Pentecost

The Propers for Pentecost May 31, 2020

Opening Hymn

O Holy Spirit, Enter In LSB 913

Tune and text: Public domain

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Invocation

L In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

The Litany

L O Lord, C have mercy. L O Christ, C have mercy. L O Lord, C have mercy. L O Christ, C hear us. L God the Father in heaven, C have mercy. L God the Son, Redeemer of the world, C have mercy. L God the Holy Spirit, C have mercy. L Be gracious to us. C Spare us, good Lord. L Be gracious to us. C Help us, good Lord. L From all sin, from all error, from all evil;

From the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; From lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death:

C Good Lord, deliver us. L By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity;

By Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; By Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:

C Help us, good Lord. L In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment: C Help us, good Lord. L We poor sinners implore You C to hear us, O Lord. L To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true

knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living; To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; To beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit:

C We implore You to hear us, good Lord. L To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the

distressed: C We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

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L To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need; To direct and defend our [president/queen/king] and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; To watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; To grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all:

C We implore You to hear us, good Lord. L To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the

kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers: C We implore You to hear us, good Lord. L Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, C we implore You to hear us. L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C have mercy. L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C have mercy. L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, C grant us Your peace. L O Christ, C hear us. L O Lord, C have mercy. L O Christ, C have mercy. L O Lord, C have mercy. Amen.

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Introit Psalm 104:24, 27-28, 30; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the | faithful,* and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alle- | luia.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you | made them all;* the earth is full of your | creatures.

These all | look to you,* to give them their food in due | season. When you give it to them, they gath- | er it up;* when you open your hand, they are filled with | good things. When you send forth your Spirit, they are cre- | ated,* and you renew the face | of the ground.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be-|ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the | faithful,* and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alle- | luia.

Collect of the Day

O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. 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.

Old Testament Reading Numbers 11:24-30 Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the

people and placed them around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Gradual Acts 2:17b; Romans 10:10 I will pour out my Spirit | on all flesh,* and your sons and your daughters shall | prophesy. With the heart one believes and is | justified,* and with the mouth one confesses | and is saved.

Second Reading Acts 2:1-21

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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. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, 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; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Holy Gospel John 7:37-39

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

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very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Sermon Hymn

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord LSB 497

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Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000989 Tune: Public domain

The Sermon: Rivers of Living Water John 7:37-39

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Jesus stands up on the last day, the great day, of the Feast of Booths. This is the annual feast where the Jews

remember how God led and cared for them in the wilderness. For forty years, their clothes and shoes did not wear out. Where they didn’t have food, He rained manna from heaven on them and brought quail to the camp; and occasionally, where they had no water to drink, He sweetened bitter water or made water flow from a rock.

The people remember all this at the Feast of Booths. In fact, each morning of the feast begins with the water

ceremony: the priests draw water from a pool, carry it to the temple and pour it out as a thank offering to God. It isn’t just to remember how He provided water in the wilderness, either: the ceremony is paired to Isaiah 12:3, “And you shall draw waters with joy from the wells of salvation.”

This time around, on the last day of the feast – the great day of the feast, as people reflect that it was God who

provides water and salvation, Jesus stands up and cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” I like to imagine a silence after the cry as people digest these words, because there seems to be an obvious big

question: why would you go to Jesus for water and salvation … unless Jesus is, in fact, God? He is, in fact, God. He’s the same Lord who led them through the wilderness, who sent manna and quail, who

provided water during the journey. And here He is, in the flesh and among the crowds at the feast, declaring that He still has life and salvation to give.

Then He adds to this. He says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow

rivers of living water.’” He declares that He will give living water to those who thirst, and they will give it to others. They won’t run out! “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” says Jesus.

What does this mean? St. John provides an explanation in the next verse: “Now this He said about the Spirit,

whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Jesus is talking about the Spirit, says John. Whoever believes in Jesus receives the Holy Spirit; and whoever

receives the Holy Spirit, through him the Holy Spirit will flow to others. But, John adds, this has yet to take place when Jesus says it, because Jesus has not yet been glorified.

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Jesus is speaking of Pentecost. He is glorified on the cross; because although it looks anything but glorious, Jesus’ glory is found in His sacrifice for the sins of the world. Risen again and before He ascends, Jesus tells the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes.

You hear of the Spirit’s arrival in Acts 2. The disciples and others are gathered together, and the Holy Spirit

arrives with the sound of a loud rushing wind, and tongues of fire appear above their heads. As promised by the Lord with the words that He spoke, the Holy Spirit has come upon the disciples. Then, as foretold by Jesus, rivers of living water pour out of them to others: they begin to preach about Jesus to the gathering crowds, speaking in many languages as the gathering of disciples from all nations begins. As they preach that Word, the Holy Spirit does what He does: He works through that Word to bring hearers to repentance and faith; and so, that day, three thousand hear that Word and are baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.

