Joel 2:28-29

My dogs are pointers. Some of you hunters know exactly what that means. Others of you may not be familiar with that. Dogs who are pointers have an instinctive reaction bred in them. When my Labradors see a bird in the yard they freeze. Their tails shoot straight out. Their front leg cocks up. And their noses point straight at the bird.

Their focus can be absolutely amazing as they point. Just because my dogs were born with this ability does not mean they always get it right. They sometimes point at everything from tennis balls to roast beef. However that focus is getting more intense as they older.

The prophet Joel was a pointer also. His prophecy pointed forward to the day that Jesus would send the Holy Spirit. Joel, hundreds of years before Pentecost, pointed to Pentecost with extreme focus and amazing intensity.

He prophesied God's words. The Holy Spirit would be poured out on all people. Old Testament believers were familiar with the Holy Spirit. Moses recorded the Spirit's presence at creation in Genesis 1:2. Soon we will sing Psalm 51. In that Psalm King David wrote of the Holy Spirit's presence. In the Old Testament there was a sprinkling of the Holy Spirit through history.

However in the New Testament, starting on the day of Pentecost, there would be a Holy Spirit downpour. The Holy Spirit would be poured out on all people. The Hebrew word for people in this prophecy is a word for flesh. Often it used to describe the condition of people in their sinful flesh. Since Adam, all mankind has been sinful. In this flesh, we are helpless. We are separated from God who hates sin and hates those who do wrong.

However God's Word, through Joel, pointed to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would give flesh new life with the gospel. The Holy Spirit would use the message of Jesus' sinless life, his sacrifice on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead to change everything in people. The Holy Spirit would give sinful flesh new life in Christ salvation.

Joel's prophecy speaks of that new life. "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Does that mean all believers will be prophets?!? Yes, Joel saw a time when the Pentecost revelation extended to all believers. Believers, in their life, will proclaim Jesus to those around them. That is the new life at work in us.

Joel pointed to Pentecost. With focus and intensity, he proclaimed God's Word that the Holy Spirit would come. AMEN.

Acts 2:1-21

And then the day arrived. Joel had pointed to Pentecost. And the Holy Spirit came. Imagine though the wonder, fear, and amazement the disciples must have felt as they waited for the Spirit. Jesus had ascended into heaven 40 days after he had risen from the dead. Pentecost was ten days after ascension. So the disciples waited a week and a half for the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait.

Do you know that feeling of waiting for a special day? Kids, do you ever get excited waiting for your birthday? Do you get anxious when you think about the presents that you might get? Maybe you've waited for other special days to come in your life - your wedding day, your graduation, your retirement day.

The disciples were waiting for the day when the Holy Spirit would come from Jesus. The day came and it was Pentecost. In the Old Testament, the day of Pentecost was a harvest festival. People would bring their first fruits of the harvest to give to God. On this special harvest day, God remarkably brought about the first great harvest of souls in the early Christian church. And it was the Holy Spirit gave great gifts. Let's look at these Pentecost presents.

The first of the Pentecost presents were the wonders that took place on Pentecost. There was the sound of a violent wind. There was what seemed like fire resting on the disciples. And then there was the ability of the disciples to speak in tongues. We can ask all kinds of questions about these wonders, but we may never have satisfactory answers. It seems these wonders were "attention-getters." They attracted the crowd. And then the disciples spoke in tongues. We can be sure that the disciples were speaking actual languages. The Holy Spirit gave this gift to the disciples to preach the word to people who were from all over the world.

The Holy Spirit also gave the Pentecost present of wisdom. The Bible often refers to wisdom as the knowledge of God's truth, or faith. It is not an earthly, scientific, or philosophical wisdom. But it is definitely a godly wisdom centered in the gospel. It is wisdom from the Holy Spirit that says as Peter said on Pentecost, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." The Holy Spirit gave that wisdom on Pentecost and about 3000 people were brought to faith in Jesus Christ.

The third Pentecost present was willingness. Peter, who in the past had been unwilling to proclaim the name of Jesus, was now made willing by the Holy Spirit. He spoke boldly. The disciples also spoke willingly and boldly.

Peter quoted Joel's prophecy of the last days when all believers would be willing to boldly proclaim Christ's message. We are in these last days of the harvest of souls. God has poured out the Holy Spirit on us. The Holy Spirit has given us Pentecost presents also. As God's people, speak willingly for God. Freely, boldly, openly proclaim the message of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. The Holy Spirit will cause great wonders to continue. The Holy Spirit will give people godly wisdom to believe. And in turn, these new believers will willingly go and tell others. The harvest will continue. AMEN.

John 16:5-11

In the Old Testament lesson we saw the prophet Joel pointing to Pentecost. In the second lesson, we saw the Holy Spirit gave presents to the people on the day of Pentecost. In the gospel lesson, we have an awesome opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus Christ and listen. Jesus tells us who the Holy Spirit is and what he does.

Jesus promised that the third person of the Trinity would come to his disciples. With this promise he educated them and us about this Holy Helper. Jesus said, "When he comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment."

The Holy Spirit helps us by convicting us. The word convict is probably best translated as convince. The Holy Helper sent by Jesus convinces us about sin, righteousness, and judgment. Think of the Holy Spirit as a counselor. The Spirit helps us and comforts us with the gospel.

First of all the Holy Helper convinces us about sin. Through the word of God, we clearly see in the law that we are sinners. We need not go further than the first commandment. You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. There it is. We are sinners. The Holy Spirit convinces us. We have not always respected God as we should. We have not always loved God as we should. We have not always trusted in God as we should. We are convinced about sin by the Holy Spirit. We deserve sin's punishment.

But the Holy Spirit also convinces us about righteousness. This is not a righteousness that man earns. It is rather the righteousness that Christ earned for us. Jesus pleased His Father by living a perfect life, by dying his innocent death on the cross, and with his resurrection from the dead. Jesus made us right with the Father. No matter what sins we have committed, Jesus Christ paid for them on the cross. Holy Helper convinces us of this.

Now Jesus is in heaven but he has not abandoned us. The Holy Spirit convinces us about judgment also. The devil stands condemned. Satan has no power over us. The Spirit convinces us that the victory is won and we will be judged on the merit of Jesus Christ alone. Those who believe in him will be saved. Those who do not believe in Jesus will be condemned.

The disciples were distressed because Jesus was leaving them. So Jesus promised to send the Holy Helper to comfort his disciples. Jesus also sent the Holy Helper to prepare them for their ministry.

We celebrate the Festival of Pentecost with joyful hearts, giving thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit who comforts us in saving faith. The Holy Spirit changes us, convinces us, and moves us. The Holy Spirit makes us prophets, proclaiming of the gospel. The Holy Spirit helps us everyday and guarantees success in our ministry. Praise Father, Son, and HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.