Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:3-11
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: May 28, 2023

Bulletin May 28, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

We celebrate today the Festival of the Holy Spirit.  Someone has called the Holy Spirit “the forgotten member of the Trinity.”  It was their experience that in churches much is said of God the Father.  Much is made of God the Son – and with good reason!  But to them, the Holy Spirit seems to be neglected.

I don’t know if you would agree with that assessment.  We certainly don’t intend to neglect the Holy Spirit.  Each week we confess the person and work of God the Holy Spirit just as much as we do the person and work of Father and Son.  In the Apostles’ Creed we confess, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”  In the Nicene Creed we confess, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life.”  It is this description of the Holy Spirit that we want to especially notice today.  We call the Holy Spirit the “Giver.”  That really is a fitting title for the Holy Spirit.  In fact, that is the truth that beams forth clearly from our text today.  Paul puts before us The Spirit, the “Giver.”

 If we are going to confess the Holy Spirit as “Giver,” then there must be a given gift, for that is what givers give.  Paul begins our text by telling us about a gift.  Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says, “A curse be upon Jesus,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (v. 3)  Why does Paul use these two phrases?  A curse be upon Jesus and Jesus is Lord.  Maybe Paul is thinking about his days as Saul the persecutor of Christians.  Paul admits that he forced Christians to say blasphemous things.  What is more blasphemous than saying, “Curse Jesus!”  That doesn’t come from the Holy Spirit.

But then Paul adds, No one can say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.  “Jesus is Lord” had great significance in the early church.  The early Christians lived under Roman emperors.  And ever since Caesar Augustus, Roman emperors were considered semi-divine beings.  The “creed” of the Romans empire became, “Caesar kurios.”  “Caesar is Lord.”  Christians refused to say those words!  When persecuted and threatened with death, Christians could save their lives from the lions if they would just say the words, “Caesar is Lord.”  They would not!  Caesar was not their Lord.  Jesus Christ is our Lord.  So the Christian confession of the 1st century became, “Iesous Kurios,” “Jesus is Lord.”

No one can make that confession of faith except by the Holy Spirit.  No one has the ability.  No one has the capacity.  Paul’s words remind us of our natural spiritual condition.  We are so damaged by sin that we don’t possess the innate ability to come to God..  It’s like if I told you to jump and touch the ceiling in this sanctuary.  You can’t do it.  You don’t possess the physical power and ability to do that.  Nor do we have the spiritual power and ability to come to faith.  The problem is not simply that we do not possess right information, so that when we get the right information we can think this thing through and come to the conclusion, “Well, it makes a lot more sense to believe in Jesus so I go to heaven than it does not to believe in Jesus and go to hell.”  Our problem is we CANNOT bring ourselves to faith. This all summed up so well in the Small Catechism:  “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing 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…”  Ah, enlightened with his “gifts.”  You see!  He is a Giver!  And “Gift #1” is your faith.

 “Jesus is Lord” has perhaps lost some of the life-and-death significance it had in the first century.  But let us today not undervalue the gift of the Giver!  We live in a world where there are many eager “lords” and “masters” who would gladly control your life.  But you have been given a gift.  In this world of a thousand and one false lords, you say:  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, is seated on the right hand of God the Father almighty,  From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. (Apostles’ Creed)  No one can say those words except by the Holy Spirit; it’s a gift.

Faith is not the only gift from the Holy Spirit.  The Giver gives even more!  Paul goes on to say, There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit. (v. 4, 7)  Paul then lists a number of “gifts of the Spirit.”  Paul lists wisdom, knowledge, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, evaluating the spirits, speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues.  In Romans Paul mentions serving, teaching, encouraging, giving generously, leadership and showing mercy.  Gifts for administration are also mentioned.  What are these gifts?  The gifts of Spirit are special gifts and graces given to Christians to be used in the Kingdom of God to serve and build up.  If you can throw a 90 mph fast ball or you’re really good at juggling, these are not “gifts of the Spirit.”  Gifts of the Spirit are given to serve and build up the Church.

These gifts of the Spirit are truly gifts that keep on giving!  If I get a fishing rod as a gift, I can use and enjoy it myself.  I got running shoes as a gift; only I enjoy them.  The gifts of the Spirit are different.  Your gift is not for you to have and enjoy.  They must be used for others.  What do I do with the gift of encouragement except encourage others!  What do I do with the gift of teaching but teach someone else?  The gift of mercy does no good until it is mercy deployed in service to another!  Paul says all these gifts are given for the common good. (v. 7)

Whenever you become aware of a giver who has given you a gift, an impulse arises within us.  This impulse is gratitude.  I pray you feel that impulse today.  You have heard again of the Spirit, the Giver, the one who has given you faith in Jesus, and the one who has given you gifts to serve Jesus and each other.  Today it is fitting to say, “Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your gifts!”

Amen.