Pentecost is quite a day, with the wind and the fire, the preaching and the baptisms, as well as the coming of the

Holy Spirit. You might find yourself wondering why Christianity today can’t be more like that, so I will ask you this: do you know what you’re missing from that day of Pentecost in Acts 2? A loud rushing wind.

We have little flames of fire: they’re not on your heads, but the candles up front; and yes, we lit them – they

didn’t spontaneously ignite. But the whole reason for those tongues of fire on Pentecost was to announce and remind that God Himself was present and at work. That’s why we light candles at church, to remind you that God is present and at work. But if we forget the candles, it doesn’t stop God from working. He is still present, here to save.

We don’t really have a loud rushing wind – a gentle breeze with the windows open, maybe; or I suppose we

could put the ceiling fans on high. But again, God is at work when the air is still, so the loud rushing wind is no big loss. That’s really all you’re missing. You’ve got the Word of God; and if you’ve got the Word, you’ve got the Holy

Spirit because the Holy Spirit works by means of God’s Holy Word. You’ve got Holy Baptism, where you are born again by water and the Spirit. So if you’re short on fire and wind, that’s no big thing because fire and wind don’t make anyone holy. The Holy Spirit does that in the means of grace; and those you have aplenty.

When Jesus cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink,” you’re included. And because you could

not come to Him by your own reason or strength, the Holy Spirit called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts. He has sanctified you, and He keeps you in the one true faith, even as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

But that’s not all. When Jesus says, “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow

rivers of living water,’” He’s also speaking of you. Because He has given you living water, it pours out of you – as the Holy Spirit has been given to you, so the Holy Spirit goes forth from you to others. How? By the Word of God that you speak. When you say the Creed or sing a hymn, as you sing of Christ, the Spirit goes forth. When you speak of Jesus to another at the coffee shop, the Holy Spirit goes forth in that Word to give life and salvation.

It’s one of the greatest tricks of the sinful nature that we tend to think of speaking the gospel to others as the

great burden that the Lord has put upon us. It is not so. The Lord has given you a high honor as His people, to deliver His Word – with His life and salvation – to others. No wonder the old Adam hates the idea so much. How much we should repent of our hesitation.

My friends, rejoice this day. The Lord has poured out His Spirit upon you in His means of grace; and now the

Spirit keeps you in the faith and flows forth from you whenever you voice His Word. Do not be silent! But as much as your use your voice, use your ears: rejoice to hear of Christ, for that is the Spirit’s gift to you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Prayer of the Church

Almighty God, You have blessed us in love with the Savior to whom the nations cry and in whom is forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Grant to us Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter whom You have promised, that we and all who call upon His name shall be saved. Help us to treasure in our hearts Your mercy and to give ourselves fully to Your service. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, You have promised the thirsty will drink and from the empty will flow forth rivers of living water. Help us to show forth in holy lives the fruits of the Spirit and to live with love toward our neighbor. Give us a servant’s heart that doesn’t seek our own way but walks on the path of eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, You have promised to make one people from the many. Take from us all pride, prejudice and hate, that we may not hinder the cause of the Gospel by our shame but give welcome to all people in the name of Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, You have ordered all things in heaven and on earth. Bless Donald, our president; Brad, our governor; the Congress of the United States; and all elected and appointed civil servants, that the rule of law may protect the weak, preserve life from conception to its natural end, and peace may reign for the benefit of all. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, have mercy and spare us. Put an end to the pandemic, and restore the communities of the world to their common life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, You carry the burdens of our lives in Your hands. Deliver from illness and suffering all who cry to You for release. Hear us on behalf of the sick, the dying and those who mourn, especially Julie Juell, Shirley Kaiser, Matthew & Timothy Graveson, Marlene Reese, Steve Hudnall, Ray Cox, Tammy Nelson, and Marie Smith. Answer Your people, O Lord, and deliver them from their infirmities and their grief by Your grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, Your Word endures forever. Give us grace so that we may be united in doctrine and in the fellowship of Your table, and that we might bear with one another in love, confessing Christ boldly and living together in faith and love until our Lord returns in His glory to bring all things to their appointed completion when we will dwell in His house forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Almighty God, hear Your people for the sake of Him who loved us even to death and who lives to call to Himself all who will be saved. You know what we need and those things we should ask in Your name. Grant them to us for the sake of our crucified, risen and ascended Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Here, say: The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for the Church

Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, so that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

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Closing Hymn

Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid LSB 500

Text and tune: Public domain

The Benediction

The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace. Amen.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

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Youth Confirmation is Next Sunday! | Please keep Emily Cain, Eli Cain, Nicholas Strange, Lydia Maisey, Timothy Strand, Jorden Walls and Caleb Gammon in your prayers as they prepare to confess the faith and join communicant member at the last service next Sunday. ESSENTIAL EXERCISE FOR THE CHRISTIAN MIND... | Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. You can listen live or on-demand at issuesetc.org and on the LPR mobile app. Pastor Pauls New Email Address | With the advent of our new webpage, Pastor Pauls’ church email has changed. The old address, tpauls@goodshepherdboise.org , no longer works. His new email address is timothypauls@gslcboise.org.