the coming of the holy spirit on pentecost - 6.7.2020...jun 07, 2020 · holy spirit, god and lord,...

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Denver—1

The Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost June 7, 2020

Happy Birthday! While to-day may not be your per-sonal birthday, it is the birthday of the New Testa-ment Christian Church of which you are a part. The day of Pentecost marks the

day when our risen and ascended Lord Jesus sent his Holy Spirit upon his Church in order to convince the world that Christ’s work is truth. What grace that part of the Holy Spirit’s work was to convince you of that truth. This is reason to celebrate!

OUR

FOCUS

ZION

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

CHURCH AND SCHOOL

W E L C O M E A N D I N T R O D U C T I O N I N V O C A T I O N

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. C O N F E S S I O N A N D A B S O L U T I O N

M: Beloved in the Lord, let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

M: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ

even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his Called servant:

I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.


M: Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

C: Proclaim his salvation day after day.

O P E N I N G H Y M N

O Holy Spirit, Enter In (Christian Worship 184)

1 O Holy Spirit, enter in 2 Give to your Word impressive pow’r And in our hearts your work begin, That in our hearts from this good hour Your dwelling place now make us As fire it may be glowing, Sun of the soul, O Light divine, That in true Christian unity Around in us brightly shine, We faithful witnesses may be To joy and gladness wake us Your glory ever showing. That we May be Hear us, Cheer us Truly living, To you giving Prayer unceasing By your teaching; Let our preaching And our labor And in love be still increasing. Praise You, Lord, and serve our neighbor.

3 O mighty Rock, O Source of life, Let your dear Word, in doubt and strife, In us be strongly burning That we be faithful unto death And live in love and holy faith, From you, true wisdom learning. Your grace And peace On us shower, by your power Christ confessing Let us see our Savior’s blessing.

M O R N I N G P R A I S E


C O M E , O H , C O M E , L E T U S S I N G T O T H E L O R D

Refrain

Refrain


P R A Y E R O F T H E D A Y

M: Let us pray.

Holy Spirit, God and Lord, come to us this joyful day with your sevenfold gift of grace. Rekindle in our hearts the holy fire of your love that in a true and living faith we may tell abroad the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

T H E W O R D

F I R S T L E S S O N

Joel 2:28, 29 28 “And afterward,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (NIV84)


P S A L M O F T H E D A Y

Psalm 143

The presiding minister will sing the verses, the congregation may join in the refrains.

When morning lights the eastern skies, O Lord, your mercy show; On you alone my hope relies, Your kindness makes me know.

Refrain

O teach me, Lord, the way I should go; To you I lift my plea; For refuge from my cruel foe To you, O Lord, I flee.

Refrain

O Lord, my God, to you I pray; Teach me your will to heed; In your own right and perfect way May your own Spirit lead.

Refrain

For your name’s sake, O gracious Lord, Revive my soul and bless. May your own care and faithful love Redeem me from distress.

Refrain

S E C O N D L E S S O N

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then


how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one anoth-er, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the

Lord. 21 And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (NIV84)

V E R S E O F T H E D A Y

Alleluia!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people, and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia!

H O L Y G O S P E L

St. John 16:5-11 (page 1355)

5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, be-cause men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands con-demned.” (NIV84)


T H E A P O S T L E S ’ C R E E D

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

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.

H Y M N O F T H E D A Y

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (Christian Worship 176)

1 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord! 2 Come, holy Light, Guide divine, May all your graces be outpoured And cause the Word of life to shine. On each believers mind and heart; Teach us to know our God aright Your fervent love to them impart. And call him Father with delight. Lord, by the brightness of your light From ev’ry error keep us free; In holy faith your church unite Let none but Christ our Master be From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue; That we in living faith abide, This to your praise, O Lord our God, be sung; In him, our Lord, with all our might confide Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 Come, holy Fire, Comfort true; Grant us the will your work to do And in your service to abide; Let trials turn us not aside. Lord, by your pow’r prepare each heart, And to our weakness strength impart That bravely here we may contend, Through life and death to you, our Lord, ascend Alleluia! Alleluia!

