GDLC Audio

As we move forward in our “Spirit-Filled Life” series we remember today that the only way that I can believe in Jesus, confess Him as my Lord and Savior, and give Him glory, is if the Holy Spirit causes me to do so! This is so contrary to the way we think! “I came to faith!” “I believed in Jesus!” “I received Christ!” And all of those things are somewhat true, but you did so only because you have a “Spirit-Filled Heart” or as we say it in our Catechism “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe on my Lord Jesus or come to Him but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel...”. Today we celebrate the fact that our “Spirit-Filled Hearts” are Spirit-filled because the Holy Spirit has called us into faith and brought us into Christ’s saving grace through the Gospel messag

As we move forward in our “Spirit-Filled Life” series we remember today that the only way that I can believe in Jesus, confess Him as my Lord and Savior, and give Him glory, is if the Holy Spirit causes me to do so! This is so contrary to the way we think! “I came to faith!” “I believed in Jesus!” “I received Christ!” And all of those things are somewhat true, but you did so only because you have a “Spirit-Filled Heart” or as we say it in our Catechism “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe on my Lord Jesus or come to Him but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel...”. Today we celebrate the fact that our “Spirit-Filled Hearts” are Spirit-filled because the Holy Spirit has called us into faith and brought us into Christ’s saving grace through the Gospel message!

In our “Spirit-Filled” series, we begin where we should...at the beginning...at the beginning of The Church that is. Today is the day we celebrate what is called “Pentecost,” sometimes called “The birth of the Church.” Pentecost was an Old Testament Festival but Pentecost in the New Testament was the giving, sending, and out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Church, or on all Christians. But what is this all about? Why did the Lord do this? Jesus’ words from John 16 remind us of the purpose...as Jesus said it about the Holy Spirit, “He...will glorify me.” What Jesus meant was that the Holy Spirit would come to the Church—and glorify the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—in and through and by the Church every day. And He continues to do so today! Through His Word and Sacraments the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus among us! Through the preaching of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus among us! Through the lives of Christian people, the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus among us! That is “The Spirit-Filled Church!

David reminds us in Psalm 16 that God is the only one who can make the path of life known to us. As a follower of Christ, what do you do with society’s strategy that is trying to confine religious faith to the private world, with the attitude that all religions are the same? Should you keep your beliefs to yourself? Does Jesus make exclusive statements? Indeed He does as in this “I AM” statement this week He uses very exclusive wording, “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” If that’s so, and it is, what should you and I do with them? How do you faithfully live for Jesus in a pluralistic society that kicks aside exclusive claims like this one? It’s simple...you remember again and again that He is your One and Only and proclaim that to a world that desperately needs to know Him too.

David reminds us in Psalm 16 that God is the only one who can make the path of life known to us. As a follower of Christ, what do you do with society’s strategy that is trying to confine religious faith to the private world, with the attitude that all religions are the same? Should you keep your beliefs to yourself? Does Jesus make exclusive statements? Indeed He does as in this “I AM” statement this week He uses very exclusive wording, “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” If that’s so, and it is, what should you and I do with them? How do you faithfully live for Jesus in a pluralistic society that kicks aside exclusive claims like this one? It’s simple...you remember again and again that He is your One and Only and proclaim that to a world that desperately needs to know Him too.