Filled with the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4

That first Christian Pentecost must have been something to witness. Rushing wind, tongues of fire and the proclamation of the gospel in many languages formerly unknown to those who spoke. It is such an extraordinary event that it is easy to fall into the trap of celebrating Pentecost as a memorial to an event that is long past.

But the true miracle of Pentecost continues today, and we do well to celebrate the impact of Pentecost in our own lives. I’m not referring to talking in gibberish, falling down in hysterics or other oddities that are blamed on the Holy Spirit. The true miracle of Pentecost is far more spectacular and it continues in every place that the Word of God is proclaimed to this day.

The good news that proclaims Christ crucified for the forgiveness of our sins is a message that might as well be proclaimed in a completely foreign language. If it weren’t for the work of the Holy Spirit, quite simply we would not be able to hear or understand or believe it. Our sinful ears are conditioned to a language that speaks of effort and reward, rather than the unconditional and undeserved love and mercy of God, poured out for us on Calvary’s cross.

And so, the work of Pentecost is something that is most necessary for all us, every day of our lives. We need the Holy Spirit to continually unblock our ears (which are filled with the distortions of our sinful flesh and the lies of the devil) so that we can hear the pure gospel of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name and believe!

Thanks be to God that Pentecost is not a one-off event that only occurred in the first century! Rather it is the daily experience of the Christian as we pray that our Heavenly Father would fill us with His Spirit each day, that we might believe and so be saved.

Luther explains this beautifully in the Small Catechism as he discusses the third article of the Apostles’ Creed:

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.

May our Heavenly Father fill you with His Spirit, that you may know the joy and peace of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name.

Pastor Matt Anker
President, LM-A