S E R M O N

Acts 2:1-21 (printed on pages 5 and 6 of the service folder)

T H E H O L Y S P I R I T B R I N G S C H A N G E

I. Change in our hearts

II. Change in the world


“Do you want to be more confident? Do you wish you were more outgoing? Do you desire to have a

greater inner peace? What would you do if you could change your life for the be�er?” What comes to

mind when you hear that line of leading ques�ons? For me, it sounds like the kind of thing you’d hear

in a commercial for a self-help book or self-improvement seminar. And it may sound silly, but these

things work! The commercials, that is – the self-help books, who knows – but the commercials draw

people in. They draw people in because most people have something about themselves or about their

life that they want to change. Today, we’re going to look at a �me of great change. In Acts 2, we see

the Holy Spirit bring change at Pentecost. And as we explore that change, we’ll see that the Holy Spirit

s!ll brings change today – change in our hearts and change in the world.

This Pentecost in Acts 2 is o0en referred to as “the birth of the New Testament church.” Yet, Pentecost

was not something new that happened for the first �me here in Acts 2, but it was actually the name for

one of the big annual fes�vals that the Israelites would celebrate, sort of like the Passover was. Pente-

cost would always come about 50 days a0er the Passover. At that �me, the people would come to Je-

rusalem from all over and offer a special offering of thanks for that year’s grain harvest. There would

come to be other offerings and events at Pentecost, but the underlying principle that God gave under

Moses would remain: This was a �me to come and thank God for the new harvest.

And it’s at that exact �me – at a �me when Jews from all over the Roman empire were staying in Jeru-

salem – it’s at that �me that the Holy Spirit was going to bring a great change: a harvest of souls. And

that’s really where Acts 2 picks up. A small group of believers, all huddled together in one place. Just

wai�ng. Wai�ng on the fulfillment of a promise that Jesus had made, a promise recorded in Acts chap-

ter 1. It says Jesus told them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gi� my Father promised,

which you have heard me speak about. For John bap�zed with water, but in a few days, you will be

bap�zed with the Holy Spirit.” And so, they waited. And at Pentecost, their wai�ng ended. Suddenly,

the Holy Spirit brought a change. The booming sound like that of a gush of wind. The flickering light like

that of tongues of fire. But that wasn’t the change. The big change is what’s revealed in Acts 2:4: “all of

them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” That’s what truly ma�ered. The Holy Spirit stepping into their

hearts and enlightening them to everything that Jesus had told them. The sound of wind and the image

of fire, they were just signs – signs that proclaimed in big bold le�ers: “the wait is over; the Holy Spirit

has arrived! Your hearts have been changed!”

And what an exci�ng change that was! It immediately resulted in something amazing: all of the people

began to speak in other languages – the languages of people from all over the Roman world and be-

yond. The great variety of people who had come from a great variety of places could hear and under-

stand the words that the apostles were saying in their own na�ve tongue. And it blew them away!

They were amazed and perplexed, as some wondered aloud what it all meant while others a�empted

to dismiss the miraculous sight: “They have had too much to drink,” they theorized. Either way, these

reac�ons tes�fied to what happened – this was quite the amazing change!

“What would you do if you could change your life for the be�er?” Well, if it was this sort of change –

the kind that comes with incredible signs of outward blessing: the sound of wind, the sigh of fire, and,

even more, the miraculous ability to speak fluently in foreign languages – that sort of change, I think

we would take it! But what if it looked a li�le different. What if it didn’t look exactly like Pentecost.

What if those incredible signs of outward blessing just weren’t there? Would we s�ll be so desperate

for that change?

I don’t think many of us here are expec�ng to see the exact same outward blessings as the disciples

experienced at Pentecost: the sound of wind, the sight of fire, and the miraculous ability to speak for-

eign languages. But I do think that there are some expecta�ons – some false expecta�ons – of outward

blessings that the devil works hard to tempt us with. Maybe it’s the expecta�on that when the Holy

Spirit changes your heart – when he kindles and grows that faith inside you – when that happens, life

should become easier – if not immediately, then at least gradually. The financial stress that we face –

once the Holy Spirit begins to work – that financial stress should begin to evaporate. Or the constant

worries or anxie�es that we face – once the Holy Spirit begins to work – those should immediately be-


come a thing of the past. Or the struggles that some�mes plague our earthly rela�onships – once the

Holy Spirit begins to work – those rela�onships should immediately be mended and perfected, never to

be damaged again. Or at least that’s what the devil wants us to believe.

