June 08, 2025

00:21:26

6.8.25

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Bryan Wolfmueller
6.8.25
Sunday Drive to Church
6.8.25

Jun 08 2025 | 00:21:26

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[00:00:00] Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. It's Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, the year of our Lord 2025, and this is the Sunday Drive to Church podcast. I'm Pastor Wolfmuller. Hopefully you're on your way to church. You probably didn't listen to this on Saturday afternoon because I'm recording it right now on Saturday night. A little bit late. We just got back from Houston after three days of district conventioning. [00:00:26] And this Sunday drive to home is a little bit on the fly. Now you guys are saying, Pastor, come on now. On the fly. You're always on the fly. But at least my other on the fly is having kind of looked over the text. [00:00:40] You're going to get me really on the fly this morning. We'll see. It'll be great. [00:00:43] No, it'll be great. Trust me. Here we go. [00:00:46] Here's the collect. Let's pray. Oh, God, on this day, you once taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. [00:00:58] Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy consolation through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [00:01:15] That is a beautiful prayer. The two things, maybe three things on this collect that is nice to notice. Number one, light. The Holy Spirit is always bringing light. [00:01:25] In fact, this is how Luther teaches us to talk about the Holy Spirit in the small catechism that the Holy Spirit enlightens us, calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies us. [00:01:37] And this is the enlightenment that comes from two things according to the collect. How about this? [00:01:43] Through right understanding and holy consolation. [00:01:48] So the Holy Spirit enlightens our mind with a right understanding of God's word and his truth. [00:01:55] And he enlightens our hearts with his holy consolation and the comfort that he gives to us in the conscience. [00:02:04] That is really beautiful. The psalm is Psalm 143. Let's take a look at a few of these verses. I am not sure why. This is a Pentecost psalm. It says maybe we will figure it out. Well, all right. I see one reference to the Spirit here in verse 10. That's probably why verse one says, Hear my prayer, O Lord. Give ear to my pleas for mercy. [00:02:26] In your faithfulness, answer me. In your righteousness, enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul. He's crushed my life to the ground. He's made me sit in darkness like those long dead. [00:02:40] Therefore my spirit faints within me. My heart within me is appalled. What am I going to do? [00:02:46] I mean, when we're in such trouble and all we can hope for is that the Lord doesn't give us what we deserve. [00:02:53] I remember the days of old. Verse 5. I meditate on all you've done. I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you. My soul thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly. My spirit fails. Now look at how this is a prayer. Verse 10. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on level ground for your name's sake. O Lord, preserve my life. [00:03:19] In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. [00:03:22] And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies. You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul. For I am your servant. [00:03:31] I'm thinking about this quite a lot. Not just because we're at the district convention, but just in general. How there's two sides of justification. There's that the Lord fights for his people, and that the Lord vindicates his people by fighting against his enemies. [00:03:46] And that here you will cut off my enemies. [00:03:50] The Lord is the enemy of our enemies. [00:03:54] And that's our comfort. I mean, that's part of our comfort because he's our great defender. But look at this. Let your good spirit leave me. On level ground. [00:04:04] We're tempted to sometimes think that our Trinitarian doctrine of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is just in the New Testament. But no, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, also all over the Old Testament, it's just who God is. So it has to be. [00:04:20] Now, the Old Testament lesson is Genesis 11, the last of the four great primary events of the Bible. [00:04:32] So we have the first event, which is Creation. The second is the Fall. [00:04:37] The third is the Flood. And then this fourth event, the Tower of Babel, Genesis 11. [00:04:44] In fact, if you want to think of Genesis in this way, we have the four great events, and then the four great fathers. So Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, and then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. [00:04:56] But here we're at this fourth great primordial event. The whole earth had one language in the same words. [00:05:03] And the people migrated from the east. They found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. [00:05:12] They were pretty savvy, these folks. I was. I don't know why this happened, but I was driving along the other day Looking at one of these huge buildings in downtown Austin, and I thought to myself, how does it stand up so tall? I mean, how does it not collapse? [00:05:27] It's kind of a Babel technology. They'd figured it out, how to build these bricks that could hold this up. Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top to the heavens. Let us make a name for ourselves, lest we disperse over the face of the whole Earth. [00:05:42] The Lord came down at sea, and he was not too impressed, so he confused their language that they wouldn't understand one another's speech. So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of the Earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore, the name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the Earth. Now, this is a beautiful thing to think about on Pentecost. I mean, it's one of these primary texts that we ought to meditate on. And I think the meaning of Babel, the story of the Tower of Babel, is one of these foundational and definitional stories. [00:06:16] Why do we all speak in different languages? It's kind of weird, especially since we all came from one family. Noah. Why do we all have these different languages? And it's because the Lord spread us out and gave us different languages. It's pretty amazing. [00:06:32] But there's something else there. [00:06:36] This instinctive sin of our sinful of our flesh to want to make a name for ourselves, to want to build a monument for ourselves, to want to build something so that we can escape the flood. This Adam and Eve are reaching for. You can be like God, and it wasn't enough that the people are doing it again. [00:07:01] But it's an amazing thing to hear it on Pentecost Sunday, because the Lord, we're always trying to undo the curse of Babel. Technology is always trying to undo it. We're always trying to get back together and build this great monument to ourselves. [00:07:15] Even reading last week about AI and Babel and how it's going to converge everybody into the same speech. It's always the same kind of story. But in Acts chapter two, Pentecost, we hear the Lord in his mercy undoing this dispersion of Babel. That's what happens in Acts chapter two, which is our epistle lesson, written by Luke AD 69, is what it says in the bulletin. But just like I got to remember to put this in here, because we normally put, when the book is written in the bulletin. [00:07:52] And so we put 1446 for the writing of Genesis. But the event of Babel is way before that. In fact, I wonder what we think. Hold on a minute. Let me check on this. You know, the Steinman chronology only goes back to Abraham because. [00:08:10] Because our new Bible scholars get really nervous doing any dating earlier than Abraham. But the old guys weren't so afraid of that, so I pulled out my old trusty CPH published King James Bible. When did they do this? Nice. 1966. I really love this. It gives a date for Babel. 2218 B.C. 2218 B.C. [00:08:36] so that's when we can put the chronology there. [00:08:40] And Pentecost would be 50 days after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. So it was 1992 years ago. It was in the year 33 AD that the events happened in Acts chapter 2, and they were all together in one spot. So when the day of Pentecost arrived. Pentecost is the only Old Testament feast day that is brought into the New Testament. But the old feast of Pentecost is very different from the new feast of Pentecost. The old feasts was celebrating tents and booths and. Oh, boy, I got to look this up, too. I always forget the particular connection to Pentecost and booths. All right, hold on a minute. [00:09:23] I say wait for a minute, and then you guys don't have to wait at all. [00:09:27] I can keep going after I learn all these things. Tabernacles is in the fall. I should have this all memorized. Pentecost, of course, is 50 days after Passover. [00:09:37] It's a special feast that is really connected to the giving of the law, because. [00:09:45] And I say remember like I remembered. But it's Passover is when they leave Egypt, and then 50 days later, they arrive at Mount Sinai when the Lord gives the Ten Commandments. [00:09:57] So the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover is that commemoration. And so there was three feasts. There was Passover and Pentecost and Tabernacles. Those are the three chief feasts where the people were required to go to Jerusalem. So it's the day of Pentecost, and everyone's there from all these different places. In fact, we get the list. [00:10:19] They were amazed and astonished as the Spirit gives the apostles the ability to preach in all these different languages. They were amazed and astonished, saying, are not these who are speaking Galileans? How do we hear each of us in our own language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontius, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt. All the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans, Arabians. We