you, but I certainly could use an “Energizer” to keep me going from moment to moment, from day to day, from year to year.  People who are full of energy and said to be full of life.  We look at the youngsters and their energy, if only it could be bottled up and saved for later on.

 

            You have made known to me the paths of life…  That is what today is all about, life and the energy in life. 

 

            In the beginning, God made all things in our creation.  He made all of the physical things of the earth and universe.  He made all of the living things of this earth.  Note that he made all things to reproduce after their own kind (Genesis 1).  He commanded to Adam and Eve to reproduce and fill the earth with people.  Today we see the continuing blessing of God’s creation as we enjoy all living things that continue to reproduce whether in the wild or cultivated by people.  There is no shortage of people, plants or animals of all kinds on this earth today.  And the earth just keeps on reproducing and reproducing and reproducing.  We do not run out of air as it replenishes itself.  We do not run out of water as it keeps replenishing itself.  We do not run out of nutrients in the soil as naturally even the ground replenishes itself.  In the late 1960’s Lake Erie was supposed to be dead for decades.  Yet by the mid-70’s there was commercial and sport fishing again in its waters as it replenished itself far beyond what man could predict.

 

            You have made known to me the paths of life.  That is what today is all about.

 

            But all people are going to die.  That is what today is all about.  How does one receive eternal life?  That is what today is all about.  To use something, we must harvest it.  A week ago I saw some wild asparagus along a roadside.  It was going to seed and replenishing itself.  It was not doing any other good unless someone harvested it.  And that is what I did as I cut a dozen stalks for our supper.  Harvest, the gathering in of the crops.  That is what today is all about.

 

            When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, God set forth three festivals.  One, the Passover as he had instituted it upon their departure from Egypt.  Fifty days later is the Feast of Harvest also known as Pentecost.  Third is the Feast of Tabernacles.  Pentecost, the Feast of the Harvest, was the day of thanksgiving for the fruits of the grain harvest including the barley and wheat.  Note the use of sevens; seven weeks times seven days = 49.  The day after the seventh seventh.  Seven being the number of completion; the days of creation, the days of a week, etc.  The harvest is a day of completion, the entire season from the first plowing to the final gathering of the crop. 

 

            After the resurrection there were forty days to the ascension, fifty to Pentecost.  Jesus had prepared the crop by planting his word.  On this fiftieth day would be the gathering of the harvest, the first group of new believers.  And yet this occurrence, the coming of the Holy Spirit continues day in and day out, bringing life to many souls and will until the end of time. 

 

            On this Pentecost, only by the power of the Holy Spirit Peter and the disciples proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to thousands in many different languages.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings the good news of God’s love in Jesus to people everywhere in words that they can understand.  When people hear the word, the law that we cannot keep and the good news of Jesus who saves all who believe in him, the Holy Spirit works that miracle of faith in their hearts.  No one can by his own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or even come looking for him.  It is only through hearing the Gospel, God’s own word, that you are brought to faith.

 

            This community and world around us are the harvest fields.  New persons brought to faith are the harvest.  The final harvest is on the last day when all believers in Christ are gathered with him in the clouds to eternal life with him in heaven. 

 

                        You have made known to me the paths of life.  The Holy Spirit works in you from the moment you first heard the name Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is given you in baptism and remains working in you, giving you the energy, the ability, all that is needed to believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior of the world.  It is the Holy Spirit that keeps you and the entire body of Christ, the Holy Christian Church on earth, in the one true faith to life eternal.  It is the Holy Spirit who keeps you going and going and going. 

 

            We are the Peter’s and other disciples, who are sent to proclaim the good news of Jesus to those around us.  Within this congregation are abilities to communicate in many and various ways and in different languages to our neighbors in this community.  By the grace and almighty power of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son, that keeps you going in faith, and brings new believers daily into the harvest.

 

            That is what today is all about.  The continuing life we receive in faith by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you, making you his temple, energizing you to live and proclaim that blessed Gospel news of God’s love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to others so the harvest is complete.    Amen.