That sort of false expecta�on of outward blessings can actually be really dangerous. Not just because

of the pain of realizing that those expecta�ons are false, but because of this: when our false expecta-

�ons aren’t met, it makes it that much easier for the devil to convince you that the change that the

Spirit brings is unimportant, and that the true blessings which the Spirit works are unimportant, too.

And when we fall for that lie, it can only end in us dismissing the Spirit’s work and looking elsewhere to

try and meet our false expecta�ons.

But all of that actually just draws more a�en�on to this truth: the change that the Holy Spirit brings is

much be�er – it’s more powerful, it’s more full, it has be�er blessings – than any of our false expecta-

�ons. The change that the Holy Spirit brings is actually two-fold: it not only has the power to bring the

sort of change that our hearts need, but it also has the power to convince us of that need. Through the

perfect law found in God’s word, the Holy Spirit brings change. Without the Holy Spirit, we might think

our biggest problems would be solved if our false expecta�ons would be met. But with the Holy Spirit,

we recognize the much greater problem we have: the problem of sin – a problem that could only be

solved by a perfect savior. And through the perfect gospel found in God’s word, the Holy Spirit brings

change there as well. The Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts that connects us to that perfect savior,

Jesus. And in Jesus we receive things much be�er than our false expecta�ons. We receive the infinite

riches of a life in heaven with our God. We receive the perfect peace of knowing that our sins are for-

given. And we receive the all-surpassing comfort of a mended rela�onship with God – a rela�onship

that stands firmly on the perfect love of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit brings change. He brought that change in the hearts of the disciples and he brings that

change in our hearts, too. But this isn’t just a minor, isolated change. No, this change in our hearts

works the same way as a ripple or wave does on the surface of the water – it spreads outward. The

Holy Spirit brings change to our hearts, yes, but he also brings change to the world.

This account of Pentecost illustrates that truth, as well. Where the signs had served to draw everyone’s

a�en�on, Peter now takes hold of an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to change more hearts. And his

message begins in a way that we might not expect; he addresses the false accusa�on of those who

a�empted to dismiss him! He tells them, calmly and confidently, “these men are not drunk as you sup-

pose – it’s only nine in the morning!” Unhindered by their completely illogical claim – which essen�ally

boiled down to “These Galileans are fluently speaking foreign languages, so they must be drunk!” –

unhindered by that claim, Peter addresses it. “It is far too early in the day for that to make any sense.”

But Peter doesn’t stop with addressing their concerns. He con�nues and shares with them exactly what

all of this means: “it’s just as God told the prophet Joel, “In the last days … I will pour out my spirit on

all people.” Sons and daughters, young and old, slave and free, male and female – all people. And for

what reason? So that “they will prophesy.”

Well what does that mean? To prophesy basically means to act as a Prophet, like Moses, like Elijah, like

Isaiah, and many others. These people were called to listen and to speak. They would listen, as God

told them his word for the people. And then, they would speak, as they went out and shared exactly

what that word of the Lord was. THIS is what Peter told the people was happening – the Lord was

pouring out his Holy Spirit on the disciples so that they could share God’s word with the people.

And what Peter told the people that day – that God is pouring out his spirit so that all people will

prophesy in the last days – that’s exactly what is happening now. That change the Holy Spirit has

brought into our hearts isn’t something that we are supposed to keep quietly to ourselves. Instead, it’s

the sort of change that we are to share with others – a change that we are to bring to the world.

Sadly, the world isn’t always willing to hear it. Maybe you’ve experienced that firsthand. You make an

effort to “prophesy” – to take God’s word and speak it to others – and you’re met with resistance.

Maybe it looks the same as it did at Pentecost, as people look to dismiss your witness. Or maybe it

looks a li�le different, as people show outright hos�lity or even complete disinterest in the word that


you wanted to share. When faced with that sort of opposi�on, we can be tempted to simply shrug our

shoulders at sharing the Spirit. That tempta�on tells us, “maybe next �me, you don’t have to be so pas-

sionate. Maybe next �me, you compromise a li�le and only share some of what God’s word says. May-

be next �me, you keep it to yourself.” When we fall into that tempta�on – when we don’t share that

heart-changing Spirit and life-giving word – we neglect that wonderful gi0 that Christ gave us.