hear them telling in their own tongues the mighty works of God. Can you imagine all these thousands of people from everywhere in the world all being in Jerusalem on this day? [00:10:58] And they have all these different languages there. It's an amazing thing to think about, especially because whenever we think of the ancient world, I just think we think of, like, everyone, like, living in their little grass hut with a pig, you know, no one moves anywhere. Everyone just like, stays in this little. [00:11:15] Lives in the mud and everything. The ancient world was a lot more cosmopolitan than our imaginations can handle because we unfortunately got, like, evolutionized in school. And we think that everyone back then was real dumb and they had to walk on a. You know, could only go like two miles from their house in their whole life. No, there's people from all over the world, all over the whole Mediterranean basin and all over from Arabia also. So east, west, all the way from Rome, Macedonia, Crete. People had sailed in and traveled up to Jerusalem. They're all crowded in there. And they all start hearing the apostles preach in their own language. [00:11:55] This is the first of four times that we see the gift of tongues given in the book of Acts, where preachers are able to preach in a language that they didn't learn. And it's an amazing gift. [00:12:08] It's one of these gifts that belongs to the early church to get the gospel out there over all these hurdles. It's really amazing. [00:12:18] But some say, what's going on? [00:12:21] Is this a miracle? And then some say they're drunk, they're filled with new wine. [00:12:28] But Peter, standing with the elders, lifts up his voice and addresses them. [00:12:33] Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you. Give ear to my words. These men are not drunk as you suppose, since it's only the third hour of the day. Come on. [00:12:44] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. [00:12:48] In the last days it shall be God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. [00:12:54] And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams even on my male servants and female servants. In those days I will pour out my spirit. And they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below. Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. And the sun shall be turned to darkness and moon to blood. Before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. [00:13:21] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And then Peter goes on to preach from there. You killed Jesus, who's the Messiah? And God raised him from the dead. [00:13:33] David's grave is right over there. See? Right over there. But this Jesus, his grave over there is empty. [00:13:39] And then they're cut to the heart. What do we do? Repent. Be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. And the promises for you and for your children and for all who are far off. And they all come to be baptized that day. [00:13:56] Whoa, glorious. That's the anniversary that we're celebrating today. [00:14:02] Without the Holy Spirit, they're just. There's nothing. I mean, it's an amazing thing to see what the disciples do before the Spirit comes and what the disciples do after the Spirit comes. And we got to talk about this more and more. The work of the Holy Spirit in our own lives to give us faith that he speaks his word into our heart and that he gives us strength to fight the flesh, to do good works, to serve the neighbor. He enlightens the heart and the mind. [00:14:35] John 14 is our gospel. [00:14:38] It goes back to Maundy Thursday. [00:14:41] That's when this big text is. And this is the first time of, I think, five in this big section. John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. This big last speech of Jesus. He calls the Holy Spirit, this unique name, the Paraclete. I think it's five times. It might just be four times. [00:14:58] John 14 is the first time that word Paraclete, the comforter, it's translated in esv. The helper is really amazing. It means the defense attorney, the one who stands alongside and argues your case. That's who the Holy Spirit is in your heart. [00:15:16] The word is used as a verb all over the place. [00:15:23] It means to comfort, rebuke, encourage, command. [00:15:30] It's everywhere. I don't know. It's probably used 200 times in the New Testament. But as a noun, it's only used a handful of times. In John 14:16, about the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. [00:15:41] And in John chapter two, we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous One. And notice that parallel. [00:15:50] Here's how it says it. Jesus says in John 14:25, these things I have spoken to you while I'm still with you. [00:15:58] But the helper, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. There, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name. [00:16:07] He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I Have said to you, peace, I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not you your hearts be troubled. Neither let them be afraid. That's so good. [00:16:21] So we have two Paracletes. [00:16:25] We have one paraclete with the Father, and we have one Paraclete with us. [00:16:31] Jesus is with the Father, testifying to him, praying and interceding to him on our behalf. And the Spirit is with us, doing the same thing. [00:16:40] So that just as Jesus is arguing for. For your forgiveness and your righteousness in heaven, so the Holy Spirit is arguing for your forgiveness in your own heart. [00:16:53] So that the Holy Spirit is working that assurance of faith in our hearts and consciences. That the blood of Jesus has prevailed against your sins, against your failures, against your weaknesses. [00:17:08] It's prevailed. [00:17:10] And the Lord has forgiven you and continues to forgive you and to rejoice in you and to accept you. Look, the Lord knows, and this is something that I think is really helpful. The Lord knows your sins even more than you do. [00:17:22] So I know you know you're a sinner, and that's bad enough. But imagine if you knew all of your sins like God does, how much worse it would be. He knows all of those. And still he says to you that your sins are forgiven, that you have peace, that he has overcome the world. [00:17:42] So good. [00:17:44] The hymn of the day is this old Luther Holy Ghost hymn, Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord. [00:17:51] It's hymn number four. [00:17:54] Excuse me, 497. [00:17:57] And I'll tell you a little bit about it. It was because it says it on the bottom of the page. The first stanza, apparently, was a hymn that Luther picked up, and he added Stanzas 2 and 3 to it. Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord with all your graces now outpoured. It's really nice on Pentecost that we're praying all these prayers to the Holy Spirit. [00:18:18] I think every Pentecost hymn has the same name. Come Holy Ghost, let's see Holy Spirit, Light divine Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord the next one, Come Holy Ghost, Creator blessed the next one, Come Holy Ghost, Creator blessed oh, same different tune. The next one, Creator blessed by who's aid the next one come down O Love divine Holy Spirit, Dove sent from Heaven In TLH it's even more amazing. It's like every Pentecost hymn is Come Holy Spirit. [00:18:43] And it's good to remind us that we can pray for the Holy Spirit and that we need to pray for the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus says this great promise in Luke 11, we need to cash this promise more often every day. Really? [00:18:55] Where? Jesus, after he teaches the Lord prayer, says, the Father will give the Holy Spirit to all who ask. [00:19:04] So we pray for the Holy Spirit to come to us. We pray for the Father to send the Holy Spirit to us. Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, with all your graces now outpoured on each believer's mind and heart, your fervent love to them in part. Lord, by the brightness of your light. There that light again in holy faith your church unites from every land and every tongue. This to your praise, O Lord our God, be sung. Alleluia. Come, Holy Ghost, light guide divine now cause your word of life to shine. The Word and the Spirit are all together. Vicar, at the workers conference. No, no. At the convention yesterday, opened up, he said, look at this. First Peter. The Spirit and the preaching, it's always together. That's right. The Word and the Spirit, Preaching in the Spirit, it's always together. Teach us to know our God aright, the hymn says, and call him Father with the light. [00:19:53] From every error keep us free. [00:19:55] Let none but Christ our Master be that we in living faith abide in him, our Lord, with all our might confide. Alleluia. [00:20:03] Come, Holy Fire. Look at that one from Pentecost. Those tongues of fire comfort true. [00:20:11] Grant us the will your work to do, and in your service to abide. Let trials turn us not aside. Lord, by your power prepare each heart and to our weakness strengthen part that bravely we may hear content through life and death. To you, our Lord, ascend. [00:20:30] Alleluia. [00:20:32] This is all by the Holy Spirit, that we work, that we confess, that we endure, that we rejoice in the promises, that we believe the Word, that we understand the Word, that our hearts are enlightened, that's all the work of the Holy Spirit. And that we keep the faith in life and in suffering and in death, and come to the joys of life eternal. It is the Holy Spirit who calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with his gifts, sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith, and we rejoice in that work. [00:21:06] Come, Holy Spirit. [00:21:08] All right, Sunday school is going to be on the liturgy, although I will give an update on the district convention also. [00:21:17] So that'll be part of the fun. [00:21:18] That'll be part of the fun today as well. So don't miss Bible class and we'll see you soon. Drive safe. God's peace be with you.

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