In those moments of tempta�on, we remember that the Holy Spirit brings change – not us. Think of

how the disciples were completely transformed by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Take Peter, for ex-

ample. With Peter, there was a fear of persecu�on that led him to deny Jesus three �mes on the night

he was betrayed. Contrast that with the person who, by the Holy Spirit, would stand up and preach at

Pentecost. The person who, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, would write le�ers about standing

amidst earthly trials. And the person who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and according to church his-

tory, would hold to his faith, even to the point of execu�on for it. That’s the kind of change that the

Holy Spirit works – both in us and in others, so that we are bold to share God’s word.

There is one thing that we didn’t discuss yet – one last thing in Peter’s words. Joel – the prophet whom

Peter quotes – calls these �mes “The last days.” Joel’s prophecy was typical for an Old Testament

prophet: he was allowed to see these things far off into the future in the same way that we might look

at the mountains off in the distance. When we look at those mountains, it’s some�mes hard to tell just

how far away they are or how much closer one is from the other – you just see them both as far away.

That’s what Joel saw in his vision. He saw the Holy Spirit poured out. And he saw wonders and signs –

blood, fire, and smoke – things that point to the last day. And that truth gives us a sense of urgency in

sharing God’s word. When the Holy Spirit brings this change – and he has – it lets us know that we’re in

those last days – that Jesus could come back at any �me. So, let’s look to share that heart-changing

Spirit and life-giving word with all around us. Now is the �me. And with that heart-changing spirit in-

side you and that life-giving word equipping you – there’s nothing more that you need.

“Do you want to be more confident? Do you wish you were more outgoing? Do you desire to have a

greater inner peace? What would you do if you could change your life for the be�er?” These ques�ons

may sound like a too-good-to-be-true adver�sement, but the reality is, that these are true for us be-

cause the Holy Spirit brings change. Not in the way of our false earthly expecta�ons, but in a much

be�er way. Do you want to be confident? Well the Holy Spirit brings the kind of change that takes �m-

id, fearful followers of Jesus and turns them into bold proclaimers of the gospel. Do you wish you were

more outgoing? Well, the Holy Spirit gives you a word of good news that is so life-changing that,

whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, it doesn’t ma�er – you can’t help but “go out” and share

it. Do you desire to have a greater inner peace? Well the Holy Spirit gives you that, too – as he opens

your eyes and your heart to the reality of everything that Jesus has done for you: his perfect life in your

place, his sacrificial death on the cross, and his triumphant resurrec�on from the grave. What would

you do if you could change your life for the be�er? We don’t have to worry about that. A life in heaven.

The peace of sins forgiven. A perfect rela�onship with God. That’s the sort of change that The Holy

Spirit has already brought. So, we can be certain: there’s no be�er change than that. Amen.


Y O U A R E G O D ; W E P R A I S E Y O U

Refrain

Refrain


O F F E R I N G

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all !mes, having all

that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

-2 Corinthians 9:6-8

L O R D , H A V E M E R C Y

P R A Y E R O F T H E C H U R C H L O R D ’ S P R A Y E R C: Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,


thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen. H Y M N

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest (Christian Worship 177, stanzas 1-3)

1 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, 2 To you, the Counselor we cry, And make our hearts your place of rest; To you, the gift of God most high; Come with your grace and heav’nly aid, The fount of life, the fire of love, And fill the hearts which you have made. The soul’s anointing from above.

3 Your light to ev’ry thought impart, And shed your love in ev’ry heart; The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate.

P R A Y E R F O R G R A C E

M: O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to this new day.

Defend us with your mighty power, and grant that this day

we neither fall into sin nor run into any kind of danger; and in all we do, direct us to what is right in your sight,

through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.


Soli Deo

Gloria

B L E S S I N G

C L O S I N G H Y M N

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest (Christian Worship 177, stanzas 4-6)

4 Drive far away our wily foe, 5 Teach us to know the Father, Son, And your abiding peace bestow; And you, from both, as Three in One If you are our protecting guide, That we your name may ever bless No evil can with us abide. And in our lives the truth confess.

6 Praise we the Father and the Son And Holy Spirit, with them One, And may the Son on us bestow The gifts that from the Spirit flow!

the coming of the holy spirit on pentecost - 6.7.2020...jun 07, 2020 · holy spirit, god and lord,...

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